Buenos Aires, Argentina: Argentina’s Ela Anacona produced a dominant display to secure a 12-shot victory in the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation at Pilar Golf.
To the delight of the home crowds, the 23-year-old closed her brilliant week with a final round of three-under-par 69 for a championship record winning total of 15-under 273. Fittingly, she signed off with a birdie on the 18th before being hugged by her jubilant Argentine team-mates.
Over the Blue and White course at the venue north of Buenos Aires, Anacona finished well clear of runner-up Vanessa Gilly, 21, from Venezuela after her 72 for three-under 285. Argentina’s Maria Olivero, 49, dropped to third place after a closing 78 for a two-under total.
Making her third appearance in the championship after two top-15 finishes, Anacona becomes the second Argentinian to win the title after Valentina Rossi triumphed last year.
The University of Arkansas fifth year student will now play in three Major championships after earning exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open, The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship in 2024.
Anacona, who received a victory video message from Annika Sorenstam, will also compete in The Women’s Amateur Championship next year.
“I can’t believe I won by 12 shots. I was just trying to do my best. I was quite nervous last night and woke up at 6 am but managed to get back to sleep. Once I was on the second hole, I felt my focus was there. When I won, I just wanted to find my dad as he means so much to me and I couldn’t have done it without him.”
On competing in three Major championships in 2024, she added: “I’m so excited but I think right now I want to soak everything in. I guess tomorrow I will realise I’m going to play in three Majors. It’s exciting to be able to prepare for them.
“I was on the 16th when I thought: ‘I think I’m going to win this thing’ and then I remembered the AIG Women’s Open is in St Andrews next year. I’m so excited and can’t wait to play the Old Course.”
With a four-stroke lead overnight from compatriot Olivero, Anacona was in control but both her and her nearest challenger bogeyed the first in the windy conditions. Anacona, who finished runner-up in the ANNIKA Invitational Latin America three years in a row from 2016, quickly regained her composure with immediate back-to-back birdies to extend her lead to six shots – an advantage she would not surrender.
The Women’s Amateur Latin America championship presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation follows the successful introduction of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation in 2018.
Its aim is to strengthen the pathway to the highest levels of golf by providing a platform for the region’s best women’s amateur golfers to compete against each other, with 22 players in the field this week under the age of 18 and 37 players having previously competed in the championship.
Lima Golf Club in Peru will host the 2024 Women’s Amateur Latin America championship from November 21-24.
