Latin America Amateur Championship: a contest in a paradisiacal place that ignites illusions for eight Argentines

THE ROMAN. The wonderful view next to the imposing Caribbean Sea of ​​the Diente de Perro golf course in La Romana, Dominican Republic, will be the setting for the seventh Latin Aamerica Amateur Championship, which will take place starting this Thursday. With the presence of eight Argentines, this tournament has great promises of the future and one of them is Abel Gallegos. Defending champion of the 2020 tournament, held in Mayacoba, Mexico, he was one of the participants who spoke in the preview of this tournament that awards participation in the Augusta Masters and the British Open.

The LAAC is one of five elite amateur events, along with The Amateur Championship, the European Amateur Championship, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and the US Amateur Championship, offering the world’s most talented amateur golfers the chance to qualify directly to play The Open and The British. In a paradise next to the Caribbean, this championship is played, which hosts 102 players from 30 different countries. Mateo Fernández de Oliveira, Segundo Oliva Pinto, Vicente Marzilio, Manuel Lozada, Aram Matías Yenidjeian, Andy Schönbaum and Juan Martín Loureiro there are seven golfers nationals that will participate in the LAAC.

The eighth Argentine is Abel Gallegos that in 2020 he kept the title: “That lap was very good, I don’t know if I expected it, it was natural and the memory will stay with me all my life,” the 19-year-old told a press conference who also, He wants to repeat: “I have the same expectations as always, to go out and play, have a good time and of course be able to win”.

have been the champion It opened many doors for him professionally. but the most important ones were playing the Augusta and British Masters and he has great memories of that: “The truth is that they were two dreams come true for me and doing it again is what motivates me”. Before the question of THE NATION On the advice that the great players gave him, he said: “They talked to me a lot, both about what to do on the court and about life, but they all told me to try, not to stop and to continue. Also that I don’t get tired, because in this sport you never know when you can win”. There were several figures against whom he shared the most prestigious tournaments in the world of golf, but the one who caught his attention the most was Rory McIlroy: “It was the one that most impacted me of all because of how he hits the ball.”

The seventh edition will be held for the third time at Diente de Perro, one of the golf courses designed by Pete Dye. With seven holes by the sea and 11 where you can see the different shades of blue and light blue in the water, Teeth of the dog, located in the Casa de Campo resort & Villas, is number 1 in the Caribbean course ranking. Also, ranked 27th in the world outside of international fields.

The Head Professional of this wonderful golf course is Manuel Relancio, a 38-year-old Argentine who has been working at Diente de Perro for nine years and in his dialogue with LA NACION, expressed: “It is one of the best courses in the world and it is not because I am working here. It is fun. In the description, he brings to mind moments that can be imagined: “You’re hitting a tee box and suddenly a wave hits you. You listen to the sound of the sea very close while you play; It’s impressive and you never cease to amaze. Being cloudy, with sun, with rain, each time a different playing field”.

But the description of this terrain with 18 holes and 7,263 yards, is also in the way of playing: “Strategically, from tee to green it is not so complicated because it has wide fairways and you can spread the ball from the tee with the drive”, explains Relancio. . And he adds: “The great defense is the second shot to the green. The greens that have a lot of hill, you have to know where to attack, which flags yes and which flags no. Also, he explained: “The course has the peculiarity that the greens make them a little hard and more with the wind, which generally blows from 11 to 16. There you feel more, especially on the holes of the sea.”

Abel Gallegos, also spoke On the impression that the golf course left on him: “It is an incredible course that I did not know. The view is very deceiving, it seems that it has a narrow fairway, but no, I think the secret will be in the shots to the green. We also have to see how the wind is this week”. Your candidates? He doesn’t know them, but with a smile on his face, he left a wish: It’s difficult, there are quite a few, but I think one of the eight Argentines can win for sure.”