Just last year in Puerto Rico, he faced a pivotal par putt on the final hole which would have gotten him into a playoff for the LAAC title with eventual champion Aaron Jarvis. The putt didn't drop, leaving the Argentinian a year to stew about what could have been.
Fernandez de Oliveira finished the tournament with a record score of 23-under par, which was four shots clear of his closest pursuer, Luis Carrera of Mexico (-19).
The victory earns the 22-year-old invitations to the upcoming Masters in April along with the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July. He also earns a spot in the U.S. Open, which will be held at Los Angeles Country Club in June.
With favorable scoring conditions all week at the Grand Reserve, Fernandez de Oliveira knew a four-shot lead was anything but safe. He started his final round with a birdie on his opening hole and after dropping a shot on the third, bounced right back with a birdie on four to get back to 19-under.
He preceded to play his final 14 holes at 4-under to hold off Carrera, who also shot a final round 67.
“I'm still very shocked. I think my life has changed,” said Fernandez de Oliveira. “I'm looking forward to a great year. I'm going to take advantage of the three opportunities that I've been given for winning this event. So I'm very happy and I just want to enjoy every second of it.”
Fernandez de Oliveira's victory comes exactly a year after he won the South American Amateur in Quito, Ecuador.
Vicente Marzilio of Argentina carded a final round 68 to finish alone in third place at 17-under while Jose Islas (-15) of Mexico and Argentina's Manuel Lozado (-14) rounded out the top five.
On a day where 26 players turned in scores under par, Brazilian Fred Biondi carded the lowest round of the day with a 65 to climb into seventh place at 12-under 276.
Defending champion Jarvis of the Cayman Islands and UNLV tied for 17th at 4-under 284.
The 2024 Latin America Championship will be played at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panamá City, Panamá from January 18-21.