Championship Round-Up

The Latin America Amateur Championship

It has been a busy start to the championship season with successful stagings of three of our international events in very different parts of the world. First up was the Latin America Amateur Championship which celebrated its tenth staging by returning to Pilar Golf near Buenos Aires in January. Justing Hastings of the Cayman Islands emerged triumphant to become the second winner of the trophy from the small Caribbean archipelago after his close friend Aaron Jarvis did so in 2022.

With stormy weather forecast for the Sunday of the championship, the Saturday became a 36-hole print for the players and just as the sun set Hastings holed out at the last to secure a one-shot victory over Patrick Sparks from Peru with a 16-under-par total of 272.

Thanks to his victory Hastings will play in the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush and the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.

The Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Women’s Invitational

Bryan Newman of South Africa won the second edition of the Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek in February after securing a comfortable two-shot victory over Zimbabwe’s Keegan Shutt.

The 17-year-old began the final round with a five-shot lead over compatriot Roelof Craig and none of his challengers could catch him as he clinched the win with an eight-under-par total of 280. Newman earned exemptions into The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush as well as places in The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, The Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.

Gia Raad claimed the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational title with a two-shot victory over her fellow South African Bobbi Brown. Raad earned starts in The Women’s Amateur Championship, Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, Joburg Ladies Open, The Investec South African Women’s Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.

The Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

Jeneath Wong won the seventh edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship earlier this month. The 20-year-old became the first Malaysian winner of the region’s pre-eminent women’s amateur championship.

Three shots clear of the field overnight, Wong illuminated Vietnam’s Hoiana Shores Golf Club with a composed closing round of three-under-par 68 – her fourth successive sub-70 round to edge out Soomin Oh of Korea by one shot. Wong’s 18-under-par total of 266 was the lowest winning total in WAAP history

In addition to being invited to compete in the AIG Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship, and Chevron Championship, Wong will gain entry to the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, the 122nd Women's Amateur Championship, and, by tradition, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Full 2025 Events Calendar