Golf:Ireland dropped to joint-13th with Spain after the second round of the Women's World Amateur Team Golf Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Claire Robinson’s team represents one of the strongest in years with Curtis Cup teenagers Leona and Lisa Maguire, plus Danielle McVeigh, all in action for Ireland.
The three-player teams compete over four rounds – two at Buenos Aires Golf Club, two at Olivos Golf Club – with the two best scores from three to count each day.
Ireland finished tied ninth on level par 144 after the first round, thanks to 72s from Leona Maguire and McVeigh, but despite going one better in their second round they fell four places.
They would have been sharing 11th with Denmark and Japan, had Lisa Maguire not double-bogeyed the 17th to sign for a 73. Her sister carded a three-under-par 70, but Royal County Down’s McVeigh carded four bogeys for a 76.
Their 287 total is 14 adrift of leaders Korea, who shot into the lead with a 63 and 65 from Ji-Hee Kim and Jung-Eun Han.
The USA are a shot behind them in second, three ahead of Germany and seven in front of Sweden.
Mexico and Philippines (tied fourth and ninth) were yet to finish.
Ireland are hoping to improve on their 24th place finish when the event was last played at Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia two years ago when McVeigh teamed up with Tara Delaney (Carlow) and Niamh Kitching (Clairemorris).
The biennial team event is run by the International Golf Federation (IGF) in conjunction with the host nation's governing body of golf. Argentina last hosted the event back in 1972.