WALES' DAVIDSON AND MORRIS FINISH HIGH IN

SOUTH AMERICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Jack Davidson from Llanwern GC, Wales finished third in the men's event and compatriot Bethan Morris from Tenby finished joint fourth in the women's standings as the South American amateur golf championships, supported by the R and A, concluded at Martindale Country Club, Buenos Aires in Argentina.

The men's championship was won by Paul Chaplet (Costa Rica), a former Latin America title winner. He had rounds of 69, 70, 66 and 69 for a 14-under-par total of 274 - two shots ahead of runner-up Joaquin Niemann (Chile) (71-66-70-69) with Davidson third on 279 (74-67-69-68), who actually had a better aggregate for the last three rounds (204-205) than had champion Chaplet.

Conor O'Rourke (Ireland) tied for seventh place on 282 while Scotland's Barry Hume, after a slow start to the tournament, came through to take a share of 19th place on 289.

The men's championship was contested by 71 players.

The women's championship was won by the runaway margin of 10 strokes by Mexico's Isabelle Fierro who had excellent rounds of 68, 71, 67, 68 for 14-under-par 274.

Two Americans, former Curtis Cup player Meghan (Bolger) Stasi and Julia Potter finished joint second on 284 after both shot six-under-par 66s on the final day - the lowest scores of the women's championship.

Bethan Morris, pictured, shared fourth place with Silvia Garces (Colombia) and Ela Anacona (Argentina). Morris scored 72, 74, 71 and 68 for three-under 285.

Ireland's Paula Grant from Lisburn and England's India Clyburn from Cleethorpes shared 11th place on 290 with Paula scoring 70, 75, 75 and 70, India improving every round with 74, 73, 72 and 71.

Megan Lockett (Wales) finished 17th on 293 and England's Sophie Lamb, produced her lowest round, a 70, in the final round to achieved a 20th place finish on 295.

Scotland's Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) and former national champion Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) finished joint 35th on 305, MacGarvie scoring 80, 75, 74 and 76; Macdonald 78, 77, 76 and 75.

The women's field was 51 players strong.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

SOUTH AMERICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Martindale Country Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

MEN
par 288 (4x72)

274 Paul Chaplet (Costa Rica) 69 70 66 69

276 Joaquin Niemann (Chile) 71 66 70 69

279 Jack Davidson (Wales) 74 67 69 68

SELECTED TOTALS

282 Conor O'Rourke (Ireland) 69 73 69 71 (T7)

289 Barry Hume (Scotland) 75 71 70 73 (T19)

290 Alex Gleeson (Ireland) 70 72 74 74

294 Jack Burnage (England) 73 77 73 71 (T31)

296 Jack B Yule (England) 75 75 74 72 (T36)

298 Lee Jones (Wales) 72 70 78 78 (T44)

299 Joshua Davies (Wales) 75 79 74 71 (T47)

302 Euan McIntosh (Scotland) 77 81 75 69 (T51)

Field of 71 players.

WOMEN

Par 288 (4x72)

274 Isabelle Fierro (Mexico) 68 71 67 68

284 Meghan Stasi (USA) 74 76 68 66, Julia Potter (USA) 72 72 74 66.

285 Bethan Morris (Wales) 772 74 71 68, Silvia Garces (Colombia) 73 71 73 68, Ela Anacona (Argentina) 69 75 68 73

SELECTED TOTALS

290 Paula Grant (Ireland) 70 75 75 70, India Clyburn (England) 74 73 72 71 (T11)

293 Megan Lockett (Wales) 78 73 71 71 (17th)

295 Sophie Lamb (England) 77 75 73 70 (20th)

302 Jessica Ross (Ireland) 76 74 73 79 (T30)

305 Hazel MacGarvie (Scotland) 80 75 74 76, Gabrielle Macdonald (Scotland) 78 77 76 75 (T35)

Field of 51 players.