Bruyns stopped in semi-final at Argentine Amateur

South Africa’s Drikus Bruyns cruised into the semi-final of the 117th Argentine Amateur Championship but the Boland amateur’s dream run in Argentina was halted in the semi-final on Saturday.

Bruyns booked his berth in the prestigious match play championship at Pilar Golf Club near Buenos Aires with rounds of 70 and 75 in the 36-hole qualifier on Tuesday.

The country’s fourth ranked amateur downed Teemu Tapani Toivonen from Finland 3&1 in the first round and thumped local favourite Jaime Lopez Ravarola 2&1 in the second to make the top 16.

A 3&1 victory over Argentine Jacquin Bonjour saw Bruyns reach the quarterfinals and he thumped Argentine Santiago Bauni 4&1 to reach the semi-finals.

Although Bruyns put up a strong challenge against Antoni Ferrer Mercant, the Spaniard took control of the match after the turn to beat the South African 3&1.

Mercant will meet New Zealander Joshua Munn in the final, after the Kiwi downed qualifier winner Garrett Rank from Canada 2/1.

Bruyns also and team mate CJ du Plessis also produced a strong performance in the final round to claim a share of fourth in the International Team Competition at the weather-interrupted Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup that preceded the Argentine Amateur.

In the Individual Competition, Bruyns carded rounds of 69-75-72-72 at the Los Lagartos Country Club to tie for seventh on 288, eight shots behind winner Geoff Drakeford from Australia. After earlier rounds of 75-73-74, Limpopo’s Du Plessis launched to a share of 14th on 292 with a superb final round one-over-par 70.

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