Paul Chaplet at the South American Amateur
(South American Amateur Photo)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (January 22, 2017) -- Costa Rica's Paul Chaplet wasn't able to defend his Latin America Amateur title a week ago but he picked up a nice consolation prize, a South American Amateur championship. Chaplet closed his week at Martindale Country Club with a 3-under 69 that pushed him to 14-under and two-strokes in front of runner-up and world No. 5 Joaquin Niemann.
The Arizona State commit used some late heroics to lift him to the title. Sitting at 12-under and one-stroke in front of Niemann with two holes remaining, Chaplet sealed the deal with birdies on each of the last two holes.
Niemann of Chile started the day two back and made an early charge with birdies on 1st and 3rd holes. However, from there it turned into a seesaw round for Niemann, as he birdied three holes and bogeyed three from Nos. 4-11. Niemann was able to pull within one shot of Chaplet after the leader bogeyed the 16th hole but that was as close as he would get down the stretch.
Down one with two holes remaining, Niemann quickly saw the deficit return to two shots when Chaplet birdied No. 17. Niemann, a USF commit, was able to end on a high note with an 18th hole birdie.
Jack Davidson of Wales reached 10-under and third place with a final round 4-under 68. Davidson completed his week with four birdies on the back nine, including consecutive birdies to conclude his week.
New Zealand's Luke Brown and Chile's Carlos Bustos ended up tied for fourth at 8-under.
The lead American was 2015 South American Amateur champion Scott Harvey at 3-under in 13th while Stewart Hagestad shared 24th at 2-over.
Argentina's Marcos Montenegro led after each of the first two rounds before settling for a 6-under seventh place finish.
Last weeks Latin American Amateur winner Tota Gana of Chile was part of the tie for 24th at 2-over
ABOUT THE
South American Amateur
A 72-hole stroke play championship, the South
American Championship was started in 2006 and
is organized annually by the Executive Secretary
and the governing body of the country in which
the tournament is conducted. The schedule
provides that the seat should be rotated in all
South American countries.
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