The 25-year-old finished at 5-under 275 after a closing 68, tying Paz Valdes at the end of regulation. The win earns Pulcini starts at the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, and The Open at Royal Birkdale.

Pulcini becomes the oldest champion in the event’s 11-year history and the third Argentine winner, following Abel Gallegos (2020) and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (2023). He had posted top-10 finishes in his two previous LAAC appearances before breaking through this week.

Tercer argentino en ser campeón del Latin America Amateur Championship. 🇦🇷

2026- Mateo Pulcini
2023- Mateo Fernández de Oliveira
2020- Abel Gallegos

Third Argentine to be crowned champion of the Latin America Amateur Championship. pic.twitter.com/oJngoOnUOZ

— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026

Paz Valdes, bidding to become the first Venezuelan winner, matched Pulcini with a final-round 68 but fell short in the playoff. As runner-up, he earns exemptions into Final Qualifying for The Open and U.S. Open, plus starts in the U.S. Amateur and The Amateur Championship.
Overnight leader Segundo Oliva Pinto slipped back with a 73, while early leader Andy Schonbaum closed with 74. Brazil’s Herik Machado posted the low round of the day with a 65.

Full leaderboard →

Round 3 summary -

Lo mejor de la 3ª ronda.

Catch up on all the action from the Third Round. pic.twitter.com/s7YWNYa5aw

— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 17, 2026

Round 2 summary -

Andy Schonbaum stretched his advantage after round two of the Latin America Amateur Championship, following his opening 66 with a steady 2-under 68 to reach 6-under 134 and take a two-shot lead into the weekend at Lima Golf Club.

Scoring tightened as the wind picked up and pins were tucked — only eight players stayed under par through 36 holes. Schonbaum kept the round clean, relied on ball-striking, and avoided the big number that quickly took others out of red figures.

Andres Martinez Benedetti, the 16-year-old Venezuelan who shared the first-round lead, signed for 70 and sat second at 4-under, setting up a last-group pairing with Schonbaum.

Erich Fortlage (66) and Argentina’s Mateo Pulcini (68) were tied third at 3-under, three shots back, while Peru’s home hope Patrick Sparks steadied himself with a 69 to sit five off the lead.

The cut fell at 148 (+8), leaving 56 players for the weekend and the final 36-hole chase for the championship’s major-start rewards.

Lo mejor de la segunda ronda.

Second Round Highlights. pic.twitter.com/gFT4k8W5Ij

— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 17, 2026

 

 

 

Pos.	Player	To Par	Thru	Today	R1	R2	R3	Total
1	🇦🇷 Andy Schonbaum Argentina	-6	9:09 AM	-	66	68		134
2	🇻🇪 Andrés Martínez Benedetti Venezuela	-4	9:09 AM	-	66	70		136
T3	🇵🇾 Erich Fortlage Paraguay	-3	9:09 AM	-	71	66		137
T3	🇦🇷 Mateo Pulcini Argentina	-3	8:58 AM	-	69	68		137
T5	🇨🇴 Tomas Restrepo Colombia	-2	8:58 AM	-	70	68		138
T5	🇦🇷 Leandro Mihaich Argentina	-2	8:58 AM	-	69	69		138

The stakes sharpen as the week builds. The LAAC champion earns an invitation to the 2026 Masters, plus exemptions into The Open at Royal Birkdale and the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, along with starts in The Amateur Championship and the U.S. Amateur. Runner-up(s) gain places in final qualifying for The Open and U.S. Open, and additional Amateur Championship invitations are also on the line.

Round 1 summary -

Andy Schonbaum of Argentina and 16-year-old Venezuelan Andres Martinez Benedetti shared the first-round lead at the Latin America Amateur Championship after matching 4-under 66s at Lima Golf Club in Peru.

Schonbaum, making his 10th LAAC start, set the early clubhouse target with a round built on a fast start and a strong finish, while Martinez Benedetti matched him with five birdies against one bogey to continue his standout junior run.

Mexico’s Carlos Trevino Derbez was still on the course at 3-under through 15, and Guatemala’s Gabriel Palacios stayed in touch with a 2-under 68.