It's an uphill struggle for Scots team in Argentina

SCOTLAND'S amateurs struggled to an over-par tally in the third round of the women's world team championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy in Argentina yesterday.

The Home Internationals champions had to settle for a four-over team total of 148 at the Olivos course as they remained mired in the middle of the standings at 28th with a 10-over 442.

Curtis Cup player Sally Watson posted a one-over 73 while Pitreavie's Louise Kenney added a 75 but Scottish champion Kelsey MacDonald continued to toil and had a non-counting 80, which ended with a triple-bogey seven on the last.

The Scots, who shared 11th in the 2008 championship in Australia, lag behind a dominant Korea, who charged into a 13-shot lead with a 10-under 134 over the Buenos Aires course.

Ji-Hee Kim made a hole-in-one at the par-three 14th on her way to a 68 while Hyun-Soo Kim pitched in with a 66 as the Koreans moved to the brink of the world title.

The USA, 13-time world champions, sit in a distant second on 420 while Germany are third on 423. Ireland, piloted by twins Leona and Lisa Macguire, lead the home nations in a share of 16th on 434 with England on 438 and Wales on 439.

lDespite not being at his fluent best, Scotland's Andrew Oldcorn ground his way to a round of 71 to share fourth place alongside his compatriot Martin Gray on the opening day of the Sicilian Senior Open.

In driving rain more in keeping with his home of Edinburgh than the holiday island of Sicily, Oldcorn posted three birdies at Il Picciolo Golf Club to sit three shots off the pace set by leader Graham Gunn of Canada.

The Senior Tour rookie, currently seventh on the Order of Merit, was pleased to be in with a chance of claiming his maiden title since turning 50 earlier in the year, after losing focus late in his round.

He said: "I could've easily played myself out of the tournament, so I'm pleased I didn't. (Playing partner] Ross Drummond probably didn't play any worse than me and ended up shooting a 77, so all in all it could've been a lot worse.

"It was only really towards the end of my round that I started to hit one or two loose shots, and that was probably due to a bit of tiredness as much as anything else. On the 16th green I lost my concentration and ended up three putting, so having got to two under I'm maybe a little bit disappointed to have finished on one under. But if you'd offered me that at the start of the day, I probably would've taken it.

"Off the tee it's extremely demanding, and doubly so in the conditions. So it's no surprise that nobody's shot a low one."

Gray also had to settle for a round of 71 after his day ended with a double bogey seven.