Justin Hastings is putting on a show at the Latin America Amateur Championship, firing an incredible 8-under 64 to take a commanding four-shot lead heading into the final round.
The 21-year-old from the Cayman Islands made it look easy at Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, dropping in eight birdies – four on each nine – for the lowest round of the tournament so far.
Rain clouds are threatening Sunday’s play, pushing organizers to try completing as much of the final round as possible on Saturday.
Hastings’ journey in this tournament is pretty remarkable. He first teed it up here as a 14-year-old kid in Chile, watching Joaquin Niemann take the title. Now he’s got a chance to follow in the footsteps of fellow Cayman Islander Aaron Jarvis, who won in 2022.
Argentina’s own Segundo Oliva Pinto isn’t going down without a fight. The 25-year-old local favorite bounced back from an early bogey with eight birdies, shooting a stellar 65 to sit four shots back at 12-under.
Mexico’s Jose Antonio Safa is right there too at 12-under, while six players are bunched up at 11-under.
The scoring has been absolutely lights out – 42 players are under par through three rounds, with 11 players within five shots of the lead.
What’s at stake? Only some of golf’s biggest prizes:
– A spot in the 2025 Masters at Augusta National
– An invitation to The Open Championship at Royal Portrush
– A place in the U.S. Open at Oakmont
– Entry into several prestigious amateur championships
The tournament has already launched some impressive careers. Chile’s Joaquin Niemann won here in 2018 and has gone on to become a star on the pro tours. Other notable players who’ve come through include Nico Echavarria, Sebastian Munoz, and Mito Pereira.
Started in 2015 by golf’s biggest organizations – The R&A, The Masters, and The USGA – this championship has become a launching pad for Latin American golf talent.
The pressure’s building in Buenos Aires. One more round to go, and someone’s life could change forever.
