Pulcini crowned at the LAAC: Passage to the Masters, US Open and Open Championship!

Mateo Pulcini Wins the Latin American Amateur Championship and Secures a Spot in the Masters

LIMA, Peru – Mateo Pulcini showed his composure on the course by making two important saves in the last hour of play, culminating in a crucial 3-foot par putt on the second playoff hole. This victory gives the Argentinian a coveted spot in the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship. Pulcini, at 25 years old, becomes the oldest winner of the Latin American Amateur Championship since its inception in 2015. The golfer finished the day with a round of 68 strokes, two under par, surpassing the Venezuelan Virgilio Paz, a senior at Missouri, who was seeking to make history for his country.

“We dream of playing and winning this. I have no words at the moment. I am very happy and grateful to the people around me.”
Mateo Pulcini

Peace, who also recorded a round of 68 strokes at the Lima Golf Club, tied for the lead with an impressive 25-foot birdie putt on the difficult 17th hole, par 4. Pulcini, who played college golf at Oklahoma Christian and then at Arkansas, stayed on top by sinking a 20-foot par putt. In the 18th hole during the regular round, Paz overshot on the green and his chip landed about 8 feet from the hole, allowing him to tie with Pulcini at 5 under par, with a total of 275 strokes, forcing the second playoff in the history of the tournament. Luck favored Pulcini on the first playoff hole. From a bad position in the right rough, his shot was about to hit the trees, but he managed to dodge them, remaining 40 yards from the hole. Pulcini executed an approach that left the ball 18 feet away and made the par putt, extending the playoff.

“There were a lot of nerves at the end. As always, I tried to have fun, to laugh. Being in the position I dreamed of at the beginning of the week, why not take advantage and enjoy?”
Mateo Pulcini

In the 18th hole, Paz found herself in the left rough, partially blocked by trees, and her shot veered to the right of the green, landing in an area of dirt next to a tree. After a chip of approximately 25 feet, she missed the par putt.