Argentina's Andy Schonbaum will enter the weekend at the 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship with a two-stroke lead at six-under 134. The first-round co-leader took control with a two-under 68 during Friday’s second round.
“Yeah, I definitely was in control,” said Argentina’s Schonbaum. “I've been striking it very well. And of course, this tournament, you never know what's going to happen because you know you'll be more nervous than regular rounds but just big lines, good targets, big swing.”
After beginning the day with a share of the lead, Schonbaum had an eventful first nine after starting at the 10th. He countered four birdies with two bogeys across his first seven holes to make the turn at six under for the Championship and two under on the day. He followed those seven holes with 11 consecutive pars to maintain his lead as other faltered around him.
Schonbaum is a 34-year-old who has competed in 10 of the 11 editions of the Latin America Amateur. His best finish came in 2020 at Mayakoba (T-11). He previously was a member of the winning Argentine team at the South American Amateur Team Championship (Copa Los Andes) in 2016, which was held at Lima Golf Club.
“It has a special place in my heart always,” said Schonbaum of his history at Lima Golf Club. “[When] I play for Argentina, it's always an honor. Of course, winning helps because you know how you feel coming down the stretch.”
Paraguay’s Erich Fortlage surged in the morning wave with a four-under round that matched the low mark for the day. After a slow start on his first nine, which began at the par-4 10th, Fortlage birdied five out of six holes from Nos. 1-6 to reach three under for the week. The 19-year-old, who won the Lima Golf Club Junior International Tournament in 2023, is participating in his fifth consecutive Latin America Amateur and finished T-6 a year ago.
Venezuela’s Andrés Martínez Benedetti fell out of a tie for first with an early bogey at the par-5 first hole, but a birdie at the closing 18th, which ranked as the second-toughest hole on Friday, helped him wrap up an even-par 70 to sit in second and two strokes back. The 16-year-old is making his debut at the Latin America Amateur after narrowly missing qualifying the last two years.
Nine of the 10 previous champions of the Latin America Amateur were T-4 or better after 36 holes. The lone exception was Costa Rican Paul Chaplet in 2016 who was T-11. Players inside the top four through 36 holes include Schonbaum (1), Martínez Benedetti (2), Fortlage (T-3) and Argentina’s Mateo Pulicini (T-3).
The 36-hole cut was made at eight-over 148 with 56 players advancing to the weekend.
