Irish duo qualify comfortably in Argentina

Canada’s Garrett Rank with the Kenneth R Gordon Davis Cup awarded to the leading qualifier in the Argentinian Amateur ChampionshipIreland’s Richard O’Donovan and Reeve Whitson finished comfortably inside the top 64 who qualified for the matchplay stages of the Argentinian Amateur Championship at Estancias Golf Club near Buenos Aires.

Lucan star O’Donovan fired an eagle and seven birdies in a rollercoaster 69 to make it in fifth place on four under par, just two strokes behind leading qualifier Garrett Rank of Canada. Scores

Whitson from Mourne Golf Club finished tied for 22nd on two over after making an eagle and three birdies in a two under 70.

Both have been drawn against local opposition in Thursday’s first round with O’Donovan taking on Lisandro Eyherabide and Whitson facing Sebastian Prado. Matchplay draw

Rank carded a second successive 69 to top the qualifiers by a stroke on six under par from Argentina’s Martín Kim (68), and Federico Torresagasti and Joaquín Bonjour, who both shot 70.