Ross Kellett has non-counting 76 in Argentina

SCOTLAND’S DISAPPOINTING START TO WORLD

TITLE DEFENCE - BYRNE 75, STEWART 75

Scotland's defence of the world men's amateur team golf championship for the Eisenhower Trophy got off to a faltering start in Buenos Aires, Argentina today
The Scots’ two counting scores over the shorter Olivos Golf Club Course (par-71, 6,801yd) were a pair of four-over-par 75s by James Byrne (Banchory) and Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck).
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) had the non-counting score of 76.
A best-two-from-three total of eight-over-par 150 left the Scots languishing in joint 41st position in the field of 69 teams.
At roughly the halfway point of the opening round, James Byrne (Banchory), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) were a combined eight over par as they tried to follow in the footsteps of Wallace Booth, Gavin Dear and Calum Macaulay, historic winners of the title for Scotland in Australia in 2008.
On Friday, the Scots will switch to the longer Buenos Aires Golf Club course (par 72, 6,962yd).
Arizona State University student Byrne got off to a flying start with birdies at the long first and par-4 third but he gave the shots back very quickly with bogeys at the fifth and sixth before picking up a 2 at the short seventh, enabling to reach the turn in one-under-par 35.
Then it all went pear-shaped for the highest world-ranked Scot. He bogeyed the long 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th – but worse was to come. Byrne had a double bogey 6 at the the 16th.
A birdie at the 18th, his fourth at the round, got him back in a disappointing five-over 40 for a 75.
Scottish champion Stewart also birdied the long opening hole but bogeyed the short fourth and also the sixth before crashing to a double bogey 7 at the long sixth. A birdie at the ninth got him out in two-over-par 38.
Stewart bogeyed the 12th, 14th and 18th on the inward journey with only one further birdie, at the 15th, for an inward half of two-over 37.
Kellett had a nightmare start with a double bogey 6 at the third and further shots dropped at the fourth and sixth on his way for a four-over-par 40 for the opening nine holes. He shed more shots to par at the 12th and 15th before he secured his only birdie of the round, at the 16th, on his way to 36 home for a 76.
France set the pace with a seven-under-par total of 137 at the Buenos Aires club where England were well to the fore with 141 (Tom Lewis 70, Laurie Canter 71, non-counter Eddie Pepperell 78).
At the Olivos course, Canada were the pacemakers with four-under-par 137.
Surprisingly, United States, the favourites, could do no better than one-over 143 at this venue.
Wales’ Oliver Farr had a hole in one at the fourth on the shorter course and finished with a 72. Team-mates Alastair Jones had a 76 while Rhys Pugh was the Welsh non-counter with a 79).
Also at Olivos, Ireland disappointed with 150 (Paul Cutler 74 and a 76 from both Kevin Phelan and Alan Dunbar).

QUOTES FROM SCOTLAND CAMP (courtesy of SGU Press Release)

Michael Stewart summed up the team’s mood at their opening day performance: “We’ve had a disappointing start but we’re looking forward to tomorrow with the opportunity to improve on our scores and move up the leaderboard. The wind certainly got up in the afternoon and the course was fiery but there was a score out there to be had.”

Team captain Scott Knowles added: “It was tough out there today and that is reflected by only seven teams being under par. We left a few shots out on the course which was disappointing however we have an earlier start tomorrow morning at Buenos Aires where the scoring was significantly better today so hopefully we can use that opportunity and score well.”

 

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
BUENOS AIRES GC
Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 6962.
137 France.
141 Sweden, England.
143 Australia, Colombia.
145 Netheerlands, Puerto Rico.
146 Italy, Belgium, Hong Kong.
147 Singapore, Malaysia.
148 Norway, Austria, Venezuela.
149 El Salvador, Switzerland.
150 Dominican Republic.
151 Pakistan, Zimbabwe.
152 Guatemala, Uruguay.
153 Portugal.
155 Slovenia.
156 Philippines.
157 United Arab Emirates.
158 Swaziland.
160 Paraguay, Botswana.
165 Ecuador.
171 Bulgaria.
179 Iran, Croatia.
181 Qatar.
OLIVOS GC
Par 142 (2x71). Yardage 6801.
137 Canada.
139 Denmark.
142 New Zealand.
143 United States, China.
144 Mexico.
145 South Korea, Spain.
146 Germany.
147 Chile, Chinese Taipei, Argentina, Iceland, South Africa.
148 Finland, Wales.
149 Bolivia, Peru, Costa Rica.
150 Ireland, Bermuda, Scotland.
152 Czech Republic, India.
153 Barbados.
154 Kenya.
155 Brazil.
156 Slovakia.
158 Guam.
159 Turkey.
162 Egypt.
166 Tanzania.
167 Serbia, Nigeria.