3 major invitations on the line at 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship

The 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship is set to get underway Thursday in Panama City, Panama.

The event was created in 2014 as a joint initiative between Augusta National Golf Club (host of the Masters), the U.S. Golf Association (U.S. Open) and The R&A (Open Championship). Notable alumni include Fred Biondi, Nico Echavarria, Sebastian Munoz, Joaquin Niemann, Alvaro Ortiz, Raul Pereda, Mito Pereira and Alejandro Tosti.

The championship returns for the second time to Panama, which hosted the third edition in 2017 at Club de Golf de Panama.

Here’s everything you need to know for the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship, including notables in the field and TV information.

Course

A view of the No. 13 fairway at the Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama, host venue of the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship. (Photo: LAAC)

Santa Maria Golf Club

Where: Panama City, Panama

Designer: Jack Nicklaus

Details: Par 70, 7,107 yards

Format

Justin Hastings of the Cayman Islands plays a stroke from the No. 16 tee during a practice round ahead of the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship at the Santa María Golf Club in Panamá on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. (Photo: by LAAC)

The tournament is 72 holes of stroke play with a cut taking place after 36 holes for the leading 50 players plus ties. In the event of a tie after 72 holes, the winner is decided by a sudden-death playoff.

Field

Omar Morales of Mexico plays a stroke from the No. 6 tee ahead of the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship at the Santa María Golf Club in Panamá on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. (Photo: by LAAC)

There are 108 top male amateurs in Latin America representing the 29 IOC-recognized countries and territories from the region that are current members of the International Golf Federation.

Notables includes: Omar Morales from Mexico (74th in World Amateur Golf Ranking), Santiago de la Fuente, Mexico (89th); Justin Hastings, Cayman Islands (97th); Chris Richards Jr., Trinidad and Tobago (106th) and Jose Islas, Mexico (115). Argentina has the most players ranked in the top-15 of the field with four. Mexico and Bolivia have three each.

TV, streaming information

Zandra Roye of Jamaica and O’shae Haye of Jamaica pose on the No. 9 tee during a practice round ahead of the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship at the Santa María Golf Club in Panamá on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. (Photo: LAAC)

The championship will have three hours of live coverage all four days. A 30-minute wrap-up highlight show will also be produced after the conclusion of the final round. In addition to broadcasters around the world, the entire broadcast will be simulcast on LAACGolf.com. The television commentary team will feature Rich Lerner, Andy North, Colt Knost, Iona Stephen and John Sutcliffe.

ESPN will broadcast the LAAC from 2-5 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday with coverage shifting to 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

Major invitations

Jose Ignacio Monge of Costa Rica plays a stroke from the No. 9 tee during a practice round ahead of the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship at the Santa María Golf Club in Panamá on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. (Photog: by LAAC)

The winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship receives invitations to three majors in 2024: the Masters, the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 and the Open Championship at Royal Troon.

There are also exemptions into the the Amateur Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship for the winner. The runner(s)-up will receive an exemption into the Open Qualifying Series and the U.S. Open Qualifying Series.