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Latin America Amateur
Mateo Pulcini clinches dramatic victory at 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship
18 Jan 26
6 mins
Argentina’s Mateo Pulcini clinched a dramatic playoff victory over Virgilio Paz Valdes of Venezuela to win the 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship at Lima Golf Club.
The 25-year-old achieved top-10 finishes in his two previous LAAC appearances and before breaking through this week to claim the Latin America Amateur trophy and secure places in the Masters Tournament, the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. Pulcini secured his win on the second playoff hole – the par-4 18th – when Paz Valdes overshot the green with his approach to land in the trees. Paz Valdes, a University of Missouri senior, chipped back out on to the green but failed to save par from 25 feet, leaving Pulcini to seal the win with a comfortable two-putt from the front edge. The No. 174 amateur in the world becomes the oldest champion in the 11-year history of the Latin America Amateur and the third from Argentina after 2020 winner Abel Gallegos and 2023 winner Mateo Fernández de Oliveira. “Unbelievable; having this opportunity to play this tournament and then of course to win it, it's something that I just imagine before coming here,” said Pulcini, who played his final collegiate season at the University of Arkansas. “So, that was my thought every night before sleep and yesterday I was thinking I was three up on 18, different than I imagined but the same result.”
Mateo Pulcini managed an historic victory at Lima Golf Club.
Pulcini and Paz Valdes finished tied with five-under-par totals of 275 after both produced two-under 68s to finish two shots clear of Tomas Restrepo of Colombia and Erich Fortlage of Paraguay. Pulcini traded five birdies and three bogeys in a final round which was delayed by just over one and a half hours due to fog first thing in the morning.
Bidding to become the first Latin America Amateur winner from Venezuela, the 21-year-old Paz Valdes carded four birdies along with two bogeys as he vied for the final-round lead with Pulcini. He recorded two top-15 finishes in his four previous Latin America Amateur appearances but couldn’t quite capitalize on Pulcini’s errant tee shot on the first playoff hole. Both players returned to the 18th, where Pulcini sealed his win.
As runner-up, Paz Valdes receives an exemption into Final Qualifying for The 154th Open, the 126th U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur Championship, as well as an exemption into The Amateur Championship.
“Yes, as runner up, I learned a lot this week,” he said. “Congratulations to Mateo, he played really well. But as I said before, this is golf and that’s how things go. I learned a lot and I'll get ready for next year.”
Virgilio Paz Valdes enjoyed an excellent week at the Championship.
Overnight leader Segundo Oliva Pinto’s challenge faded with a three-over 73 to end the week at two under and the leader from the first two rounds, Andy Schonbaum, who was one shot back at the start of the day, fell back with a four-over 74 to finish at even par alongside Mexico’s Eduardo Derbez.
Brazil’s Herik Machado produced the low round of the day with a five-under 65 to finish one under for the Championship.
Founded by the Masters Tournament, The R&A and the USGA in 2014, the Latin America Amateur Championship was established to further develop amateur golf in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. The event annually moves to top courses throughout Latin America and showcases the sport’s rising talent in the region, and the champion receives an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament and exemptions into The Open and the U.S. Open.
For more information on the Latin Amateur Championship, please visit LAACgolf.com and follow @LAAC_Golf on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.
The 2027 Latin America Amateur Championship will be played at Mayakoba’s El Camaleón course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico from 14-17 January.