McLatchie triumphs in Argentina

South Africa’s first golf Olympian Kyle McClatchie blazed to a new tournament record in the 36-hole stroke play qualifier for the 121st FiberCorp Argentine Amateur Championship in Argentina on Monday.

The Ekurhuleni golfer lifted the Kenneth Gordon Davis Cup on a winning score of 12-under-par 132.

He finished two shots ahead of first round pacesetter Andy Schonman from Argentina and three shots clear of Uruguay’s Juan Alvarez, who shared the International Team Championship victory at the 45th Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup at Los Lagartos Country Club on Sunday.

McClatchie trailed by one after an opening 67 at the Stays Golf Club and a bogey-free 65 in very windy conditions in the final round steered him to the top.

He surrendered two shots in the first round, but he negated the damage with seven birdies, including three birdies on the trot over the closing holes. In the final round, McClatchie burst from the blocks with a trio of birdies, notched further gains at 14 and 16 and signed off in style with an eagle at the par five 18th in a flawless performance.

“I’m really happy with the result, because I’ve been working very hard on the game back at home and I came to Argentina with great confidence,” McClatchie said.

“I played really solid last week in the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup, but I just couldn’t quite find those low scores. This week was a totally different golf course and I just came out with a good mentality.

“I played some really good golf both days and I finished great with birdies on 14 16 and made the 10 footer for eagle on the last hole. It was a bonus to win and I’m really chuffed with the result.”

Meanwhile fellow South African Aubrey Beckley was equally impressive.

Beckley – who partnered McClatchie to a top five finish in the team competition – grabbed a share of fifth alongside Irishman John Calbraith, Rafael Miranda from Ecuador, Spain’s Javier Sainz, Cristobal del Solar from Chile and Sweden’s Martin Eriksson.

The North West golfer followed an opening 73 with a five under 67 that featured a bogey and four birdies and he also signed off with an eagle three at the closing hole.

The 64 players advanced to the Match Play stage of the world’s fifth oldest amateur championship, which gets underway today.

McClatchie will face number 64, Alex Gleeson from Italy, and Beckley goes up against local hope Gaston Bravo, who tied for 58th in the qualifier.

RESULT – STROKE PLAY QUALIFIER: Click HERE

MATCH PLAY SCORING: Click HERE

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.

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