Dominguez Ahead at Latin America Amateur


Chile's Matias Dominguez posted a 3-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Latin America Amateur Championship. The inaugural event began Thursday at Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Dominguez, a 22-year-old senior at Texas Tech, carded seven birdies, two bogeys and a double on the par-5 13th hole to reach 10-under 206, a stroke ahead of Argentine Alejandro Tosti, who had a 68.

After making the turn in 1-over off two bogeys and a birdie, Dominguez got untracked with a 32 on the home half. "I got off to a slow start," said Dominguez. "It took a while to adapt to the greens. But on the back nine, I started gaining a lot of confidence and telling myself that I could make every possible putt."

The Latin America Amateur champion receives an invitation to compete in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. In addition, the winner and the runner(s)-up will be exempt into the final stages of qualifying for the British Open and U.S. Open, with the winner receiving full exemptions into the British Amateur, U.S. Amateur and any other USGA amateur championship for which he is eligible.

If he can end up atop the leaderboard Sunday afternoon, Dominguez will become only the second Chilean - the first was Enrique Orellana, who missed the 36-hole cut in 1964 - to play in the Masters.

Dominguez hopes he can maintain the lead and come out on top Sunday. "It's been a while since I've led a tournament," said Dominguez. "I'm used to coming from the back. I will just try to stay in the present and go shot-by-shot."

Andre Tourinho of Brazil held a one-shot lead entering Saturday. The 24-year-old, who graduated from the University of Tulsa in 2012 and has been a member of the Brazilian National Team, was tied for the lead with Tosti at 10-under after three birdies and a bogey through 13 holes. But after a bogey on the 14th, he tripled the par-4 15th after finding a water hazard and then had another bogey on the 18th for a 3-over 75 to drop into fifth at 211.

"I was not hitting the ball well, but still managing to stay competitive," said Tourinho. "It's a shame that I made the triple-bogey, but I still believe there's a chance tomorrow."

Sharing sixth at 212 are Gaston Bertinotti, 19, of Argentina, who had the day's low round of 6-under 66, countryman Santiago Bauni (72), Alvaro Ortiz (71) of Mexico and Uruguay's Juan Alvarez (74).

For more information and scoring details, visit www.LAACgolf.com. The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org.