Benjamin Fernandez and Maria Jose Marin win South American Amateur

January 12, 2025 | by Amit Pandey of AmateurGolf.com

South American Amateur title winners (South American Golf Federation Photo)

Fernandez wins first ever title for Paraguay while Marin continues to add to her impressive resume

Paraguay’s Benjamín Fernández and Colombia’s María José Marín delivered unforgettable performances at the 19th South American Amateur Open, dazzling spectators at the French Sports Club in Santiago, Chile. The tournament, organized by the South American Golf Federation with support from The R&A, launched the 2025 golf season in a spectacular fashion.

For Fernández, a freshman at Glenville State and ranked 457th in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com men’s standings, the event marked a career milestone. After 72 holes, he was tied at 13-under (275) with Colombia’s Carlos Jesús Ardila.

The title was decided on the first playoff hole, where Fernández’s brilliant second shot landed just four feet from the pin. His eagle putt secured not only the win but also Paraguay’s first championship title in the tournament’s history. Ardila, who had forced the playoff with an exceptional eagle just moments earlier, settled for a birdie.

“This means everything to me and to Paraguay,” said Fernández, visibly emotional after the victory. His success was further bolstered by fellow Paraguayan Erich Fortlage, who finished third at 10-under.

In the women’s competition, 18-year-old María José Marín ranked No. 6 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Women's Rankings and a sophomore at the University of Arkansas, showcased her immense talent.

She successfully defended her title with a flawless final-round 64 (-8), finishing at a record-setting 17-under (271). Marín’s round was nothing short of extraordinary, featuring six birdies in the last seven holes and an eagle on the 4th. Runner-up Scarlett Schremmer, who finished at 5-under, was left 12 strokes behind—a testament to Marín’s dominance.

“I stayed focused and played smart. Everything came together,” Marín said as she celebrated her back-to-back victories. Her performance not only set records for the lowest total score but also for the widest margin of victory in the tournament’s history.

Results: South American Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Benjamin Fernandez	, Paraguay	700	73-67-69-66=275
2	Carlos Ardila	, Colombia	500	67-70-70-68=275
3	Erich Fortlage	, Paraguay	400	67-66-75-70=278
T4	Martin Cancino	, Chile	400	64-70-75-71=280
T4	Manuel Lozada	, Argentina	400	70-68-70-72=280

View full results for South American Amateur

About the South American Amateur

Benjamin Fernandez and Maria Jose Marin win 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...