The Women’s Amateur Latin America 2025 wrote one of the most exciting chapters in its history on Sunday, November 23. Colombian María José “Majo” Marín was crowned champion after an electrifying finish that required three playoff holes to determine the new queen of Latin American amateur golf at the challenging PGA Riviera Maya.
What seemed like a calm finish turned into an epic battle. Marín arrived at the 15th hole with a four-stroke lead over Emily Odwin (Barbados), but consecutive bogeys on holes 17 and 18 opened the door to a surprising finish. On the other side, Odwin made two birdies in the final four holes (15 and 18) to tie for the lead and force a playoff. Both finished with a total of 281 strokes (-7).
A Memorable Playoff
The first playoff hole—the par-4 18th—could have ended the story in Odwin’s favor, as she had a birdie putt from just five feet. The Barbadian, however, missed by mere inches, raising the tension another level.
On the second playoff hole, again at the 18th, the opportunity was Marín’s: a putt of just over six meters to win the championship. The Colombian did not strike a good shot, and the title remained undecided.
The third chapter, this time on the par-4 10th hole, was decisive. Odwin found the cross bunker off the tee, and in her attempt to reach the green, ended up in the water. The double bogey cleared the way for Marín, who did not hesitate this time and became the new Women’s Amateur Latin America champion. Odwin, for her part, repeated as runner-up, as she had at last year’s Lima Golf Club.
“It was a crazy finish… I have to confess I was really nervous. I put the championship at risk, but luckily I was able to hold on, and by the third playoff hole I knew it could be decided because it’s a very difficult hole due to the green, even though it’s short,” said the University of Arkansas player. “All day I had the phrase ‘third time’s the charm’ in my head, and it kept resonating with me. I was able to prove that I was capable of winning WALA,” added the 19-year-old Colombian, who entered Tulum ranked 8th in the WAGR.
A Victory That Completes a Circle
At 19 years old, Marín achieved the most important victory of her amateur career after having been runner-up twice (2021 and 2022). The win makes her the second Colombian to lift the WALA trophy, following in the footsteps of Valery Plata.
With this title, Marín earns invitations to compete in three of the world’s major women’s golf tournaments in 2026:
AIG Women’s Open – Royal Lytham & St Annes (England)
The Chevron Championship – The Club at Carlton Woods (United States)
The Amundi Evian Championship – Evian Resort Golf Club (France)
“We experienced an unforgettable event with an exciting finish between two of the best players in the field. We now have a champion who will surely represent us very well in the three Majors she will play next year. Having Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sörenstam in the same week at a women’s golf tournament fills us with pride,” said Mark Lawrie, Regional Managing Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at The R&A.
The Weekend’s Best
The final top-5:
T3 – 286 (-2): Amelia Ruiz Topali (Chile)
T3 – 286 (-2): Luana Valero (Colombia)
5 – 288 (Par): Krishny Elwin (Puerto Rico)
Marín, Odwin, and the rest of the field delivered an unforgettable edition of the Women’s Amateur Latin America, which in its fifth edition confirmed itself as the most competitive and demanding event since its inception, solidifying its role as the most impactful platform for the development of women’s golf in the region.