Galbraith and Gleeson into last 32 at Argentinian Amateur
Alex Gleeson (Castle) and John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) lining up their putts on the 9th green in the 2015 City North Hotel sponsored East of Ireland Championship at County Louth Golf Club (01/06/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Alex Gleeson (Castle) and John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) lining up their putts on the 9th green in the 2015 City North Hotel sponsored East of Ireland Championship at County Louth Golf Club (01/06/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

The rollercoaster trip to South America continued for Alex Gleeson and John Ross Galbraith on Thursday when they won their first round matches to move into the last 32 at the 121st Argentinian Amateur Championship in Buenos Aires.

Castle and UCD man Gleeson had a top 10 finish in the Copa Tailhade, then shot 86 in the first qualifying round for the Argentinian Amateur at Estancias Golf Club on Tuesday before recovering with a 72 to force a playoff for the last spot in the matchplay draw.

The Irish Close champion won the playoff to earn a first round showdown with leading qualifier Kyle McLatchie, the world No 178 from South Africa.

And he showed his class to win 3 and 2 and set up a last 16 match with Colombias' Johan Sebastian Lopez Bulla, the world No 1055.

Whitehead star Galbraith, who missed the cut in the Copa Tailhade but then qualified well in Estancias with a pair of 70s, beat Javier Pintos 5 and 4 and now takes on Axel Ochoa for a place in the last 16.

The title favourite remains Uruguay's Juan Alvarez, the world No 27.

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