In a stunning turn of events, 45-year-old Colombian amateur golfer Manuel Merizalde fired an opening round 6-under 66 to grab a share of the lead at the prestigious Latin America Amateur Championship. The unheralded Merizalde, who practices only twice a week while working full-time for a security company, upstaged his younger competitors with a sizzling round at Pilar Golf Club in Argentina.
Merizalde’s Magical Round
Starting on the back nine, Merizalde caught fire early with five birdies in his first eight holes. The part-time golfer, who played alongside PGA Tour star Camilo Villegas in a World Cup two decades ago, continued his stellar play on his second nine. His lone blemish came at the par-5 10th, but he quickly bounced back with two more birdies coming in.
I wasn’t expecting much to tell you the truth. I’m 45 years old already. I don’t get to practice much. But sometimes that helps when you don’t have a lot of expectations, when you’re just going out just to have some fun.
Manuel Merizalde on his surprising opening round
Low Expectations, High Performance
Merizalde’s stunning performance is made even more remarkable by his limited practice schedule. As a full-time employee, he gets to hit the links just twice a week on average, usually on Friday afternoons. But as he noted, sometimes having low expectations can free a golfer up to play their best.
Peruvian and Guatemalan Talents Share Lead
Joining Merizalde atop the leaderboard are a pair of rising young talents: 19-year-old Patrick Sparks of Peru and Gabriel Palacios of Guatemala. Sparks, a sophomore at the University of Utah, caught fire on his back nine with four straight birdies en route to a 31. Palacios, meanwhile, notched seven birdies and an eagle to offset a few bogeys.
High Stakes for Latin American Amateurs
The Latin America Amateur Championship offers a huge opportunity for these players to make a name for themselves on a global stage. The winner earns an invitation to The Masters in April, plus exemptions into the U.S. Open and British Open Championship. It’s a chance to compete alongside the world’s best on golf’s biggest stages.
A Storybook Finish for Merizalde?
While there’s still a long way to go, Merizalde’s opening 66 puts him in prime position to pull off a shocking, storybook victory. At 45, he would easily become the oldest winner in Latin America Amateur history, and one of the oldest amateurs to ever tee it up at The Masters. Golf fans love an underdog story, and Merizalde certainly fits the bill.
- Merizalde leads after Round 1 with 6-under 66
- 45-year-old Colombian gets limited practice working full-time
- Sparks (PER) and Palacios (GUA) also shoot 66 to share lead
- Latin America Amateur champion earns Masters, U.S. & British Open invites
The improbable Colombian will look to defy the odds over the next three days and etch his name in golf’s history books. No matter what happens, Manuel Merizalde has already proven that in golf, sometimes experience and perspective can trump youth and raw talent.
