Mateo Pulcini made a pair of clutch par putts down the stretch and finished with a 3-foot par save on the second playoff hole to win the Latin America Amateur Championship on Sunday. The victory earns the Argentine spots in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.
Pulcini, at 25 the oldest champion since the tournament began in 2015, closed with a 2-under 68 at Lima Golf Club. He outlasted Missouri senior Virgilio Paz, who was trying to become the first winner from Venezuela.
“We dream to play and to win this,” Pulcini said. “I have no words right now. I’m so happy, and so grateful for the people around me.”
Paz, who also shot 68, pulled into a share of the lead with a 25-foot birdie putt on the difficult par-4 17th. Pulcini stayed tied by draining a pressure-packed 20-foot par putt immediately after.
On the 18th hole in regulation, Paz went over the green and ran his chip about 8 feet past the hole, making the comeback putt to join Pulcini at 5-under 275 and force only the second playoff in tournament history.
That’s when the Argentine got his biggest break. From a bad lie in the right rough on the first playoff hole, his shot was headed straight for the trees but somehow missed all the big branches, leaving him about 40 yards short of the pin. He pitched to 18 feet and made the par putt to extend the playoff.
“It was a lot of nerves coming in,” Pulcini said. “As always, I tried to have fun, to laugh. Being in that position I was dreaming of at the beginning of the week, why not take advantage and enjoy?”
Paz found trouble on the second playoff hole. From the left rough, partially blocked by trees, he caught a flyer that went right of the green and settled in a dirt patch near a tree. Stooped over to stay below the limbs, he chipped out to about 25 feet and missed the par putt.
“It was a fun fight, a long day,” Paz said. “I’m proud of myself what I did. I go back to school happy.”
Pulcini, who played college golf at Oklahoma Christian and a final year at Arkansas, is the third Argentine winner of the championship. Chile has also produced three champions.
