Women's Amateur Latin America

New major exemption for Women’s Amateur Latin America championship

The R&A

21 Sep 22

3 mins

The winner of the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship presented by The R&A and ANNIKA Foundation will earn an exemption into the 2023 edition of The Chevron Championship.

The champion will now tee it up alongside the leading women’s professional golfers in three major championships in 2023 – The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods from 20-23 April, the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club from 27-30 July and the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath from 10-13 August. The championship is taking place for the second time at Pilar Golf in Buenos Aires from 17-20 November and will feature the region’s most talented women’s amateur golfers.

Elevated championship

Mark Lawrie, Director – Latin America and Caribbean at The R&A, said, “The addition of a third major championship exemption in only its second year enhances the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship’s standing as a world-class amateur event and we are grateful to Chevron and the LPGA Tour for their support. “The prospect of competing at the very highest level of the sport is a strong incentive for the region’s best women’s amateur golfers, all of whom will play in the championship. We look forward to seeing who emerges from the field to win the title and secure these coveted exemptions.”

“The Chevron Championship is about increasing access for women on and off the course, and in 2023, that includes expanding access for amateur players,” said Al Williams, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Chevron. “We are excited that the winner of the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship will secure a place in The Chevron Championship in 2023.” "The new exemption is especially meaningful to me as I enjoy so many great memories from this major championship," said Annika Sorenstam, a three-time winner of The Chevron Championship in 2001, 2002 and 2005. "We're honoured to partner with The R&A and offer a third major championship exemption in just the second year of our event. These exemptions are a reflection of the rapidly increasing stature of our event, as well as our Foundation's mission to provide opportunities for female golfers to achieve their dreams on and off the course."

Colombia’s Valery Plata pipped compatriot María José Marin Negrete by one shot in a thrilling climax at Pilar Golf to finish on a 12-under-par total of 276 and become the first ever winner of the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship in 2021.

Strong pathways

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 in 2018. Its aim is to strengthen the pathway to the very highest levels of golf by providing a platform for the region’s best women’s amateur golfers to compete against each other.

The format for the championship will be 72 holes of stroke play over the Blue and White course at Pilar Golf and 60 players will be invited to participate based on their position in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®). The winner also receives an exemption in the Women’s Amateur Championship being played at Prince’s, England from 13-18 June 2023. Please visit the championship website for more information.