Scott Harvey victorious in Peru at South American Amateur

January 25, 2015 | by Conner Penfold of AmateurGolf.com

Scott Harvey

The reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion earns another big exemption, this time to the European Amateur, with a win in Peru

LIMA, Peru — Scott Harvey is in the business off racking up prestigious amateur tournament exemptions. The USGA sent the Greensboro, N.C. native to Lima, Peru this week to represent the United States, along with three others, at the South American Amateur, by virtue of his 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur win at Saucon Valley.

The Mid-Amateur win granted him two years access to the U.S. Amateur, and of course The Masters this April, among other things. But on Sunday afternoon in Peru's capital city, Harvey had not only another exemption to add to his list, but another win.

THIRD-ROUND RECAP: Scott Harvey takes back South American Amateur lead
SECOND-ROUND RECAP: Tourinho, Harvey share 36-hole lead
FIRST-ROUND RECAP: Scott Harvey leads early with 66

Leading by a stroke over Argentinians Matias Simaski and Andres Schonbaum entering the final round, Harvey extended that lead to two with a one-over 73 on Sunday, winning the South American Amateur and earning a spot in the 2015 European Amateur — one of the most elite events in world.

Harvey got off to a hot start in Thursday's first round, posting a bogey-free 66 to lead by one over Marcos Montenegro and Juan Alvarez.

"The first round felt really good and it could have been so much lower, to be honest with you. But I'm not complaining," Harvey said.

He posted back-to-back 70s on Friday and Saturday, sharing he lead at the halfway point with top Brazilian amateur Andrew Tourinho and breaking away by a shot after 54 holes. And despite finishing two over his last three on Sunday, Harvey secured another big win.

"It was another good week," Harvey laughed. "Things are getting kind of crazy."

The 36-year-old said he didn't really know what to expect heading down to the southern hemisphere, but admitted keeping his game fresh during the North Carolina winter, as well as two practice rounds at Lima Golf Club, helped prep him for the 72- hole event.

Harvey, who has never played anywhere outside of the United States, will head to Slovakia in August for the European Amateur, won last year by Ashley Chesters of England, who finished in eighth place this week in Lima.

Tourinho, who tied for third at last week's inaugural Latin America Amateur, shot 72 in the final round to share second place with two others — Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Peru's own Patricio Alzamora.

Mike McCoy, the other male American in the field, finished in a tie for 12th place with 76-73 over the weekend. The 52- year-old from Des Moines, Iowa shot 66 on Friday to jump into the top-five before sliding back outside of the top-10.

Results: South American Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Scott Harvey	Kernersville, NC	700	66-70-70-73=279
T2	Andre Tourinho	, Brazil	500	69-67-73-72=281
T2	Patricio Alzamora	, Peru	500	72-69-71-69=281
T2	Joaquin Niemann	, Chile	500	71-73-68-69=281
5	Matias Simaski	, Argentina	400	71-68-68-75=282

View full results for South American Amateur

About the South American Amateur

Scott Harvey victorious in Peru at South American Amateur

A 72-hole stroke play championship, the South American Championship was started in 2006 and is organized annually by the Executive Secretary and the governing body of the country in which the tournament is conducted. The schedule provides that the se...