Women's Latin America Amateur: Ela Anacona surges into the lead

Argentina’s Ela Anacona surged four strokes clear after a brilliant third-round display in the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation at Pilar Golf.

Trailing by three shots overnight to experienced compatriot Maria Olivero, the 23-year-old handled the windiest conditions of the week to post an excellent 5-under 67 for a 12-under total going into tomorrow’s final round.

With an earlier two-tee start given a later weather threat at the venue north of Buenos Aires, Anacona had pulled level with Olivero after only three holes following a double bogey from the 49-year-old on the par-5 No. 2 and Anacona’s birdie at No. 3

The University of Arkansas fifth-year student, making her third appearance in the championship after two previous top-15 finishes, continued to thrive and made four birdies in seven holes from the 8th.

Anacona’s birdie at the par-4 No. 9 highlighted her quality, striking a glorious 8-iron approach from among trees on the right to six feet, before a tee shot to five feet at the par-3 17th set up another birdie. Her only bogey came at the last, but Anacona still set a new championship 54-hole record.

Olivero, the 11-time Argentine Women’s Stroke Play champion, stayed in contention after a birdie at the short 6th before bogeying the par-5 13th as she signed for a 74 and an eight-under total of 208. Venezuela’s Vanessa Gilly fought to stay in touch with the two Argentinians at the top of the leaderboard but had an up-and-down day in her 75 for 3-under.

A group of three players are next best-placed on one-under – Mexico’s Sofia Clarisa Temelo Escalera, Daniela Ballesteros from Peru and Colombia’s Sofia Torres. Ballesteros, who finished third last year, produced the round of the day after a superb six-under 66 in the tricky conditions, which featured seven birdies and an eagle at the par-5 7th.

A field of 59 talented players representing 13 countries are competing in the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship, being staged at Pilar Golf for the third time.

The champion can look forward to playing in three major championships next year – the AIG Women’s Open, The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship. She will also compete in The Women’s Amateur Championship and The Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex in 2024.

The Women’s Amateur Latin America championship presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation follows the successful introduction of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship by The R&A in 2018.

Its aim is to strengthen the pathway to the very highest levels of golf by providing a platform for the region’s best women’s amateur golfers to compete against each other.