Harvey, Van der Merwe through Argentine Amateur qualifier

South Africa’s Jared Harvey and Graham van der Merwe will start their match play campaign at the 116th Argentine Amateur Championship today after successfully completing the qualifier on Wednesday.

Just 24 hours after the South African pair rallied to a third place finish in the 16th staging of the international Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup, the local duo were put through their paces in the 36-hole qualifier for the Amateur at the San Isidro Golf Club in Buenos Aires.

While Van der Merwe was the mainstay in the team competition, Harvey dominated in the qualifier.

Tied for 20th after an opening 74, the reigning South African Amateur champion began the second round with back-to-back birdies, eventually signing for a 71 to tie for 13th on three-over-par 145.

Meanwhile Van der Merwe added a second round 73 to his opening 75 for a six-over-par 148 and a share of 27th position on the final leaderboard.

Local favourite Joaquin Bonjour won the qualifier on seven-under-par 135 with rounds of 69 and 66.

Harvey will face off against Paul Lockwood of England in today’s first round of the match play section, while Van der Merwe will square off against Argentina’s Mariano Guiraldes.

ABOUT THE ARGENTINE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Considered one of the world’s premiere amateur golf events, the Argentine Amateur Championship is also one the oldest national amateur golf championships. The only amateur championships to supersede the Argentine Amateur Championship in longevity are the British Amateur Championship (1885), Irish Amateur Open Championship (1892), Irish Amateur Closed Championship (1893), U.S. Amateur (1894) and the New Zealand Amateur Championship (1893). Following the 36 holes stroke play qualifier, the leading sixty four players go through to play in the match play stages, which will determine the 2011 champion. The Championship concludes on Sunday, 20 November 2011.

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