Dreyer through to second round
Ryan Dreyer produced his best golf so far in Argentina to thump Neil Raymond, of England, five and four, in the first round of the 115th Argentine Amateur Championship match play.
Not so lucky was the only other South African in the field, Daniel Hammond. The Wanderers Golf Club member lost to Scott Salmon, of Spain, two and one.
“I really found my game today,” enthused Dreyer in a telephonic interview after his round on Thursday.
Playing the Highland Park Country Club golf course, some forty five minutes from Buenos Aires city centre, the thirty eight year old Killarney Country Club amateur was six under par after fourteen holes.
“I was hitting the ball close all day. My round was made up of five birdies, an eagle and one bogey,” explained Dreyer.
He now goes into the second round where he will take on Thomas Baik, of Argentina. Baik finished tied for second in the thirty six hole qualifying, which concluded on Wednesday. The former South African Amateur Champion is in all likelihood going to have to produce form something like that of Thursday to make it through to the third round, which will be played on Friday afternoon.
Daniel Hammond played very steadily however it was not enough. The match lasted seventeen holes, the tall golfer from Central Gauteng played every hole in regulation.
Dreyer was in a good mood after his round. “With Daniel cheering me on tomorrow along with my caddie, Chino, I should be in good shape.” He went on to explain rather humorously how his caddie, whom he employed during his trip Argentina last year as well, communicate in a mix of broken English, Spanish and sign language!.
The quarter finals and semi finals will be played on Saturday. All matches are over eighteen holes except the final, which is over thirty six holes, that will be played on Sunday.
The winner of the Argentine Amateur Championship qualifies to compete in the 2011 British Amateur.