Less than 48 hours before the start of the seventh edition of the Latin America Amateur Championship the feeling you breathe in Cottage, hosting for the third time this championship organized by the Masters, The R&A and the USGA, is pure happiness. Not only in the players, exclusive protagonists of this story, but in each one of those who devised and created an event that was a hinge in amateur golf in the region as of 2015.
The Founding Partners thought the Latin America Amateur Championship to promote and continue with the development of golf on this side of the world and when analyzing the path traveled, the balance is extremely positive. For the glittering names that passed through the LAAC and left their mark to later reach the top of the golf planet as Joaquín Niemann (Chile) and Sebastián Muñóz (Colombia) did; for how it managed to insert itself into the world golf context as an amateur event that grants exemptions for two of the four Majors (Masters Tournament and The Open), among other benefits; and because it changed the mentality of the amateur players themselves who put together their calendars and, in many cases, their desire to make the leap to professionalism, based on the LAAC.
He said it in December 2017 himself Niemann when, being number one in the world as an amateur, they asked him about moving to the rented field: “I’m going to play the LAAC, I want my revenge from 2017 (he lost the playoff with his compatriot Toto Gana) and if I win I’ll wait until after the Masters” . The story is well known: the Chilean conquered Prince of Wales CC in Santiago and had the luxury of playing the Masters to close his successful career as an amateur.
With the dream of repeating that feat (and others like it), the players of this particular 2022 edition began this Tuesday to unravel the secrets of Teeth of the Dog, perhaps one of the most spectacular courses, but at the same time the most demanding in the Caribbean. Pete Dye’s design is a true gem in La Romana, Dominican Republic, and throughout his history with the LAAC He showed both sides: in 2016, when Costa Rican Paul Chaplet surprised everyone with his young 16 years, only six players finished under par and the champion totaled 285 shots (-3). Three years later, the Mexican Álvaro Ortiz took advantage of the better weather conditions and “only” needed 274 shots (-14) while 19 players finished in the red.
“You have to adjust the numbers,” he said this Saturday Mateo Fernández de Oliveira after winning the South American Amateur Open in Quito, Ecuador. “We’re back at sea level so practice days on a spectacular course like Teeth of the Dog will be important,” added the Argentine, who arrives at Casa de Campo as the best player in the field in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (43rd. ).
The revolution of LAAC It also arrives for the local players who this Tuesday received the visit of the “Eastern Bull”, the official mascot of the Toros del Este, the La Romana baseball team, a true symbol in this country. Rhadamés Peña, Juan Cayro Delgado, Marcel Olivares, Julio Alfredo Ríos Brache, Rodrigo Sánchez and Enrique Valverde, are the six Dominican hopes in the 2022 edition.
With one more day of practice ahead, each of the participants in this seventh episode of the Latin America Amateur Championship He knows that he is facing a unique opportunity, the chance to be part of the great history of amateur golf in the region. It’s not another week. Managing the pressure, the nerves of a championship unlike any other will be key. Like the Argentine Abel Gallegos did two years ago in Mayakoba, Mexico, who at the age of 17 captivated everyone and became the first player from his country to win the LAAC.
To see the departure times for Thursday and Friday, click here.
