Holder Ian Poulter recorded his second win in the Volvo Match Play Championship in Spain - but 21 year old Tom Lewis, the man he beat, is also through to the last 16.
Lewis, a European Tour event winner in only his third start as a professional last October, defeated Australian John Senden on his debut in the famous event so his clash with Poulter was just to decide who topped their group.
Poulter won it comfortably 4 and 3, running away from his fellow Hertfordshire golfer after they turned on level terms.
Poulter now faces Alvaro Quiros, while Lewis is also up against Spanish opposition in Sergio Garcia.
"I don't think either of us were 100 per cent switched on - I guess it was hard to get that adrenaline rush you normally get in match play," said Poulter, who beat Luke Donald in last year's final.
“It's always nice to play well over the first couple of days, and I'll be going into the weekend with that mind set and rather than obviously playing okay.
“Sergio, or Alvaro, are both two tough matches. It's in Spain, they feel at home, they are going to have a lot of support and are both good players. Either one is going to be a tough match.
“I’ve driven the ball nicely and holed key putts at the right time, and that's obviously what I did last year throughout the weekend. I holed nice putts and hit good shots but I definitely holed putts at the right time, and that's obviously the key to playing well in match play.”
