Valery Plata wins Women's Amateur Latin America Championship

Michigan State women's golfer Valery Plata (Floridablanca, Colombia/Colegio La Quinta Del Puente) came from behind on Sunday to win the inaugural Women's Amateur Latin America Championship, presented by the Royal & Ancient and the ANNIKA Foundation, at the Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Entering the final round two strokes behind 54-hole leader, 15-year-old María José Marín Negrete, Plata shot a final round 71 to finish at 12-under 276 to secure a two-stroke victory over her countrymate, who shot a final-round 74 to finish at 11-under 277.

Negrete enjoyed a two-stroke lead after she birdied the par-3 11th hole. However, Plata quickly turned the momentum in her favor with a birdie on the par-4 12th hole followed by an eagle on the par-5 13th while Negrete made bogeys on both holes. Nursing a one-stroke lead, Plata parred four of the last five holes to capture the victory.

The victory earns Plata exemptions into two of the five majors in women's golf next year: the AIG Women´s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship.

Valery Plata 🇨🇴 is the inaugural Women’s Amateur Latin America Champion. 🏆

¡Valery Plata es la campeona de la edición inaugural del #WALAGolf! pic.twitter.com/fkgQv5Y6TQ

— WALAGolf (@WalaGolf) November 21, 2021

Ranked 60th in the Women's World Amateur Rankings, Plata was one of three Spartans playing in the event, which brings together the 60 best players in Latin America. She was joined by teammates junior Nina Rissi (Barcelona, Spain) and U.S. Women's Amateur semifinalist Valentina Rossi (Rosario, Argentina), who finished third at even par.

A total of 16 countries were represented in the inaugural event, including Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela and Virgin Islands (United States). Of the 60 players in the field, 45 are attending college in the United States.