Jarryd Felton has stormed home to finish second in Argentina’s Southern Cross Invitational.
But even the newly minted national squad member’s final-day heroics couldn’t lift the Golf Australia team out of third place as France romped to victory in the team event in Buenos Aires.
Led by world No.149 Romain Langasque on his way to individual glory, France finished 18 under par in the four-round event at Nordelta Golf Club.
Ireland was second at 12 under, with the Aussies – Felton, Cameron Davis, Cory Crawford and Brett Coletta — third at five under par collectively.
The three best scores from each country’s squad counted to a daily total, with Langasque’s extraordinary 14-under-par total highlighted by the fact Canada, in fourth place, finished a combined 14 over par.
Felton, of Gosnells Golf Club in Perth, closed with a four-under 68 to finish five under overall and continue his stellar recent form.
National coach Dean Kinney said Felton, 19, had excelled and was “very solid in all areas” just a week after being pipped on the last hole in the Argentinian Strokeplay Championship.
The victims of his last-round charge included Sydney-based teammate Davis (74) who finished tied fifth individually at two under after his tournament-low 65 in the third round.
“Cam hit 15 greens today and (was) close but (had) no luck on the greens,” Kinney said.
Fellow national squad members Crawford, of Queensland, and Coletta, of Victoria, each closed with final-round 73s to finish five and nine over respectively.