James Byrne finishes joint fourth in Eisenhower Trophy individual standings

HANDICAPPED SCOTS FINISH

GALLANT FIFTH IN ARGENTINA

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Defending champions Scotland finished a creditable fifth behind title-winners France in the weather-hit men’s world amateur team golf championship for the Eisenhower Trophy at Buenos Aires, Argentina today Creditable because Scotland’s Ross Kellett, who had not been feeling well and had the team’s non-counting score on Thursday, had to retire halfway through the second round. He had not recovered sufficiently to play in the third and final round today.
The tournament was reduced from its normal four rounds to 54 holes because rainstorms and lightning stretched Friday’s second round into Saturday for many of the 69 teams.
France, represented by Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion Romain Wattel, Alexander Levy and Johann Lopez Lazaro, won with a seven-under-par total of 423, made up of two-man round totals of 137, 142 and 144.
They maintained their overnight lead over Denmark (Morton Oerum Madsen, Joachim Hansen and Lucas Justra Bjerregard) who finished second with 427 (138-141-147).
Pre-tournament favourites the United States, containing the worlds No 1 and 2 ranked amateurs, Peter Uihlein and David Chung, as well as Scott Langley, finished third on 428 (143-142-143).
New Zealand came third on 435 (142-144-149).
Scotland’s final position of fifth on 436, made up of rounds returned entirely by James Byrne (Banchory) and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) – 150, 140 and 146, represented a great fightback after a dismal start when they were nearer the bottom of the scoreboard than the top at the end of the first day.
But Byrne, Scotland’s top world-ranked player, started the Scotland fightback with a second-round 68 and he broke par again in the final round with a 71, which included four birdies in a row. Starting at the long 10th, which he birdied, James birdied the 17th, 18th, first and second holes. The Arizona State University student finished joint fourth in the individual standings with a total of two-under-par 214.
Scottish match-play champion Stewart had rounds of 75, 72 and 75 for a six-over-par total of 222. The Ayrshire man's last round included a double bogey 5 at the short 14th, having also bogeyed the short 11th after his only birdie, at the long 10th.
Scotland were the highest placed of the four home countries. They finished ahead of England who had a dreadful last day when a total of 152 for 441 saw them drop several places in the final standings. Tom Lewis had a 75, Laurie Canter a 77 and Eddie Pepperell an 80.
Joachim Hansen (Denmark) topped the individual standings with a seven-under-par total of 209, ahead of Frenchmen Alexander Levy (212) and Romain Wattel (213), a shot ahead of James Byrne and America's world No 1 Peter Uihlein.


FROM THE SGU WEBSITE
FINAL TOTALS
Par 430 (4x72, 2x71)
Tournament reduced to three rounds because of bad weather
423 France 137 142 144.
427 Denmark 138 141 147.
428 United States 143 142 143
435 New Zealand 142 144 149
436 Scotland 150 140 146.
439 Ireland 150 146 143.
440 Germany 146 147 147.
441 Belgium 146 151 144, England 141 148 152, Canada 137 151 153.
442 Colombia 143 146 153, Switzerland 149 146 147.
445 Norway 148 147 150, South Korea 145 147 153, Sweden 141 146 158, Portugal 153 141 151.
446 Japan 146 147 153, Italy 146 143 157.
447 Iceland 147 146 154.
448 South Africa 147 152 149.
449 Finland 148 147 154, Spain 145 147 157, Wales 148 148 153, Austria 148 144 157.
450 Argentina 147 152 151
451 Mexico 144 152 144, Australia 143 154 154.
452 Chinese Taipei 147 150 155, China 143 154 155.
455 Singapore 147 154 154.
457 Czech Republic 1623 148 157.
458 Netherlands 145 153 160.
459 Hong Kong 146 150 163
462 Peru 149 149 164

SGU national coach Ian Rae praised the players’ efforts over the final two days: “The first day really set us back and obviously we’ve been handicapped by Ross’s sickness, but the lads showed tremendous spirit to finish in fifth place with the pressure of both players’ scores having to count for the final round.”

“The course was playing really tough today with such strong winds, which highlights what a good score James had out there. To get four birdies in a row was a remarkable achievement and he can be very proud of his performance. Michael also played very well and but was unlucky with the number of putts which just shaved the hole.” he added.

“Overall, we’re pretty pleased with the way we’ve fought back from the disappointment of the opening day and the players have worked hard to get us high up the leaderboard, beating some strong teams in the process. We’d like to congratulate France, who are worthy champions.”