David Micheluzzi sparkled at the Australian Open last week.

For the second year in a row, David Micheluzzi plays in the last eight at the Amateur Championship in Ireland.

The World 7 in the men's amateur rankings beat Nr. 28 Tom Sloman 4 & 3 finished in the round of 32 in Portmarnock in the morning when his side of the draw started to open.

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Dane Alexander George Frances eliminated No. 1 Thomas Plumb in a big upset and Micheluzzi made a capital letter in his round of 16 clash after an almighty scare.

Frances took a 2-UP lead on the turn and led Micheluzzi, but the Victorian link won the 14th, 15th and 16th holes en route to a brilliant 2 & 1 victory.

"It was a nice comeback and I am very happy. I am in every game now, but it is not over until it is over," Micheluzzi said.

"Fortunately for me, Alexander made a number of bogeys in a row towards the end and I made a capital by making pars on those difficult holes from 14 to 16.

"He did it so well early on and I didn't know how to compete with him, but I really showed tenacity."

Micheluzzi, the player with the highest rank who is still in Ireland this week, wants to crack the top four in the world ranking for the first time.

Micheluzzi's quarter-final opponent is the only American to reach the last 32 this week, World No.186 Cameron Sisk.

The 19-year-old from Arizona State University needed 20 holes to beat his opponent in the round of 16.

"Early in the week I didn't make it great, but I am just starting to feel that I have it now," said Micheluzzi.

"I remained very patient and it all clicked. I just want to reach a quarter-final tomorrow and try to get through to the final."

The player with the largest number of players in the 2019 Amateur Championship is the third seed Sandy Scott from Scotland, with no other player finishing higher than 36th on the leaderboard after the two battle rounds.

The winner of the final victory on Saturday will start in next month's Open Championship at Royal Portrush, as well as a place in the 2020 US Open and Masters fields.