Enrique Valverde Makes Cut, Finishes 32nd at 2020 Latin America Amateur Championship

Photo by Ellen O'Brien, CACC.
Photo by Ellen O'Brien, CACC.

MAYAKOBA, Mexico - - Junior golfer Enrique Valverde competed at the 2020 Latin America Amateur Championship this past weekend, making the cut and finishing 32nd overall while playing at the El Camaleon Golf Club on the Mexican coast near Playa del Carmen.

The Wildcat finished 32nd overall out of over 100 entrants, shooting a 303 (+19) in the four-round tournament. 52 of those golfers made the cut, allowing them to play the third and fourth rounds. Valverde, playing for his home country the Dominican Republic, shot a 73-76-79-75 for his 303.

He had his best round to open the tournament, posting a 73 (+2) on Thursday. He picked up a pair of birdies on that first day, first on the par three fourth and again on the par four 13th. But he suffered three bogeys on the final four holes, settling for the 73.

Starting on the back-nine on Sunday, Valverde got back to even par with a birdie on the par five 13th, and then closed out the back-nine with five straight pars to make the turn at even par. But four bogeys on the front nine brought him in with a 75 (+4) to end the tournament.

Argentina's Abel Gallegos won the tournament with a 280 (-4), shooting rounds of 73-70-70-67 to turn in the only sub-par card for the tournament. Mexico's Aaron Terrazas finished second with a 284 (E) tournament.

In 2014, the Masters Tournament, The R&A and the USGA announced the formation of the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) in an effort to further develop amateur golf throughout this region, and specifically in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The champion will receive the following: an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament; an exemption into the 149th Open at Royal St Georges; an exemption into The Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A; an exemption into the U.S. Amateur Championship and any other USGA amateur championship for which he is eligible.

The champion and runner(s)-up will receive the following: an exemption into sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open with an opportunity to earn a place in the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

Click here to see the full scoreboard.