SA pair finish fourth at Tailhade Cup in Argentina

South Africa’s Drikus Bruyns and CJ du Plessis 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 in Argentina on Sunday.

Boland’s Bruyns closed out his 72-hole campaign at the Los Lagartos Country Club near Buenos Aires with a one-over-par 72 to tie for seventh on 288 with Argentina’s Martin Kim.

Meanwhile Limpopo’s Du Plessis produced his best round of the week, firing a one over 70 to launch to a share of 14th on 292.

The South African’s combined total of 142, also their lowest for the week, saw the pair claim a share of fourth alongside the host country.

Geoff Drakeford of Australia, who took charge of the Individual Competition with a superb five-under-par 66 in the rain-interrupted third round, sealed a two-shot victory on 280 with a final round 74.

The Australian and his team mate Jordan Zunic also combined for a final round 141 to win the International Team Competition, claiming Australia’s record fifth victory in the 17 year history of this prestigious event.

Next, Bruyns and Du Plessis will tee it up in the 36-hole qualifier for the 117th Argentina Amateur Championship at the Pilar Golf Club from 13-18 November.

The leading sixty four players will go through to the match play stages to determine the amateur champion for 2012.

TEAM LEADERBOARD (top five)

564 Australia 144-144-135-141

577 New Zealand 142-145-144-146

579 Ireland 139-143-151-146

580 South Africa 144-148-146-142; Argentina 145-154-140-141

SOUTH AFRICAN INDIVIDUAL SCORES

280 Geoff Drakeford (AUS) 71-69-66-74 (winner)

288 Dirkus Bruyns 69-75-72-72

292 CJ du Plessis 75-73-74-70