2026 Latin America Amateur Championship: A Premier Event for Aspiring Golfers
The 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) is set to commence on Thursday, bringing together over 100 elite amateur golfers from across Latin America. This prestigious championship, held at the historic Lima Golf Club in Peru, offers participants a chance to secure invitations to the Masters, spots in the U.S. Open and Open Championship, and exemptions into renowned amateur events globally.
Championship Details
Location: Lima Golf Club
The 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship will take place at the Lima Golf Club, a par-70, parkland-style course established in 1924. Nestled in a residential area surrounded by high-rise buildings, the club has been the site of various significant tournaments, including the Copa Los Andes and the Pan American Games. The course underwent a redesign in 2018 by the esteemed firm Mackenzie & Ebert, ensuring a challenging yet beautiful playing experience.
Viewing Information
Golf enthusiasts can tune in to three hours of live coverage during each competitive round:
- Thursday & Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET
- Saturday & Sunday: 12-3 p.m. ET
Catch the action on ESPN, along with a 30-minute highlight wrap-up following the final round. Viewers around the world can also stream the broadcast on LAACgolf.com. The commentary team will include Rich Lerner, Andy North, Steve Burkowski, Emilia Doran, and John Sutcliffe.
Championship Format
The format of the championship consists of 72 holes of stroke play, with a cut after 36 holes, allowing the top 50 players plus ties to advance. In the event of a tie after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff will determine the champion.
Key Prizes for Competitors
Winning the Latin America Amateur Championship comes with significant rewards:
- Winner: Invitation to the 2026 Masters, exemptions into the 2026 Open Championship, 2026 U.S. Open, 2026 Amateur Championship, and the 2026 U.S. Amateur.
- Runners-Up: Exemption into final qualifying for both the 2026 Open Championship and the 2026 U.S. Open. Additionally, the runner-up and third-place finisher will gain exemptions into the Amateur Championship.
2026 Field Overview
The competitive field consists of 108 players from 29 recognized IOC countries and territories within Latin America, all members of the International Golf Federation. Among them, eight players rank in the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with Utah junior Gabriel Palacios leading the pack at No. 24. Notably, ten of the twelve top-10 finishers from the previous year’s tournament are returning.
Past Latin America Amateur Championship Winners
| Year | Champion (Country) | Venue (Country) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Matias Dominguez (Chile) | Pilar Golf Club (Argentina) |
| 2016 | Paul Chaplet (Costa Rica) | Casa De Campo (Dominican Republic) |
| 2017 | Toto Gana (Chile) | Club de Golf de Panamá (Panamá) |
| 2018 | Joaquin Niemann (Chile) | Prince of Wales Country Club (Chile) |
| 2019 | Alvaro Ortiz (Mexico) | Casa De Campo (Dominican Republic) |
| 2020 | Abel Gallegos (Argentina) | El Camaleon Golf Club (Mexico) |
| 2022 | Aaron Jarvis (Cayman Islands) | Casa De Campo (Dominican Republic) |
| 2023 | Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira (Argentina) | Grand Reserve Golf Club (Puerto Rico) |
| 2024 | Santiago de la Fuente (Mexico) | Santa María Golf Club (Panamá) |
| 2025 | Justin Hastings (Cayman Islands) | Pilar Golf Club (Argentina) |
The 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and determination as athletes vie for positions that could elevate their careers on the global stage. The outcomes here can significantly influence the future of amateur golf across the region and beyond.
