The Masters Tournament, The R&A, and the USGA today announced that the 11th Latin America Amateur Championship will be contested at Lima Golf Club in Lima, Peru, January 15 to 18, 2026.  

Founded by the Masters Tournament, The R&A, and the USGA in 2014, the Latin America Amateur Championship was established to further develop amateur golf in South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The event annually moves to top courses throughout Latin America and showcases the sport’s rising talent in the region. The champion receives an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament and exemptions into The Open and the U.S. Open.  

“Over the past 10 years, we have seen the impact the Latin America Amateur can have on host countries and communities,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA.

“We are incredibly excited to bring the championship to Peru for the first time to showcase Lima Golf Club, the talented golfers from throughout Latin America, and the growth of the championship as it enters its second decade.”

Ready for Peru

Opened in 1924 and located in the San Isidro district in southern Lima, Lima Golf Club is a parkland-style course surrounded by high-rise buildings, most of which have come in the century since the club’s inception.

The venue has hosted the Copa Los Andes seven times, the Pan American Games in 2019, and, most recently, the Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship in 2024. Lima Golf Club is one of the oldest courses in Peru and underwent a redesign by the golf course architecture firm Mackenzie & Ebert in 2018.  

“We are honored to host the Latin America Amateur Championship at historic Lima Golf Club,” said Michael DeBakey, President of the Lima Golf Club. “Our championship venue has proven to be a worthy test for many of the top players in Latin America over the years, and we are excited for the next generation of players to experience all that Lima Golf Club has to offer.” 

Past Competitors

Notable past competitors include Colombia’s Nico Echavarria and Sebastian Muñoz, Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti, and Chile’s Mito Pereira and Joaquin Niemann, the latter of whom won the 2018 Championship.

Notable Peruvian players in the Latin America Amateur’s history include Julian Perico (four top-10s in six appearances) and Luis Fernando Barco (T-3 in 2018 and third in 2019). The latter became the first Peruvian player to compete in a men’s major championship at the 2021 U.S. Open.

“The 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship will be the latest example of the overall growth of golf in Peru,” said Martin Serkovic, President of the Peruvian Golf Federation.

“Between the Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship held in 2024 and the announcement of this Championship in 2026, we are proud that Peru continues to be a significant hub of golf in Latin America.”