One of the most important fixtures on the international amateur golf calendar returns to Argentina this week as the South American Amateur Championship celebrates a milestone edition at Nordelta Golf Club, just north of Buenos Aires—and Round 1 is now underway.

From January 8–11, the championship marks its 20th anniversary, bringing together the region’s top emerging talents alongside elite international guests for four days of high-level competition that has become a proving ground for South America’s next generation of stars.

Over two decades, the South American Amateur has established itself as a cornerstone of competitive amateur golf in the region—defined by deep fields, demanding venues, and a growing global footprint that now extends well beyond the continent.

Round 1 Leaderboard Snapshot

A Championship Defined by Depth and Diversity

The 2026 edition features a combined field of 138 players, split between men’s and women’s competitions, representing one of the most diverse and competitive rosters in tournament history.

The men’s field includes 75 players from all ten member nations of the South American Golf Federation—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela—along with invited competitors from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

Headlining the field are the tournament’s two most recent champions: Benjamín Fernández of Paraguay (2025) and Felipe Garcés of Ecuador (2024). They are joined by several of the region’s highest-ranked amateurs, including Herik Machado of Brazil (WAGR No. 63), Vicente Quiroga of Bolivia (No. 93), and Daniel Faccini of Colombia (No. 105).

The women’s championship features 63 players from a similarly international mix, including competitors from the United States and Barbados. Among the standouts are Shauna Liu (Canada, WAGR No. 87), Clairey Lin (Canada, No. 110), and Agustina Gómez Cisterna of Chile (No. 107), along with reigning Los Andes Cup champions Luisamariana Mesones and Camila Zignaigo of Peru.

Recent form adds further intrigue. From the Women’s Amateur Latin America (WALA), runner-up Emily Odwin of Barbados and third-place finisher Luana Valero of Colombia arrive in Buenos Aires, while Elzbieta Aldana of Guatemala, gold medalist at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, brings major international credentials to the field.

Nordelta Golf Club: Strategy, Water, and Wind

Hosting the South American Amateur for just the second time, Nordelta Golf Club provides a modern and exacting test that places a premium on strategy and discipline.

The par-72 Nicklaus Design course, stretching 7,278 yards, features generous fairways off the tee but demands precision into well-protected greens. A network of lakes comes into play on multiple holes, forcing players to balance aggression with restraint—particularly in the breezy conditions often present during the Argentine summer.

Built in 2002, Nordelta previously hosted the 2019 South American Junior Championship, where several players in this year’s field—including Antonia Matte (Chile), Luisamariana Mesones (Peru), and Renato Naula (Ecuador)—finished inside the top 10. That experience could prove valuable as the championship unfolds.

With wind forecasted and water lurking throughout the routing, Nordelta is expected to reward complete, patient games rather than pure scoring power.

A Milestone Edition With Global Implications

As the South American Amateur Championship enters its third decade, its role has never been clearer.

This is where national champions test themselves against international peers. Where elite juniors transition into world-class amateurs. And where the next wave of South American golf continues to announce itself on a global stage.

When the final round concludes at Nordelta, history suggests the leaderboard will feature names destined to shape the future of the game—both within the region and far beyond it. And in a championship defined by legacy, depth, and opportunity, the next chapter begins this week in Buenos Aires.