BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Justin Hastings, hailing from the Cayman Islands, secured his victory at the Latin American Amateur Championship with an impressive 8-under 64, establishing a four-shot lead that he maintained throughout a 36-hole finale on Saturday. This triumph grants him entry into the Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open tournaments.
Hastings, who is in his senior year at San Diego State University, joins Aaron Jarvis as the second player from the Cayman Islands to win this championship in the last four years.
In a thrilling fourth round, Patrick Sparks from Peru made a valiant effort to catch up with Hastings, putting together an impressive rally that culminated with a birdie at the 16th hole. However, a three-putt bogey on the par-3 17th hole at Pilar Golf Club proved detrimental, allowing Hastings to finish with a par and secure a narrow victory by just one stroke. Hastings concluded the day with a score of 72, compared to Sparks’ 68.
“In the Cayman Islands, we have just 27 holes of golf, and it’s extremely competitive,” said Hastings. “To have two champions from our islands is amazing. Aaron’s win a few years back inspired everyone, including me, proving that we can compete at high levels and achieve great things. Following in his footsteps and achieving this is incredibly exciting.”
Due to a poor weather forecast for Sunday, officials opted to commence the final round immediately after the third round concluded, although there was a one-hour delay due to inclement weather. Once play resumed, the competition intensified.
Sparks, who is currently an assistant coach at North Carolina-Wilmington, quickly reduced the four-shot deficit by half after just three holes, and by the time they reached the back nine, he was only one stroke behind Hastings. However, Hastings managed to extend his lead to three shots after Sparks faced a bogey on the par-5 10th and Hastings made a birdie on hole 12. A dramatic two-shot swing occurred on the 13th hole, where Hastings made a bogey while Sparks netted a birdie, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
Despite finishing as the runner-up, Sparks secured an exemption into the final stage of qualifying for both the U.S. Open and British Open this year. “Being among the leaders brings a different kind of pressure, especially with three majors at stake,” he remarked. “This experience has taught me a lot, and I’m genuinely grateful to have had the opportunity.”
Having made the cut in the Latin American Amateur when he was just 14 years old, Hastings has already played at Royal Portrush during a British Boys event and now looks forward to Augusta National.
“I’ve been a huge fan of the Masters since childhood; I would often skip school on Thursdays just to watch the event,” Hastings expressed. “Thinking about actually being part of that tournament is surreal, and I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet. But I can’t contain my excitement.”
