O'Rourke seventh, Grant 11th in South American Amateur
A late double bogey failed to faze Naas Conor O’Rourke as he closed with a birdie to finish a fine seventh in the South American Amateur Championship in Argentina.
The 25-year old, twice a winner in international competition last season, closed with a one under 71 to finish eight strokes behind Costa Rica’s Paul Chaplet at Martindale Country Club in Buenos Aires.
It could have been even better for O’Rourke, last year’s St Andrews Links Trophy and Nassau Invitational winner, as he was lying third coming down the stretch but ran up a double bogey six at the 16th.
A birdie at the 18th allowed him to shoot a third sub par round of out four and secured his place in the top 10 as Chaplet, last year’s Latin American Amateur champion, closed with a 69 to win by two shots from Chile’s Joacquin Niemann (69) on 14 under par with Jack Davidson of Wales third on 10 under.
Castle and UCD’s Alex Gleeson shot a second successive, two over 74 to finish 24th on two over as he double bogeyed his 17th hole, the eighth, having started on the back nine.
In the women’s championship, Mexico’s Isabella Fierro was the runaway winner, carding a final round 68 to triumph by an impressive 10 strokes on 14 under par from American duo Meghan Helene Stasi (66) and Julia Potter (66).
Lisburn’s Paula Grant birdied her last two holes to finish tied for 11th on two over par after a fine, two under par 70.
Clandeboye’s Jessica Ross tied for 30th on 14 over after a 79.
South American Amateur Open Championship, Martindale CC (Par 72)
1 Paul CHAPLET 69 70 66 69 274
2 Joaquin NIEMANN 71 66 70 69 276
3 Jack DAVIDSON 74 67 69 68 278
4 Luke BROWN 72 70 71 67 280
4 Carlos BUSTOS 69 71 72 68 280
6 Fernando CRUZ VALLE 70 67 70 74 281
7 Hugo BERNARD 75 68 72 67 282
7 Conor O´ROURKE 69 73 69 71 282
7 Marcos MONTENEGRO 65 70 73 74 282
10 Daniel HILIER 70 71 72 70 283
T24 Alex GLEESON 70 72 74 74 290
1 Isabella FIERRO 68 71 67 68 274
2 Meghan Helene STASI 74 76 68 66 284
2 Julia POTTER 72 72 74 66 284
4 Silvia M. GARCES 73 71 73 68 285
4 Bethan MORRIS 72 74 71 68 285
4 Ela ANACONA 69 75 68 73 285
7 Maria FASSI 74 72 70 70 286
8 Delfina ACOSTA 72 67 71 77 287
9 Maria A. HOYOS 73 71 72 72 288
10 Magdalena SIMMERMACHER 73 71 68 77 289
11 Paula GRANT 70 75 75 70 290
Other Irish
- T30 Jessica ROSS 76 74 73 79 302