BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — On Thursday, Colombia’s Manuel Merizalde kicked off the Latin America Amateur Championship with impressive play, netting five birdies in just eight holes, finishing the day with a remarkable 6-under-par 66. This performance has positioned him alongside Patrick Sparks from Peru and Gabriel Palacios from Guatemala, both of whom also posted scores of 66, at the top of the leaderboard after the first round at the Pilar Golf Club. The champion of the tournament is set to receive an invitation to the famous Masters Tournament, along with exemptions for the U.S. Open and British Open later this year.

What makes Merizalde’s performance particularly noteworthy is his age; at 45, he is nearly two decades older than his competitors. Having previously played alongside renowned golfer Camilo Villegas in a World Cup event and studying at Brigham Young University, Merizalde’s current golf routine has changed significantly over the years. “I wasn’t expecting much, to tell you the truth. I’m already 45 years old. I don’t have much time for practice,” he admitted. “But sometimes that works to your advantage; when you’re not burdened by high expectations, you can just enjoy the game. The less pressure you put on yourself, the better the results can be.”

Merizalde is employed at a security firm in Colombia and manages to squeeze in some golfing time on Friday afternoons, occasionally playing or practicing two times a week. His performance was commendable at Pilar, with his only misstep being a bogey on the par-5 tenth hole.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Palacios delivered a spectacular run on the back nine, notching four consecutive birdies to finish with a 31. On the other hand, Patrick Sparks showcased his skills with seven birdies and one eagle, balancing a few missteps along the way.

In related news, Augusta National, along with the R&A and USGA, has announced that the next Latin America Amateur Championship will take place at the Lima Golf Club in Peru, rescheduled from 2021 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 situation. Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley noted that while Hurricane Helene had caused some changes to the landscape, the course remained in outstanding condition with “not quite as many trees” as previously seen.