World No. 1 Joaquin Niemann Continues Chile’s Dominance

Date:            January 20-23, 2018
Venue:         Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago, Chile
Par:               36-35-71
Length:       6,864 yards
Opened:      1930

Joaquin Niemann of Chile, the No. 1-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in January 2018, played a blazing stretch of seven holes in seven under par midway through the final round to seize the fourth Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) at Prince of Wales Country Club.

With his win, the 19-year-old earned an invitation to compete in the 2018 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, as well as full exemptions into The Amateur Championship, U.S. Amateur Championship and any other USGA amateur championship for which he was eligible. In addition, he earned an exemption into the final stages of qualifying for The 147th Open at Carnoustie and the 2018 U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills.

Niemann became the third player from his home country to win the LAAC in four years, and he did it before hundreds of excited fans in his hometown of Santiago. His final round of eight-under-par 63 broke the championship record and helped him finish with an 11-under-par total of 273 for the week as he overcame a one-stroke deficit entering the final round.

Niemann drove the green on the 313-yard, par-4 eighth hole thanks to a fortuitous bounce off a tree, then sank the eagle putt to start his winning run. He reeled off four consecutive birdies on holes 9-12, and after a par on the 13th, he added a two-putt birdie on the par-5 14th.

“After I made that eagle on the eighth hole and I birdied nine, 10, 11 and 12, I didn’t watch the leaderboard until the 14th hole,” said Niemann. “I realized at that moment that I had a huge advantage over the other players, so I thought maybe this was going to be my tournament.”

Chile’s Toto Gana, who defeated Niemann and Alvaro Ortiz in a playoff to win the 2017 championship, and was tied with Niemann at three under to start the final round, closed with a one-over 72 and finished in a tie for seventh place.

Venue Information

Designed in 1930 by club member Alex MacDonald, a British entrepreneur and golf course designer, Prince of Wales Country Club features narrow fairways and bentgrass greens known for their subtle slopes, offering a challenge to players from all over the world who have visited the course. The club has hosted many national and international championships, including the 1998 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship and the Chile Classic on the Web.com Tour from 2012-2014.