The championship that forever changed the rich history of Latin American amateur golf celebrates ten years since its first edition in 2015, and this week at Pilar Golf Club, a unique atmosphere is palpable in the lead-up to the Latin America Amateur Championship. The confirmation of the event’s exponential growth a decade later, reflected in the development of the sport in the region and the increasingly high standards of play, is undeniable proof of a goal achieved.
Starting this Thursday, 108 players will strive to write a new golden chapter in this championship founded by the Masters, The R&A, and the USGA, which grants the winner the opportunity to compete in three of golf’s four Majors. The champion of the 2025 LAAC at Pilar Golf Club will receive an invitation to compete in the 2025 Masters Tournament and exemptions for The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush and the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont, where Ángel Cabrera became the only Argentine to lift the U.S. Open trophy in 2007.
Following Santiago de la Fuente’s victory in the 2024 edition in Panama, Mexico seeks its third LAAC title, with its main hope being Omar Morales, the highest-ranked player in the field according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). “When you step onto the first tee, the ranking means nothing,” said Morales, 21, who is in his final year at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). “To win, you have to play better than the other 107 on the course. Being the favorite doesn’t guarantee I’ll be the champion,” added the Mexican, who over the past two years has had numerous opportunities to test and improve his game at the highest level. In addition to the 2024 LAAC, he has competed in the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Opens (Los Angeles Country Club and Pinehurst), the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Amateurs, and three PGA TOUR events in Mexico.
Eleven Argentine players aim for a triple crown following victories by Abel Gallegos in 2020 (Mayakoba, Mexico) and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira in 2023 (Grand Reserve, Puerto Rico). Among them stands out Vicente Marzilio, who was one stroke away from forcing a playoff with Aaron Jarvis at Casa de Campo in 2022 and achieved his second consecutive top-3 finish the following year. “Winning here would be a dream, something I’ve worked hard for. Even though I came close twice, this year is special. Playing at home is unlike anything else, even more so on this course where I’ve played so many rounds it would be hard to count them. It could be an advantage, but the level of the field keeps getting better, and many players have a chance to win,” said Marzilio, who has a special bond with Pilar Golf Club, which also houses the Argentine Golf Association’s high-performance center.
With scorching temperatures in Buenos Aires, the 10th edition of the Latin America Amateur Championship will officially begin at 7:30 a.m. this Thursday, with Argentines Ramiro Acevedo (starting at the 1st tee) and Joaquín Ludueña (starting at the 10th) taking the inaugural shots.
LAAC in Numbers:
5: Different countries have won a Latin America Amateur Championship title: Argentina, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Twenty-eight countries and territories will be represented this year.
8: Players in the field competed in the inaugural LAAC in 2015 at Pilar Golf Club.
11-under par: The winning score the last time the LAAC was held at Pilar Golf Club, with Chilean Matías Domínguez taking the inaugural edition.
62: Players in the field represent 52 different U.S. universities as former, current, or future students.
Tournament Information
Countries and Territories Represented: 28
Course: Pilar Golf Club; Par 72, 7,308 yards
Dates: January 16-19, 2025
Field: 108 amateur players from Latin America representing the 28 countries and territories recognized by the IOC in this region, which are currently members of the International Golf Federation.
Format: Stroke play, 72 holes with a cut to the top 50 players and ties after 36 holes. In the event of a tie, the winner will be decided in a sudden-death playoff.
History: Created in 2014 by the USGA, the Masters Tournament, and The R&A to further develop amateur golf in Latin America.
Invitations and Exemptions: The champion will receive an invitation to the Masters Tournament and exemptions for The Open, the U.S. Open, The Amateur Championship, and the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship. The runner-up(s) will receive exemptions to the final qualifying stages for The Open and the U.S. Open in 2025. Additionally, the runner-up and third-place finisher will receive exemptions for The Amateur Championship.
Pilar Golf Club
Opened in 1992 and designed by the Ronald Fream Group, Pilar Golf is located approximately 60 kilometers north of Buenos Aires. The 27-hole course has hosted major championships, including the Argentine Open, PGA of Argentina events, multiple editions of the Women’s Amateur Latin America, and the inaugural LAAC. It also serves as the headquarters of the Argentine Golf Association.