KARUIZAWA, Japan (AP) — Georgia sophomore Jaime Lopez Rivarola shot a 5-under 66 on Thursday to help Argentina take the second-round lead in the World Amateur Team Championship.
Alejandro Tosti added a 67 on Karuizawa 72 Golf East’s Oshitate Course to give Argentina an 18-under 268 total. Matias Simaski had a 70, with only the top two scores counting in the team total.
“We planned our round to try and come out strong from the start,” said Rivarola. “We knew the back nine at Oshitate was more accessible than the front and we did a really good job with some good birdies from 10 to 18.”
The United States was a stroke back along with Sweden and Switzerland. Beau Hossler shot 66, Bryson DeChambeau 67 and Denny McCarthy 68.
“The guys played really well today,” U.S. captain Jim Hyler said. “We’ve had six rounds all in the 60s. We left some shots out there, but still made lots of good shots and I’m really pleased with the way they hung in there today. We’re trending very well.”
Hossler, a sophomore at Texas, was tied for fourth in the individual standings, three strokes behind Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult.
“Anytime you can get all three rounds in the 60s is good,” Hossler said. “It’s nice to see that even the scores that aren’t counting are still low.
I think that’s a positive moving forward and I’m happy with my own position being 9 under through two rounds. I feel like the best mindset for all of us to have is to try and go out and win the tournament individually. That should take care of the team thing if all three of us finish in the top three.”
Kinhult had a 66 for Sweden and Adam Blomme added a 69. Benjamin Rusch shot 66 for Switzerland and Mathias Eggenberger had a 69.
Canada was fifth at 16 under. Taylor Pendrith had a 67, and Corey Conners and Adam Svensson shot 69.
The top teams will play Oshitate on Friday and finish Saturday on the Iriyama Course.
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