RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Colombia’s Mateo Fuenmayor opened with a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the Latin American Amateur Championship.
Oregon junior Huenmayor arrived at Grand Reserve Golf Club last week after tying for seventh at the South American Amateur in Ecuador. He dropped his one shot on his 12th hole and made seven birdies.
Fuenmayor led Argentina’s Vicente Margiglio, Chile’s Martín Cancino and the duo of Mexico’s Santiago de la Fuente and Luis Carrera by a stroke.
The winner will receive an invitation to the Masters and the USGA will offer waivers to this year’s US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club.
Marziglio and de la Fuente were tied for second at last year’s Latin American Amateur Championship.
“I think my strength today was playing off the tee,” said Fuenmayor. I was able to make a lot of putts out of it.I could see the hole.It’s pretty big today,I’m not going to lie but it’s a really good start to the tournament.”
Last year, at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, de la Fuente made the playoffs with a birdie putt but failed. It stayed with him.
“For almost a year me and my team have been thinking about this tournament, counting the days to play again for the prize money.
Defending champion Cayman Islands’ Aaron Jarvis opened with 72.
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