Justin Hastings takes commanding lead at Latin America Amateur
Justin Hastings (Latin America Amateur Photo)
Recap courtesy of Latin America Amateur ChampionshipJustin Hastings of the Cayman Islands carded the low round of the Latin America Amateur Championship thus far with an eight-under-par 64 to take a four-stroke lead after the third round at Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Due to the anticipated inclement weather forecast for Sunday, players will begin their final round shortly after the conclusion of the third round on Saturday afternoon. The final group will tee off at 2:24 p.m.
News of a potential 36-hole day and a softened course after rain on Friday spurred a barrage of scoring at the top of the leaderboard. Four players recorded rounds of 65 or better but none matched the 64 by Hastings.
Hastings, who finished fourth a year ago at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama City, Panama, tallied nine birdies and one bogey on Saturday morning, matching the single-round Championship record for birdies. The San Diego State University senior is making his sixth appearance in the Championship.
“I’ve improved every year I’ve played. Coming in fourth last year and knocking on the door, I really believe that I can get it done this week,” said Hastings ahead of the Championship.
Argentina’s Segundo Oliva Pinto recorded eight birdies against just one bogey, rising to a tie for second alongside Jose Antonio Safa of Mexico at 12 under par. Oliva Pinto, who is making his fifth appearance, has finished inside the top 15 of the Championship on four occasions. In three appearances, Safa owns two top-25 LAAC finishes, including T-15 in Panama a year ago.
Another hometown hopeful, Mateo Pulcini recorded four birdies and an eagle on the par-4 15th – which was drivable in today’s conditions – entering a six-way tie for fourth place with Guilherme Grinberg of Brazil, Chile’s Simon Roessler, Mexico’s Omar Morales, Peru’s Patrick Sparks and Gabriel Palacios of Guatemala.
Seven different countries and territories are currently represented inside the top 10, including Brazil, Guatemala, Paraguay and Peru – all of which have yet to win a title at the Latin America Amateur.
View results for Latin America Amateur
ABOUT THE
Latin America Amateur
Founded by the Masters Tournament, The R&A and
the USGA, the LAAC was established to further
develop amateur golf in South America, Central
America, Mexico and the Caribbean. The LAAC is a
72-hole stroke play event open to a field of 108
amateur players in Latin America, chosen by their
respective national federations according to their
World Amateur Golf Ranking. Past winners of the
championship, as well as last year’s top-five
finishers, are automatically entered into this year’s
championship.
The LAAC champion annually receives an invitation
to compete in the Masters at Augusta National Golf
Club, the U.S. Open and the British Open. The
champion is also awarded full exemptions into The
Amateur
Championship, the US Amateur Championship and
any other USGA amateur championship for which he
is eligible.
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