Andres Gallegos (Argentine G.A. photo)

Andrés Gallegos climbed into first with a two day total 4-under, adding a round of 3-under 69 to his first round 71. Gallegos is one of the top ranked South American players. He won the 2014 Argentine Amateur, a match play event that is considered the biggest in the country.

His card today was almost perfect, as he recorded two birdies on each nine and just a single bogey on the back.

Intermittent rain and lightning resulted in a two-hour delay today, as first round leader Jesus Montenegro slid down the leaderboard after posting 77.

FIRST ROUND STORY

DEL VISO, Argentina (Feb. 18, 2016) --At the end of the first round of the Argentine National Stroke Championship, Jesus Montenegro has the solo lead after firing a round of 5-under 67. The player from Mar del Plata Golf Club attacked the course from the start and didn't let up on the back nine. The tournament is being played at Golf Club Argentino in Del Viso.

Montenegro recorded four consecutive birdies from hole Nos. 2 through 5, then added three more on Nos. 10, 11, 15. He leads by two over Ramón Rébora of The Jockey Club, who fired 3-under 69.

Six players are tied at 1-under 71.