Women's Amateur Latin America

New partnership for the Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship

The R&A

24 Nov 24

3 mins

The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation have agreed a new partnership with Azteca Golf, which will see the Women’s Amateur Latin America (WALA) championship visit Mexico on two occasions as part of a five-year agreement.

Mexico is to host the WALA in 2025 for the first time after this week’s edition at Lima Golf Club in Peru and three previous stagings at Pilar Golf in Argentina. The championship in 2025 will again feature the region’s most talented women’s amateur golfers and the winner will earn three major exemptions in 2026 – invitation into the AIG Women’s Open and, by tradition, The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship. The host venue in Mexico and dates for the championship in 2025 will be confirmed at a later date.

Looking ahead

Mark Lawrie, Regional Managing Director – Latin America and the Caribbean at The R&A, said, “We look forward to working with Azteca Golf over the next five years to allow the leading women’s amateur golfers from Latin America to showcase their skills. “Taking the championship to Mexico for the first time next year continues the evolution of the Women’s Amateur Latin America, with the players having the chance to earn exemptions into three major championships in 2026.” Annika Sörenstam, the ten-time major winner, added, “I’m thrilled to see the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship make its move to Mexico next year. “This is an exciting new chapter for the championship and I believe it will bring even greater visibility and opportunities for the incredible talent we have in Latin America. With the five-year partnership with Azteca Golf, we are committed to growing the game, inspiring young women and showcasing the rich golf culture of Mexico.”

Annika Sörenstam, the ten-time major winner, added, “I’m thrilled to see the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship make its move to Mexico next year."

Grow women’s golf

Federico Valdez, Amateur Tournaments Director at Azteca Golf, said, “Grupo Salinas began promoting golf in 2017 with the WGC-Mexico Championship, the First Tee Mexico and, more recently, with the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, a PGA TOUR event held since 2022 in Vidanta, Vallarta. “Our commitment with the future of the sport is long term, which is why more than a year ago we launched “Alto Rendimiento Azteca” (ARA), a high performance programme for junior and amateur golfers from Latin America. “Azteca Golf, part of Grupo Salinas, is happy to announce a new initiative; a strategic alliance with The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation to promote the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship with Mexico as host in 2025. Azteca Golf is looking forward to work and collaborate to grow women’s golf in Latin America.” Colombia's Valery Plata claimed victory at the inaugural Women’s Amateur Latin America championship in 2021, before Argentina pair Valentina Rossi and Ela Anacona triumphed in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Anacona has been among the talented 60-player field representing 12 countries at this week’s championship, which concludes at Lima Golf Club today. 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 Latin America’s best women amateur golfers to compete against each other.

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