Improbable Break In Latin America Amateur Gets Argentinian Into Three Majors

For Mateo Pulcini, luck turned into a dream astatine Lima Golf Club successful Peru.

At nan Latin American Amateur Championship, nan 25-year-old Argentinian recovered himself successful a sudden-death playoff against Venezuela’s Virgilio Paz, pinch a spot successful nan Masters, U.S. Open and British Open astatine stake. 

Perhaps that fazed Pulcini, aliases astatine slightest it appeared that way. He deed his tee changeable pinch an robust into nan correct rough, placing his shot successful nan correct rough, truthful he tried to musculus his 2nd changeable connected nan green—and things didn’t look bully upon impact. The changeable came retired low, yet improbably skirted nether a character straight successful Pulcini’s line, settling astir 40 feet from nan hole. He’d past spot to 20 feet and make nan par putt to enactment alive. 

On nan 2nd other hole, Paz made bogey aft chipping to 40 feet connected his 3rd changeable and missing nan par putt. And Pulcini would seal nan woody by putting to 3 feet from disconnected nan greenish and tapping successful for a winning par. 

Fantasy had go a reality. 

“We dream to play and to triumph this,” Pulcini said. “I person nary words correct now. I’m truthful happy and truthful grateful for nan group astir me.”

Pulcini first played collegiately astatine Division II Oklahoma Christian, wherever he was a three-time All-American successful 4 years, earlier transferring to Arkansas and finishing his 2023-24 play pinch conscionable 5 starts and 2 apical 20s. 

Now, he’s nan oldest LAAC victor since nan tournament’s inception 10 years ago. 

“It was a nosy fight, a agelong day,” Paz said aft nan defeat. “I'm proud of myself for what I did. I spell backmost to schoolhouse happy.”

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