Cancino and Basagoitía shine on the first day of Latin American amateur golf in Puerto Rico

One fine day, the national contingent had the first round of the 2023 Latin American Amateur Championship , which takes place in Río Grande, Puerto Rico. Despite the heavy rain that fell on Thursday morning at the Grand Reserve Golf Club, the course held up well and the conditions of the morning session were optimal for developing the round.

Juan Ignacio Basagoitía gave one of the surprises and entered the fight, with a card of 68 moves (-4), remaining in sixth place. While the afternoon Martín Cancino showed a very high level to climb to second place in the competition, with 67 hits (-5) and one shot behind the leader, the Colombian Mateo Fuenmayor (-6).

The best Chilean of the time was able to master the atmospheric complications from the tenth hole. with six birds (in pavilions 11, 14, 4, 5, 6 and 9) and a bogey (15), had almost no flaws in his game and celebrated a great job.

“It was a very good round, I had to play in the afternoon. The wind was a very important factor and I’m happy with this start. Of course, you can’t win a championship on day one, but you can lose it. If you play very badly, then it becomes very complicated. So happy to have started well,” he said.

On how he faced the wind, the Chilean commented: “You try to hit the ball a bit lower, play good sides, and today I was very good at that kind of shooting. You have to be strategic; knowing when to attack and when not to attack, but the wind was the number one factor.”

Compared to his expectations for the day on Friday, the national athlete was content to open. “Tomorrow I have to play in the morning, so it will definitely be better. Anyway, the championship is very long, it’s only the beginning and I don’t have so many expectations yet,” he stressed.

Of them birds in holes two and three, respectively, predicted that the day would be good for Juan Ignacio Basagoitía , who in the preview announced his retirement to devote himself to his work. So, two throw-ins in the 11th and 18th capped off an error-free day.

“Without a doubt, starting well when you haven’t played much – that’s the truth – obviously helps build confidence. I’ve done two putters from afar in one and I put a good one putter in two and three. It gave me a boost. Then throughout the ride I had a few holes where I had putters to save and continue to the point of peers and the birds, and I was able to put them on. I found myself with a bird at 18 very good and the truth is that when you play like that everything comes out more or less easily and it’s very pleasant. There is a tired tournament and I hope to continue to play it well. you have to do well swing and hit good shots. That’s what you have to keep in mind,” he said.

Meanwhile, Clemente Silva didn’t back down on his debut and finished with 71 impacts (-1) thanks to two birds (5 and 18), which put him in box 24. “Today was my LAAC debut. At first I was nervous, because it’s the most important tournament in the region and it’s one of the best in the world. I felt very good, I hit the ball very well. On the 14th hole, I hit the ball in the water with the drivebut i did well bogeybut in general I played very well tee a green. The putters they didn’t want to come in. suddenly here green vegetables with the hair, they make things more difficult, but I’m happy”.

For its part, Martín León and Lukas Roessler did not have a good day, finishing respectively at positions 57 (+2) and 72 (+4), and they will have to fight hard to enter the 50 (plus ties) that will seek this Friday to overcome the cut on the Puerto Rican turf.

Meanwhile, during the day, it was confirmed Panama City as the venue for the event in 2024.