Scots go well in first event of Challenge Tour

WHITEFORD, MURRAY IN TOP 24,
McLEARY jt 32nd IN ARGENTINA

Peter Whiteford, pictured right, from Fife was the leading British or Irish player as the Campeonato Abierto Visa de la Republica – the Argentine Open – ended with home players filling the first four places at Pilar Golf Club near Buneos Aires.
Whiteford made an encouraging start to the 2006-2007 European Challenge Tour with a joint 20th finish on 290 and he showed great spirit in his final round of one-over-par 72 by fighting back with a hat-trick of birdie 3s from the 14th after running up a double bogey 6 at the 13th.
Peter’s earlier rounds were 72, 75 and 71.
Fellow-Fifer George Murray survived the halfway cut in his debut as a tournament pro and after opening with a pair of 75s came storming up through the field with a 71 and 70 for a share of 24th place on 291.
FIVE BIRDIES IN ROUND 4
The former Scottish amateur champion from Earlsferry Thistle had only five birdies over his first three rounds. But he matched that with five birdies in his last round – at the second, fifth, seventh, 10th and 16th. Pity about the bogeys at the third, 11th, 13th and 17th.
Jamie McLeary, the third Scot in the field, came joint 32nd with scores of 72, 78, 68 and 75 for 293. Jamie’s final round had a little bit of everything – an eagle at the 10th, birdies at the eighth and 15th, a triple bogey 8 at the seventh, a double-bogey 6 at the 12th and single bogeys at the fifth, ninth and 11th in halves of 40 and 35.
Rafael Enchique won the event with a seven-under-par total of 277, heading overnight leader and compatriot Ricardo Gonzalez down the home straight with a 68 to Ricardo’s 72. Angel Cabrera tied with Gonzalez for second place on 278.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71)
277 R Enchique (Arg) 73 70 66 68.
278 A Cabrera (Arg) 73 72 68 65, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 70 67 72.
281 A Cayete (Arg) 74 69 71 67.
Other totals:
290 P Whiteford (Sco) 72 75 71 72, E Romero (Arg) 76 74 67 73 (jt 20th).
291 G Murray (Sco) 75 75 71 70, C Moriarty (Ire) 73 74 72 72 (jt 24th).
293 J McLeary (Sco) 72 78 68 75, I Pyman (Eng) 77 71 69 76 (jt 32nd).
295 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 74 75 74 72 (jt 36th).
296 S Browne (Ire) 71 73 75 77 (jt 40th).
298 R Ames (Tri) 72 75 74 77 (jt 51st).
299 J Little (Ang) 74 76 79 70 (jt 55th).
303 S Davis (Eng) 76 73 77 77 (jt 63rd).