Latin America Amateur Championship – Kick Off

Play is underway in the Latin America Amateur Championship

Argentina's representatives drive-in to mark the start of the Latin America Amateur Championship
Argentina's representatives drive-in to mark the start of the Latin America Amateur Championship
(Image credit: LAAC)

The players are underway in the inaugural Latin America Amateur Championship at Pilar Golf in Buenos Aires.

The waiting is over and the players are underway here in Buenos Aires as the best amateur golfers from South and Central America and The Caribbean do battle for the inaugural Latin America Amateur Championship.

Last night was the official Opening Ceremony for the tournament at Pilar Golf. There were stirring speeches by representatives from each of the founding partners that highlighted the fabulous opportunity for those competing this week.

The winner of this tournament will receive an invitation to the 2015 U.S. Masters. He will also, together with the runner-up or runners-up, earn a place in Final Stage Qualifying for the Open Championship and an exemption to the Amateur Championship. With the involvement of the USGA in the LAAC, the winner of this event will also gain an exemption into the U.S. Amateur Championship and he (and runner(s) up) will be given a place in Sectional Qualifying for the U.S. Open.

“Tomorrow we give birth to a new tradition, one forged with the accomplishments of the heroes of the past and present such as Roberto De Vicenzo, Ángel Cabrera and many others,” said Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne. “These men have paved a way and are the motivation for this young Latin American players to follow in their footsteps. This is one of the reasons why the three organisations have joined forces to create the Latin America Amateur Championship.”

Chairman of the R&A Wilson Sibbett stressed the importance of this tournament in the extension of the R&A’s long-standing work to develop golf in the region.

“The Latin America Amateur Championship will be an excellent platform for the elite amateurs throughout this region, who will compete at the highest level and will gain a valuable experience,” he said. “The R&A is truly delighted to support this event which is a continuation of our constant effort to develop the game in all of Latin America.”

All the competitors were in attendance at the event last night and the excitement amongst them was electric. The climax of the Opening Ceremony featured all the Argentinian players lined up on the practice ground, simultaneously striking a drive off into the fading daylight, triggering a spectacular fireworks display: Inspirational stuff!

Leading contenders for the LAAC

And the early starters are clearly feeling inspired. There are already a number of players under par after only nine holes of the opening round. Jesus Dario Montenegro of Argentina is setting the early pace on two-under.

I’m going out to take a stroll onto the fairways to catch some of the action. Yesterday’s practice day was relaxed and the players were laughing and joking with each other as they made their way round. Now the competition has begun for real, I expect the game faces to be well and truly on!

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Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?