BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Throughout his impressive performance on Friday at the Latin American Amateur Championship, Justin Hastings from the Cayman Islands felt invincible. Although a two-hour storm interruption challenged his momentum, he managed to recover and score a birdie on the 18th hole, finishing with a remarkable 7-under 65, which positioned him in a tie for first place with Patrick Sparks from Peru.
Sparks faced a difficult round that included two bogeys late in the game, concluding his play with a score of 70. Both players ended the day at 8-under 136, holding a narrow lead of one shot over Erich Fortlage from Paraguay, who shot a solid 66, and Jose Antonio Safa from Mexico, who finished with a 68, as they entered the weekend.
The tournament winner is guaranteed an invitation to participate in the prestigious Masters in April, as well as receiving exemptions to compete in both the U.S. Open and the British Open later this year. Sparks expressed his excitement but noted the importance of maintaining focus on the upcoming rounds, stating, “It’s hard not to think about it. But again, I want to take it slowly and enjoy these next two days, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the week.”
Hastings, a senior golfer at San Diego State University, is chasing the chance to become the second player from the Cayman Islands to win this championship. Three years ago, Aaron Jarvis, now a golfer at UNLV, brought home the title. Hastings started his day strong, recording seven birdies in just 13 holes before the storms rolled in, which caused the notable delay and left the course playing softer and longer due to the added rain.
His longest putt among those eight birdies was just over 10 feet, showcasing his excellent performance with irons and wedges. “Honestly, when I’m 7 under through 13, I feel like I’m so deep in the zone nothing can affect me — except going and sitting inside for two hours,” he explained. “You try not to think about the scores or anything and try to keep focusing on the next shot that you had.” Although he encountered a bogey on the 14th hole when play resumed, he ended his round on a high note with another birdie.
The cut for the tournament came at 2-over 146, resulting in several players missing the chance to continue, including the previous champion, Jarvis, who won the title when the event took place in the Dominican Republic last year.
