Justin Hastings of the Cayman Islands carded the low round of the Latin America Amateur Championship thus far with an eight-under-par 64 to take a four-stroke lead after the third round at Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires.

Due to anticipated inclement weather forecast for Sunday, players will begin their final round shortly after the conclusion of the third round on Saturday afternoon. The final group will tee off at 2:24 p.m.  

News of a potential 36-hole day and a softened course after rain on Friday spurred a barrage of scoring at the top of the leaderboard. Four players recorded rounds of 65 or better but none matched the 64 by Hastings.  

Hastings, who finished fourth a year ago at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama City, Panama, tallied nine birdies and one bogey on Saturday morning, matching the single-round Championship record for birdies. The San Diego State University senior is making his sixth appearance in the Championship.

“I’ve improved every year I’ve played. Coming in fourth last year and knocking on the door, I really believe that I can get it done this week,” said Hastings ahead of the Championship.

Argentina’s Segundo Oliva Pinto recorded eight birdies against just one bogey, rising to a tie for second alongside Jose Antonio Safa of Mexico at 12 under par.

Oliva Pinto, who is making his fifth appearance, has finished inside the top 15 of the Championship on four occasions. In three appearances, Safa owns two top-25 LAAC finishes, including T-15 in Panama a year ago.

Another hometown hopeful, Mateo Pulcini recorded four birdies and an eagle on the par-4 15th – which was drivable in today’s conditions – entering a six-way tie for fourth place with Guilherme Grinberg of Brazil, Chile’s Simon Roessler, Mexico’s Omar Morales, Peru’s Patrick Sparks and Gabriel Palacios of Guatemala.  

Seven different countries and territories are currently represented inside the top 10, including Brazil, Guatemala, Paraguay and Peru – all of which have yet to win a title at the Latin America Amateur.  

For more information on the Latin Amateur Championship, please visit LAACgolf.com and follow @LAAC_Golf on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.

About the Latin America Amateur Championship

In 2014, the Masters Tournament, The R&A and the USGA announced the formation of the Latin America Amateur Championship in an effort to further develop amateur golf throughout the region, specifically in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The field is comprised annually of the top male amateurs in Latin America representing the 29 IOC-recognized countries and territories from this region that are current members of the International Golf Federation.

The champion receives an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and automatically qualifies for The Open and U.S. Open.

The winner also receives full exemptions into The Amateur Championship, the U.S. Amateur Championship and any other USGA amateur championship for which he is eligible. Runner(s)-up will be exempt into the final stages of qualifying for The Open and U.S. Open.