First Ferreira then Ford bow out in Argentina

Derik Ferreira and Adrian Ford lost their second and third round matches respectively in the 113th Argentine Amateur Championship match play played yesterday at the Nordelta Golf Course outside Buenos Aires.

It was Ferreira who was first to go. Playing in the morning, the 19 year old Gauteng North player was roasted by young Australian Jason Scrivener 8 and 7. “After four holes I was four down. Trying to come back from that put added pressure on me combined with the fact that I played badly,” said the disappointed Centurion Country Club member after his round.

Meanwhile Adrian Ford won his second round match against Santiago Abreu of Argentina on the 20th hole. Playing hole 17, the 21 year old Western Province player was one up. He hit his ball into a water hazard and consequently lost the hole. Ford halved the final hole thanks to an up and down from 70m for a par. Finishing all square they moved to the first hole which they both played in regulation. “Santiago hit his second shot, on the 2nd hole, into the water. My second finished over the green, I chipped up and he conceded the hole,” is how Ford explained the conclusion of this closely fought match.

Ford’s third round opponent was Scotsman Philip McLean, whom he played in the afternoon yesterday. Ford went down 3 and 2 disappointed in the fact he could not build any momentum. “I did not putt well and hit the ball badly all afternoon,” he lamented after his round.

Other notable performances were those of the only other Australian in the field, Brendan Smith, who surprisingly knocked out current British Amateur champion Reiner Saxton in the third round 3 and 2. Floris de Vries, the winner of the 37th Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup last weekend continued his successful form reaching the last eight. So did the 36 hole Qualifying Round winner, Scotsman Scott Borrowman who eliminated Matthew Haines of England in the third round 2 and 1.

The quarter finals and semi finals will be played today over 18 holes. The final, over 36 holes, will be played tomorrow to determine the 113th Argentine Amateur Champion.