Luis Carrera fires a second straight 67 to take over lead at Latin America Amateur

Mexico’s Luis Carrera carded a bogey-free 67 to take the halfway lead in the Latin America Amateur Championship being held at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Puerto Rico.

Carrera, the reigning Canadian Amateur Championship who plays collegiately at Central Florida, got off to a fast start on Friday, picking up birdies on his first two holes to reach 7-under-par. He added three more birdies on holes 6, 12 and 14 to for his second consecutive round of 67 and reach 10-under-par for the tournament.

He holds a one-shot lead over Argentina’s Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, who also posted a 67 on Friday with five birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.

“It feels good. I have stayed patient and made some putts,” said Carrera. “Yesterday I didn’t get off to a good start but today was more smooth. The wind was tough but I played well and trusted my game.”

Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira

Paired with his Arkansas teammate Fernandez de Oliveira, Julian Perico of Peru turned in the lowest round of the day with a 6-under 66 to climb into third place at 8-under-par. Perico has three top-10 finishes in his six starts at the LAAC.

Another Arkansas Razorback, Manuel Lozada of Argentina, is just four back at 6-under following a second consecutive round of 69.

Defending champion Aaron Jarvis of the Cayman Islands and UNLV and Brazilian Fred Biondi, the highest-ranked player in the field who plays collegiately at Florida, are part of a large pack at 2-under.

A total of 27 players are under par at the halfway mark of the tournament and the cut came at 3-over.

The LAAC champion will receive an invitation to compete in the 2023 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club and will automatically qualify for The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool. For the first time, the winner will also earn a spot in the US Open, held this year at Los Angeles Country Club.

The winner also receives full exemptions into The 128th Amateur Championship, the U.S. Amateur Championship and any other USGA amateur championship for which he is eligible.

Runner(s)-up will be exempt into the final stages of qualifying for The 151st Open and the 123rd U.S. Open Championship.