With five Chileans in search of victory: today the LAAC 2023 begins in Puerto Rico, the best of amateur golf

This Thursday begins in Río Grande, Puerto Rico, the most anticipated tournament for amateur golfers on the continent: the 2023 Latin American Championship, which is considered the best for fans, due to its great incentives for those who win the glory in the contest. Namely, the winner will be able to qualify for the Augusta Masters and the British Open, two of the big four on the professional circuit, and the US Open amateur.

Chile is one of the countries with the most victories in the contest. Matías Domínguez (2015), Toto Gana (2017) and Joaquín Niemann (2018) scored with their titles, which five national players want to follow. Among them, Lukas Roessler, brother of Gana who considers this course as something favorable to his performance. “It’s more of an incentive. When Toto won it he wasn’t the favorite and that shows you that anyone can win it. And if you put your mind to it, of course you can. It is a motivation. He also helps me a lot, he pushes me forward and the only thing he wants is for us to do well,” he said.

This is his third participation in the competition, which will be held this year at the Grand Reserve Golf Club. And already last year he finished in ninth place. His expectations are high, in this regard. “The pitch is amazing, in great condition. You have to watch the wind, because in the afternoon it gets up a lot. The most important thing is to enjoy the day where we play in the morning and then in the afternoon try to have a good performance. That’s going to be the key,” he said.

Currently, he is studying Florida Gulf Coast Trading at Ford Myers and has already made up his mind about his path in the discipline. “I already have plans to turn professional after I finish college. I think college gives you a lot to grow as a person and as a golfer and gives you an edge to best prepare you for professionalism,” he expresses.

For Juan Ignacio Basagoitía, this tournament is very special, because it will open up a new path for him. “From this group, Martín (Cancino) and I work. I have been working for a year and I have dedicated myself more to the dough, it is one more life decision. I’m going out, it’s probably my last tournament playing for Chile. That’s where my motivation comes from to be able to end my career in the best possible way – because you never know when you’ll come back later – and playing for Chile, that’s what I love the most. It’s been about 10 years, I’ve been to a lot of countries and my best experiences have been playing for this shirt,” he says.

Martín Cancino also decided to continue being an amateur. “In my case, I have worked for five years in a private aircraft rental and sales company in Miami,” he says. Of course, their goals always aim for the highest. “As it’s an individual championship, there’s obviously an expectation to win the championship and try to do your best. And that doesn’t change,” he said. And as Roessler points out: “We have very close friends who have won this championship and that makes you feel like it’s possible.”

For their part, Martín León and Clemente Silva are based in the United States, where they have developed an interesting career in college golf. “I’m in my third year at the University of Utah and coming to these championships, I’m not going to say a relief, but playing individually isn’t something that shows up as much in college. So this week, it’s good to start the season”, confides the first. “I have two and a half years left. I plan to graduate in August and with the two years I have left in college to take another degree. I do premedicine with a specialization in biology. I’m graduating in August and after that I plan to take psychology courses, a degree I can complete in two years.” add.

While Silva studies business at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he is a freshman. “Next week I’m entering my second semester of business and I’m very happy. It’s very different from Chile, it’s playing golf all day and at the same time representing the university”, highlighted.

Regarding expectations, the young golfer believes that the tournament is very open. “Anyone can win, if you’re here it’s because you’re good at golf. Any of 108 players , everyone can have a great week and win. If you play good golf, you can have a clear chance,” he says.

While León completes: “The ground is very good, the green vegetables sweet and the fairways also. So there are holes that get longer, even when pulling readers it’s from him tee but the green vegetables they run well. The important thing will be to calculate the wind. Above all, lots of long iron. The wind is going to be key this week”.