Fernandez de Oliveira has life-changing win in Latin America

Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira had two consecutive birdies to defeat his last challenge. He closed the Latin America Amateur Championship on Sunday with a 5-under-67 to win. This earned him a spot in the majors for this year.

Fernandez de Oliveira was the second Argentine winner since 2015’s Latin America Amateur. He broke Joaquin Niemann’s 72-hole scoring record by eight shots. He was 23-under 265

“I’m still very shocked. I think my life has changed,” Fernandez de Oliveira said. “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.”

Arkansas’ senior made amends for last year, when the Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo was his only chance at a playoff.

Fernandez de Oliveira led by four shots at the beginning of the final round in Grand Reserve. Luis Carrera, from Mexico, also finished with a score of 67 but managed to stay within two strokes. The Argentine birdied 11th and 13th holes, but he was able to stay within two shots with a steady diet on pars.

This victory will send him to the Masters in March, Los Angeles Country Club (in June) for the U.S. Open, and Royal Liverpool (in July) for the British Open.

Roberto de Vicenzo, an Argentine who won the British Open in 1967 against Jack Nicklaus, was born at Royal Liverpool.

Fernandez de Oliveira was a Royal Liverpool visitor in 2016 and felt the Argentine pride.

“The minute I walked into the clubhouse, they asked me where I was from,” he said. “And I said, ‘Argentina’, and they told me, ‘OK, come with me.’ They took me to the lunch room where they have portraits and everything about when he won. I felt very proud.”

Carrera received an exemption from the last stages of qualifying for both the U.S Open and British Open as the runner up.

“I think the week has been fantastic,” Carrera said. “I am not sad at all. Although I wish I had won, it was a wonderful experience. I proved that I could play great golf and be up there in big tournaments. It is satisfying.”

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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