The Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) kicked off with Manuel Merizalde, Patrick Sparks, and Gabriel Palacios leading the tournament after excellent opening rounds of 66 in extremely hot weather at the Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Merizalde, a 45-year-old Colombian veteran, made seven birdies and only dropped one shot during his round. Despite not practicing much, Merizalde felt that having low expectations allowed him to play with freedom. Sparks, from Peru, matched Merizalde with an impressive round that included seven birdies and an eagle. Another strong performer was Guatemala’s Palacios, who also finished the day at six-under.
Franco Ricciardelli and Mateo Pulcini from Argentina posted opening rounds of 67 to position themselves in contention at five-under. In a standout moment, Puerto Rican Jeronimo Esteve carded a hole-in-one en route to a 68. The pressure is mounting as players begin to consider the valuable prizes on offer in Buenos Aires. The LAAC champion not only receives a coveted invitation to the 2025 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club but also gains entry into The Open Championship and the US Open.
The LAAC was founded by The R&A, The Masters, and The USGA with the goal of developing golf in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Since its inception in 2015, the tournament has produced notable champions such as Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who won in 2018. The event has also seen a number of top players participate, including Nico Echavarria, Sebastian Munoz, Mito Pereira, and Alvaro Ortiz. The winner of the LAAC earns exemptions into prestigious championships such as The Amateur Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship.
As the competition progresses, the participants will continue to vie for the life-changing opportunities that come with being crowned the LAAC champion. The top finishers will also secure exemptions into final stages of qualifying for major events like The Open Championship and the U.S. Open. The LAAC serves as a platform for emerging talent from the region to showcase their skills and compete on a global stage. With a rich history of producing top players, the tournament remains a key event in the golfing calendar for Central and South America and the Caribbean. Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter for the latest updates and news from the world of golf.
