Australia sits just a single game behind Argentina after the opening round of the 2009 Southern Cross Cup at Wairakei International Golf Course in Taupo, New Zealand. The Australian team of Scott Arnold (NSW), Matt Jager (WA), Ryan McCarthy (TAS) and Brendan Smith (NSW) began their campaign against South Africa and won narrowly 3 to 2 . Arnold and Smith began their foursomes match against South Africa s Nicol Van Wyk and Adrian Ford in good form but a tight tussle for 18 holes left the result squared. Jager and McCarthy began their foursomes match against Steven Ferreira and Dean O Riley in a tight battle and were 3-down after four holes but rallied to be 1-down through the opening nine holes. The Australians fought back on the back nine and emerged with 2-up victory after birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. In the afternoon singles matches, Smith produced the performance of the day with a stunning 6&5 win over Ferreira. While the lead changed hands in the opening four holes, Smith then jumped away to be 6-up through 15 holes. Arnold and O Riley fought out a tense match with the Srixon Australian Amateur Champion succumbing to a bogey on the final hole and finished with a squared result. Jager took on Ford in another close match. The Western Australian was 1-up through the opening nine holes and extended that to two before Ford reeled him in and they also shared a squared match. McCarthy endured a tough start against Van Wyk with the South African winning 4&2. The second round of the Southern Cross Cup continues on Friday as Australia play Argentina.