SA pair launch Amateur Championship campaign
Just a day after South Africa’s Dirkus Bruyns and CJ du Plessis rallied to a share of fourth in the International Team Competition at Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup in Argentina, the pair were put through their paces at the 117th Argentine Amateur Championship on Tuesday.
Bruyns from Boland opened his campaign at the Pilar Golf Club near Buenos Aires with a two-under-par 70 to finish within striking distance of the four pacesetters, who share the lead on three under 69 after the first round of the 36-hole Qualifier.
South Africa’s No 4 ranked player, who was the mainstay in the team competition, dropped four shots, but half a dozen birdies saw him to a share of fifth alongside Argentine Santiago Bauni.
Du Plessis also dropped four shots, but unlike his countryman, the Limpopo amateur failed to convert for birdies and carded a two over par 74 to tie for 25th.
The four leaders are Garrett Rank from Canada, Dutchman Lars van Meijel and local heroes, Federico Torresagasti and Joaquin Bonjour.
The leading sixty four players from the qualifier will advance to the match play stages to determine the amateur champion for 2012.
