Mexico's Clarisa Temelo takes commanding early lead at Women's Latin America Amateur

November 21, 2024 | by Royal & Ancient

Clarisa Temelo (Royal and Ancient Photo)

Temelo backed up here status as the top ranked player in the field after a first round 6-under 65 to take a five shot lead

Mexico’s Clarisa Temelo underlined her status as the top-ranked player in the field to impressively claim the early lead at the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship (WALA) in Peru.

The 72-hole championship, presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation, is taking place in Peru for the first time at Lima Golf Club, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Temelo, 18, shone in the testing opening day conditions to sign for a 6-under 65 and a commanding five-shot advantage over three players.

Two Colombian players, teenager Luana Valero, 17, and 30-year-old Silvia Garces recorded one-under-par 70s, the same score as Brazil’s Lauren Grinberg, 24.

As the leading player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) at 136th, Temelo illustrated her talent with a first round that featured four birdies in her first six holes. Given the breeze picked up on occasions on a warm day, her bogey-free round was even more impressive to lead the 60-player field representing 12 countries in the region.

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.

Results: Women's Latin America Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Clarisa Temelo	, Mexico	1000	65-70-71-69=275
2	Emily Odwin	, Barbados	700	71-68-70-72=281
3	Cory Lopez	, Mexico	500	73-68-68-73=282
4	Luana Valero Moyano	, Colombia	500	70-74-68-72=284
5	Maria Salinas	, Peru	500	72-72-66-66=276

View full results for Women's Latin America Amateur

About the Women's Latin America Amateur

Mexico's Clarisa Temelo takes commanding early lead at Women's Latin America Amateur

Introduced in 2021, this tournament was created by the R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation. The 72-hole stroke play event will have a select field of 60 players, with invitations given based on World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). The winner will receive an ...