The 20th South American Amateur Championship concluded Sunday at Nordelta Golf Club, just north of Buenos Aires, as Felipe Garcés delivered a wire-to-wire performance to capture the title in dominant fashion.
Garcés finished the 72 holes at 277 (-11), closing with a final-round 67 to repeat as champion after his previous victory in 2014 in Bogotá, Colombia.
The milestone edition welcomed 138 competitors from across South America—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela—along with invited players from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Mexico, the United States, Canada, Barbados, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.
Final Round Recap
Garcés’ Sunday scorecard featured birdies at 3, 7, 9, and 10, an eagle at the 8th, and just one late bogey that did little to slow his momentum. Having built a four-stroke cushion down the stretch, the Ecuadorian never gave the field a true opening.
His closest challenger was Tom Bastow of Wales, who finished second at 281 (-7) after a closing 69. José Antonio Safa of Mexico earned the bronze medal at 282 (-6), closing with a 68.
With the trophy secured, Garcés now turns his attention to the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) in Peru, arriving with confidence after one of the most complete performances of the week in Buenos Aires.
Final Leaderboard Snapshot
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Nordelta Golf Club: Strategy, Water, and Wind
Hosting the championship at a demanding Nicklaus Design layout, Nordelta Golf Club again proved a venue where strategy matters as much as scoring. Wide corridors off the tee can quickly tighten with angles, wind, and water in play, placing a premium on disciplined decision-making and precise approaches.
Stretching to 7,278 yards (par 72), Nordelta rewards complete, patient golf—especially when conditions firm up and the breeze arrives.