In her first season at the University of Arkansas, Temelo has enjoyed two previous top-15 finishes in the championship. She aims to become the first Mexican to win the WALA title.

The champion this week will play alongside the stars of women's professional golf from around the world in three major championships next year: the AIG Women’s Open, the Chevron Championship, and the Amundi Evian Championship.

One of seven Peru players in the field, Ximena Benites struck the opening tee shot on a historic day for the championship in the San Isidro neighborhood of the nation’s capital. Only four players finished under par on day one and defending champion Ela Anacona from Argentina was among those to struggle with a four-over 75.

Children from the San Bartolo public course, a project designed to bring golf to more people, enjoyed the afternoon action. Located approximately 50 kilometers from Lima, the course—supported by the R&A and the Peruvian Golf Federation—offers an accessible space to practice and a golf school for children from low-income families, allowing new generations to play without economic barriers.

The Women’s Amateur Latin America championship, presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation, follows the successful introduction of The R&A's Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship in 2018.

Its aim is to strengthen the pathway to the very highest levels of golf by providing a platform for the region’s best women’s amateur golfers to compete against each other. This week, 27 players aged 18 and younger and 41 players who have previously competed in the championship will be in the field.