Scots restore pride 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.

Play was suspended for two-and-a-half hours due to a thunderstorm and, after play resumed in a steady downpour, lightning forced another stoppage at 4.42pm local time.

It was unlikely that all 69 teams would be able to complete their second rounds before Saturday. 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 tenth. 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, Argentina.

l Seve Ballesteros appeared in good spirits when he made a public appearance yesterday, opening a symposium on brain tumours supported by his foundation.

The five-times major winner has been battling back to health after being diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour in 2008. "I'm very well. Little by little and week by week I notice small improvements. I'm on the road towards normality," said Ballesteros who underwent four operations and chemotherapy. Walking unaided and speaking with much greater clarity than on previous occasions, Ballesteros joined in the question and answer session and quizzed his own doctor with a grin.

The 53-year-old Spaniard told the gathering a joke and went on to speak about his recovery programme. "The key is to have a strong mind, to accept the situation and to beat it," he said.

"I have been on a very strict diet and have done a lot of exercise. Gym work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday doing weights and stretching. I walk two hours a day, I sleep well, rest a lot and I laugh. It's important to laugh a lot."