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Women's Amateur Latin America
Excitement grows for fifth staging of the Women’s Amateur Latin America
10 Nov 25
5 mins
Anticipation continues to grow for the fifth edition of the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship (WALA) next week, being staged in Mexico for the first time from 20–23 November.
Since its creation in 2021, through the joint initiative of The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation – specifically designed to develop, grow and strengthen women’s golf across the region – the WALA has established itself as the leading platform for the region’s best amateur golfers to showcase their talent, while also boosting visibility and raising the competitive standard. What sets the WALA apart and has made it such a landmark championship is its unique prize: the opportunity to compete in three major championships along the world’s best in 2026 – the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes (England), The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods (United States of America) and The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club (France).PGA Riviera Maya to host
The fifth staging of the championship, presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation, will take place at PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club in Tulum, Mexico. The championship breaks new ground in Mexico, following last year’s edition at Lima Golf Club in Peru and the first three editions at Pilar Golf in Argentina. Mark Lawrie, Regional Managing Director Latin America & Caribbean – The R&A, said, “We can only be delighted with the evolution that the Women´s Amateur Latin America championship has had. We´re fortunate to have been able to play great courses and we´re obviously delighted to be able to go and play what I consider a really great golf course in PGA Riviera Maya in Mexico. I think everyone´s going to be very pleasantly surprised with what they find near Tulum. “We´re extremely grateful for the reception we´ve had of the Grupo Piñero that owns PGA Riviera Maya. They´ve really made an outstanding effort to be the best hosts possible for this upcoming Women´s Amateur Latin America championship.”
Clarisa Temelo won the WALA in 2024 at Lima Golf Club in Peru.
The inaugural edition marked a turning point for women’s golf in Latin America, providing an elite stage for emerging players who previously lacked a championship of this magnitude. Since then, the championship has created an ideal competitive environment for young golfers to grow, dream big and showcase their potential. In addition, the WALA has inspired many other players across the region to get involved in the sport, expanding the base of women’s golf and consolidating its steady growth.
Talented players
Rob Ohno, President and CEO of the ANNIKA Foundation, added, “We are very excited that the Women’s Amateur Latin America is going to Mexico. So many great players are coming out of the country, including last year´s winner, Clarisa Temelo. More so, PGA Riviera Maya is a championship venue and will provide the players with a wonderful test.” One of the main highlights this year is the most competitive field in the championship’s history. The WALA will include 14 players ranked inside the top 300 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), reflecting the steady growth of women’s golf across Latin America in recent years. The overall level of competition will be even higher, as the entire field is made up of players ranked within the world’s top 800 amateurs, based on WAGR® positions at the time the field was finalised. More than half of the participants in this edition have current or past ties to universities in the United States of America. This connection with elite collegiate golf not only raises the competitive standard but also adds further strength to this year’s field.
PGA Riviera Maya will host the 2025 Women’s Amateur Latin America championship.
Fourteen countries represented
The championship will feature a total of 60 players from 14 countries: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. This diversity reflects the increasing strength and investment in women’s golf throughout Latin America. The field includes a blend of experienced competitors – many returning from previous editions and top-ten finishers in 2024 – alongside fresh faces making their championship debut. For several of these players, the WALA represents their first major international experience: an opportunity to test themselves against the best and showcase their talent on Latin America’s most prominent amateur golf stage.Field facts:
- The average age of the participants is 19.7, ranging from 13 to 51.
- Among this year’s field, 20 currently compete at US universities, five have committed to an institution, and ten have attended or graduated.
- Colombia will have the largest contingent with 11 players, followed by Mexico with nine, Argentina and Bolivia with six each, and Brazil and Chile with five apiece.
- A total of 20 players will make their WALA debut.