The Colombian fired a first-round 66 to hold pole position on the leaderboard, one shot ahead of a chasing pack of players sitting at 5 under par, including Vicente Marzilio of Argentina, Chilean Martín Cancino and Mexican duo Santiago de la Fuente and Luis Carrera.
Mateo Fuenmayor leads the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) at 6-under par after day one at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Puerto Rico.
The Colombian fired a first-round 66 to hold pole position on the leaderboard, one shot ahead of a chasing pack of players sitting at 5 under par, including Vicente Marzilio of Argentina, Chilean Martín Cancino and Mexican duo Santiago de la Fuente and Luis Carrera.
Fuenmayor was in impressive form in his Championship debut, rolling in seven birdies during a round that included only one dropped shot, coming on No. 12. The 20-year-old is aiming to build on a T-7 finish in the South American Amateur Championship played in Ecuador last week.
“It’s obviously a great start to the tournament,” said Fuenmayor. “I think my strength today was the play off the tee. I put a 2-iron off the tee just yesterday in practice and used it almost all day today. I was able to play from the fairway and attack pins, and from there I was able to make a lot of putts. The hole looked pretty big today, I'm not going to lie, but a really good start to the tournament.”
Marzilio and de la Fuente, who both finished tied for second place alongside Fred Biondi and Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira in last year’s Championship at Casa De Campo, carded bogey-free rounds of 67.
“I've been thinking about this round for a long time, and it finally got here,” said Marzilio. "I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous last night and this morning because of the anxiety and the high expectations. I came with high expectations but at the same time I've got to keep them low and try to focus on what I need to do on the golf course.”
Marzilio picked up an early birdie at the par-3 second hole before taking advantage of the par-5 sixthhole to move to 2 –under par. The 21-year-old, who won the South American Amateur Team Championship with Argentina last November, then fired three birdies in a row from No. 14 to reach 5 –under par and better his opening-round 68 in last year’s Championship by one shot.
“The leaderboard changes a lot,” he added. “Obviously it's a challenge for everyone. But I think if I keep doing what I did today, focus on my routine and my breathing, that's going to help me a lot to stay there and let the noise around me just be quiet.”
2023 Round 1 Leaders
Mateo Fuenmayor of Colombia - Round 1, No. 18
Vicente Marzilio of Argentina - Round 1, No. 3
De la Fuente, who came agonizingly close to forcing a playoff with 2022 champion Aaron Jarvis after a missed birdie chance on the 72nd hole of last year’s Championship, started his title charge in strong fashion from No. 10 with three birdies in his first nine holes. He picked up two further shots on the 10th and 13th holes of his round on the way to an opening 67.
“For pretty much the whole year me and my team were thinking about this tournament and we were counting the days to come back and play again for the prize,” said de la Fuente.
“We're just very happy after the first round and how things went today. I think the good strategy that we had as a team with me and my caddie, and a couple of lucky breaks kept the round going. I’m pretty happy to play without any mistakes on the scoreboard, bogey free. I think that's the goal we were looking for.”
They were joined on the same mark by Carrera, who recovered from dropping two shots in the first three holes to make four birdies before the turn and then picked up shots on Nos. 11, 14 and 18.
Cancino made six birdies along with one dropped shot as he made a notable start to the Championship.
“It was a good round to be honest. Obviously not the start that you want, but I finished well,” said Carrera. “I just stayed patient, even though I had a bad start and that was the best part of it.
“[On birdie streak] I got to hole No. 6 and was playing better; I was more in rhythm and I hit a good shot and made the putt for birdie and all of the sudden some of the putts started going in. I just want to enjoy it to be honest. To enjoy my game.”
“I'm super happy with my round and playing really solid,” said Cancino. “I had an afternoon tee time today, so it was very windy for, I would say, holes No. 3 until No. 12, it was really windy. I was able to play really well those holes. I'm very happy with how I played.”
The reigning champion Jarvis made a steady start to his title defense with an even-par 72.
“It wasn't easy today,” said Jarvis. “I got off to a rough start. I was 2-over through five and the wind started to get up. I wasn't hitting it great all day but then I managed to just stay patient, made a few birdies and managed to come in at even, which I think to start off this tournament. I'll take it.”
Earlier today, the organizers of the LAAC announced that the ninth edition will be contested at Santa María Golf Club in Panamá City, Panamá from January 18-21, 2024. The LAAC will return to Panamá for the second time in the event’s history and make its debut at Santa María Golf Club.
They also announced the addition of an exemption into the U.S. Open for the LAAC champion beginning in 2023 at The Los Angeles Country Club. This adds to the existing exemption into The Open and the invitation into the Masters Tournament for the LAAC champion.
