Sometimes achieving your dreams requires a bit of luck. At least, that’s what Mateo Pulcini found out on Sunday at the Latin American amateur Championship.
With a spot in the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship on the line, the 25-year-old from Argentina stepped up to the first playoff hole and hit his iron into the right rough.With his ball buried, pulcini tried to muscle his second shot up near the green. But it came out low and looked like it would hit a tree, dooming his chances. Though,the ball somehow missed all of the big branches and made it through,leaving Pulcini a 40-yard chip shot.
Pulcini’s next shot checked up to 20 feet, and he poured in the ensuing par putt to send his playoff against venezuela’s Virgilio paz to a second hole.
On that second playoff hole,Paz yanked his tee shot into the left rough,leaving a difficult approach. Pulcini, playing it safe, hit the fairway, setting up a straightforward approach. He stuck his shot to 15 feet, while Paz’s approach came up short. Paz chipped to 3 feet, but missed, giving Pulcini the win.
“It’s amazing,” pulcini said. “I was just trying to hit the fairway and make a par. I can’t believe I won.”
The victory earns Pulcini invitations to the 2026 Masters Tournament, the 2026 U.S. Open, and the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. He’s the second Argentinian to win the LAAC, joining Alejandro Tosti (2015).
Paz, 19, was trying to become the first Venezuelan to win the LAAC. He finished runner-up for the second consecutive year.
Pulcini finished the 72-hole tournament at 12-under 276, tying Paz. The pair finished two shots ahead of Chile’s Gaston Fernandez.
key Takeaways
- Mateo Pulcini of Argentina won the 2026 Latin American Amateur Championship.
- His victory secures invitations to the Masters, U.S. Open, and open Championship.
- Pulcini’s win came after a dramatic playoff, highlighted by a lucky shot on the first hole.
- Virgilio Paz of Venezuela finished as the runner-up for the second year in a row.
Publication date: 2026/01/25 13:58:08
