Pulcini wins LAAC in playoff to secure major starts
Argentina’s Mateo Pulcini won the 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship with a playoff victory over Venezuela’s Virgilio Paz Valdes at Lima Golf Club, securing one of amateur golf’s most prized pathways.
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. 🇦🇷
— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026
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
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.
| Pos. | Move | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☆ | 1 | 3 | 🇦🇷 Mateo Pulcini Argentina | -5 | 69 | 68 | 70 | 68 | 275 | Won on 2nd playoff hole |
| ☆ | 2 | 3 | 🇻🇪 Virgilio Paz Valdes Venezuela | -5 | 70 | 73 | 64 | 68 | 275 | |
| ☆ | T3 | 5 | 🇨🇴 Tomas Restrepo Colombia | -3 | 70 | 68 | 70 | 69 | 277 | |
| ☆ | T3 | 1 | 🇵🇾 Erich Fortlage Paraguay | -3 | 71 | 66 | 70 | 70 | 277 | |
| ☆ | 5 | 4 | 🇦🇷 Segundo Oliva Pinto Argentina | -2 | 72 | 69 | 64 | 73 | 278 |
Round 3 summary -
The Argentine moved to 5-under for the week, jumping ahead of Brazil’s Eduardo Matarazzo and fellow Argentine Andy Schonbaum as Saturday reshaped the leaderboard.
Oliva Pinto began the day outside the lead but made his move early, birdieing 2, 5, 7 and 8 before a lone bogey at the ninth. He steadied on the back nine with three straight birdies at 12, 13 and 14, then saved par at the closing two holes — the toughest stretch on the course — to preserve his momentum.
Schonbaum, the 36-hole leader, held the advantage through the turn before a double bogey at 11 slowed him. He briefly recovered with birdies at 13 and 14, but another double at 18 dropped him back into a share of second at 4-under.
Matarazzo continued his climb with a second consecutive 66, rebounding strongly from an opening 74 to stay firmly in contention.
With major championship starts on the line and just one shot separating the top three, the final round was set up for a tense finish in Lima.
| Pos. | Player | To Par | Thru | Today | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☆ | 1 | 🇦🇷 Segundo Oliva Pinto Argentina | -5 | 8:59 AM | - | 72 | 69 | 64 | 205 | |
| ☆ | T2 | 🇧🇷 Eduardo Matarazzo Brazil | -4 | 8:59 AM | - | 74 | 66 | 66 | 206 | |
| ☆ | T2 | 🇦🇷 Andy Schonbaum Argentina | -4 | 8:59 AM | - | 66 | 68 | 72 | 206 |
Lo mejor de la 3ª ronda.
— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 17, 2026
Catch up on all the action from the Third Round. pic.twitter.com/s7YWNYa5aw
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 -6 9:09 AM - 66 68 134 2 -4 9:09 AM - 66 70 136 T3 -3 9:09 AM - 71 66 137 T3 -3 8:58 AM - 69 68 137 T5 -2 8:58 AM - 70 68 138 T5 -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.