Growing the game of golf has been a priority for golfing associations around the world. One of its most successful endeavors to date is the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, started in 2009. Since then, the growth of golf has exploded in Asia, with former Asia-Pacific Amateur Champions Hideki Matsuyama and Guan TianLang making their mark in professional golf! Another event aimed towards growing the game is the newly founded EurAsia Cup to be played at the end of March in 2014 and China is doing its part by stepping up in its quest for global golf domination!
With golf coming back to the Summer Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil in 2016, Latin America’s focus on golf is on the rise as well. Argentina’s efforts to groom the next elite golfers in their country has not been overlooked and to further the growth in Latin America, three of the most powerful men in golf gathered in Buenos Aires to unveil the Latin America Amateur Championship!
The Latin America Amateur Championship will be held on an annual basis from January of next year, with the winner and runner-up earning a spot in the Masters and a spot straight into the final qualifying for the Open Championship and the US Open! The Latin America Amateur Championship differs from the South America Amateur Championship in that the 27 golf federations in Central and South America, Mexico and Caribbean can send two amateurs based on their world rankings. The South America Amateur Championship is open to all amateurs around the world.
Regardless of who’s eligible to enter the tournament, events such as the Latin America Amateur Championship is all about inclusivity and bringing more people to the game. The inaugural event will be held at Pilar Golf Club in the outskirt of Buenos Aires, and also home of Argentina’s elite academy. We are confident this new event will be as successful as the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and before long, we’ll be seeing new young stars from this part of the world!
Source: CNN Living Golf
