Stuart Grehan shot a 77 in the first round of the Copa Juan Carlos Tailhade in Argentina. Picture: Thomas Caffrey/www.golffile.ieTullamore’s Stuart Grehan and Headfort’s Rory McNamara are nine shots off the lead after the first round of the Copa Juan Carlos Tailhade in Argentina.

West of Ireland champion McNamara opened with a four over par 75 at Los Lagartos Country Club with Grehan carding a 77 to leave Ireland tied for eighth place with Australia on 152. Scores

Denmark leads the competition by three strokes from South Africa on 143 with hosts Argentina, Uruguay and Spain tied for third, five shots off the pace on 148.

Uruguay’s Juan Alvarez shot a 69 to lead the individual standings on two under par.

Australia won the title last year from New Zealand and Ireland’s Reeve Whitson and Richard O’Donovan.

Team scores - Rd 1