The countdown that began on that Sunday in November 2023, when Ela Anacona sank the final putt at Pilar Golf to claim the title of the third edition of the Women’s Amateur Latin America, has reached zero. For the first time in its short but rich history, the flagship women’s amateur golf event in the region moved from Argentina to the Lima Golf Club in Peru, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
This year, the top 60 players from Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the WAGR, will represent 12 countries in an extraordinary event organized by the R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation. The first round of the championship will begin this Thursday, November 21, 2024 on a 5,920-yard (par 71) course located in the heart of the San Isidro district in Peru’s capital.
“Lima Golf is one of South America’s great clubs. It has made changes to its course and facilities to meet the high standards required to host major regional tournaments, and the results are up to the challenge. We believe it is an excellent venue for this new edition of WALA,” said Mark Lawrie, Regional Managing Director for the R&A in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mexico’s Clarisa Temelo, the highest-ranked player in WAGR (ranked 136th), arrives in Lima expecting a fantastic week of golf in Peru. “WALA is the championship that all of us want to win because of the opportunities it provides,” she said on Tuesday during a photoshoot on cliffs overlooking the stunning Pacific Ocean. Alongside her, Ela Anacona (the defending champion) and local players María Salinas and Luisamariana Mesones shared the same enthusiasm and determination to lift the WALA trophy on Sunday afternoon.
On Wednesday, the traditional AM-AM event took place, featuring players and special guests who enjoyed nine holes on a perfect day for golf in preparation for a championship that will welcome the greatest female golfer of all time: Annika Sörenstam. She will arrive on Saturday to host a golf clinic for WALA participants. “I want to meet the players, answer their questions, and spend quality time with them. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone during my clinic on Saturday, November 23, after the third round of the championship. It’s one of my favorite parts of the week, where I get to share my stories and knowledge about the game,” said Sörenstam.
The WALA champion will join the world’s top female professional golfers in three Majors next year: The Chevron Championship (The Club at Carlton Woods, USA), The Amundi Evian Championship (Evian Resort Golf Club, France), and the AIG Women’s Open (Royal Porthcawl, Wales).
Women’s Amateur Latin America 2024 – By the Numbers
60 players from 12 countries
Most from Colombia (11 players)
Argentina with 8, Peru (host) with 7, Chile and Mexico with 6
Other participating countries: Argentina (8), Barbados (1), Bolivia (5), Brazil (4), Chile (6), Colombia (11), Guatemala (2), Mexico (6), Paraguay (4), Peru (7), Uruguay (3), and Venezuela (3)
Top Players in the Field (WAGR Rankings)
136 Clarisa Temelo (Mexico)
163 Luisamariana Mesones (Peru)
168 Michelle Melandri (Chile)
202 Ela Anacona (Argentina) (2023 Champion)
213 María Mercedes Tablante (Venezuela)
230 Luana Valero Moyano (Colombia)
General Statistics
2023 Champion: Ela Anacona (Argentina)
19 debut players in WALA
41 returning players, including 14 who have participated in all three previous editions
7 finished in the Top 10 in 2023, led by Ela Anacona, who won at Pilar Golf Club in Argentina
Annika Sörenstam and the ANNIKA Foundation
Founded by Sörenstam, the ANNIKA Foundation provides opportunities for female golfers at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Through partnerships with key organizations, the foundation supports initiatives in exercise, nutrition, and golf education.
For more details, visit the championship website at walagolf.com and follow WALA on Twitter and Instagram.