Messi’s World Cup win in December (naturally) grabbed the headlines, and Argentina’s incredible string of sporting achievements was added on Sunday when Argentina’s Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira won the amateur championship from Latin America to secure their place at the 2023 Masters, US Open and Open Championship.
Fernandez de Oliveira, the world’s No. 34 ranked amateur, shot a 67 in the final round Sunday at the Grand Preserve Golf Club in Puerto Rico to claim his first-ever title at the event. A year ago Fernandez de Oliveira narrowly missed a playoff that could have propelled him to the 2022 Masters. This year he left no doubt, beating Luis Carrera by four strokes and the rest of the field by at least six. .
“I’m still very shocked. I think my life has changed,” Fernandez de Oliveira said. “I’m expecting a great year. I’m going to take advantage of the three opportunities given to me to win this event. So I’m very happy and just want to enjoy every second.”
Fernandez de Oliveira, who is finishing his senior year at Arkansas, had a terrific summer in 2022 following that close call at the previous Latin American Amateur Championship. He finished ninth at the NCAA and then second at the Western ahead of Austin Greaser, who coincidentally played at the 2022 Masters himself after finishing second at the 2021 US Amateur.
For Fernandez de Oliveira, heading to the three majors will be a source of pride not only for himself but also for his nation, which has produced one Masters winner (Angel Cabrera) and could have produced another. In 1968, Argentina’s Roberto de Vicenzo signed an incorrect scorecard that kept him out of an 18-hole Monday playoff at that year’s Masters.
De Vicenzo did not remain empty in the majors, however. He actually won an Open Championship on the same course – Royal Liverpool – that this year’s event will be played. Fernandez de Oliveira is looking forward to returning after his appearances at Augusta and the Los Angeles Country Club.
“Go back where Roberto [De Vicenzo] won in 1967, it’s very special. I went there in 2016, and the minute I walked into the clubhouse, they asked me where I was from and I said “Argentina”, and they said “ok, come with me”. They took me to the dining room where they have portraits and everything about where he won. I felt very proud.”
Fernandez de Oliveira completely dominated the week in Puerto Rico. After opening 68-67, he completely set the golf course on fire with a 63 on Saturday before sealing the event with his tidy 67 on Sunday. In all, he had 25 birdies and an eagle to drop to 23 under for the week.
He is in fact not the first Argentinian to win this event. Abel Gallegos beat Aaron Terrazas in 2020 by four strokes before that year’s Masters was postponed until November. Other winners of the Latin American Amateur Championship include Aaron Jarvis (Cayman Islands), Toto Gana (Chile) and – perhaps most famously, Joaquin Niemann (Chile), who came close to winning the event twice.
Fernandez de Oliveira takes the 2023 Masters field to 81 with his win in Puerto Rico and will look to become the first player since Alvaro Ortiz did in 2019 to make the cut at Augusta National in April.
