Liam Nolan and Caley McGinty victorious at South American Amateur
Liam Nolan of Ireland and
Caley McGinty of England were crowned champions of the South American Amateur Open on Sunday at the Quito Tennis & Golf Club in Ecuador.
Caley McGinity (center) Nolan, one of 19 players under consideration for the Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) Walker Cup team, shot a final round 68 (-4) to finish at 7-under 281, earning a one-stroke victory over countryman
Max Kennedy, who plays collegiately at Louisville.
Facing a seven-shot deficit entering the final round, Nolan needed a fast start and got it with birdies at 3, 4 and 7 propelling him into the mix. He posted a final round 68 to set the clubhouse lead at 7-under and was the beneficiary of the demise of third-round leader Jose Cristobal Islas of Mexico, who seemed to have the championship locked up before a double bogey on the 17th hole left him tied for third with Chilean Vicente Encina at 5-under 283.
In the women's division, McGinity, who plays collegiately at Ohio State, carded a final round 67 to finish at 5-under 283 which was good for a three-stroke victory over
British Girls' champion
Lottie Woad.
Vania Simont of Mexico finished third at 4-over 292 followed by the Chilean Michelle Melandri (73) and Colombians Cristina Ochoa (75) and Catalina Monroy (75).
ABOUT THE 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 seat should be rotated in all
South American countries.
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