Scots stage battling fightback in Eisenhower Trophy

Banchory's James Byrne and Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) regained their pride as they pulled Scotland, the title-holders, up from the depths of the scoreboard on a weather-hit second day of the men's world amateur team golf championship for the Eisenhower Trophy at two courses in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

After a dismal team total of eight-over-par 150 over the shorter Olivos par-71 course on Thursday, Byrne and Stewart, both of whom had 75s, showed their true form on the longer Buenos par-72 lay-out. Byrne had a sparkling four-under-par 68 with a single blemish as he birdied the fifth, sixth, ninth and 15th in halves of 33 and 35.

Stewart matched the par of 72 with halves of 36, including an eagle 3 at the long 10th. The Scots were thus able to post a second-day total of four-under-par total of 140 - an improvement of ten strokes in 24 hours - for a halfway tally of 290.

That was still ten shots behind clubhouse leaders Denmark but it was still a great fightback by the Scots and they are "only" five shots behind the pre-tournament favourites, the United States - but nine shots ahead of the host nation.