Don't cry for Scott, Argentina!

He's back in form

with a 71 this week

Former Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) returned to form yesterday in the first qualifying round of the Argentina men's amateur match-play championship at the Jack Nicklaus-designed 7,264yd course at Nordelta Golf Club, near Buenos Aires.

Borrowman, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, returned a one-under-par 71 (36-35) to be sharing second place with England's Matthew Haines, one shot behind leader Juan Francisco Sarasti (Spain).

Borrowman was lying joint fifth last week after the first round of the Juan Tailhade Cup at Los Lagartos Golf Club but faded out of contention.

Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) scored a 76 (37-39) to be sharing 18th place in a field of 89.

Philip McLean (Peterhead) was in joint 23rd position after returning a 77, in which he struggled to the turn in 41 but his improvement after the turn included an eagle 3 at the 13th.

Scottish boys' stroke-play champion Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), who withdrew from last week's Argentina event, salvaged an 80 after taking 43 shots to the turn. He was in joint 40th place going into the second qualifying round which will decide the 64 qualifiers for the match-play stages.

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Par 72

70 Juan Francisco Sarasti (Spa) 34-36.

71 Scott Borrowman (Sco) 36-35, Matthew Haines (Eng) 33-38.

72 Reinier Saxton (Hol) 37-35, Patricio Salem (Peru) 36-36, Jason Scrivener (Aus) 35-37.

73 Leandro Marelli (Arg) 37-36, Cecil Hickman (US) 37-36, Tomas Cocha (Arg) 37-36, Floris De Vries (Hol) 36-37.

Selected scores:

75 Luke Goddard (Eng) 37-38 (jt 13th).

76 Greg Paterson (Sco) 37-39 (jt 18th).

77 Philip McLean (Sco) 41-36 (jt 23rd).

80 Mark Bookless (Sco) 43-37 (jt 40th).