Colombian pair María José Marín and Daniela Paez share the early lead after day one of the Women’s Amateur Latin America (WALA) championship, presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation.

On a warm, humid day at PGA Riviera Maya in Mexico, with heavy rain affecting the late starters, Paez shone in the conditions to sign for an impressive three-under-par 69.

The 18-year-old, who finished third in the South American Junior Championship this year, mixed six birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey at the par-5 4^th in an up-and-down round.

“I had fun out there,” said Paez. “I tried to stay focused on each shot and take advantage of the birdie opportunities that came up during the round.

“I had to stay calm during the start as I had some trouble during the middle of the first nine. Then transitioning from the front to the back nine was also key. You always feel pressure but I feel it’s still too early in the tournament.” 

As the top player in the field at eighth on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), Marín, 19, showed her class in the final group of the day. The University of Arkansas Junior carded four birdies on a superb back nine to join Paez at the top in Tulum.

Marin remarked, “The overall round was pretty good. My front nine was kind of slow, the putts weren’t going in. I had a good birdie on the 6^th but then had a few mistakes on the 8^th and 9^th that cost me two bogeys.

“I just stayed patient and had a good back nine and I’m pretty happy to start with three-under. You have to be really smart with your decisions, when to attack and not. It’s an amazing course, the best course in Mexico for a reason. It’s a top, top level golf course.”

Argentina’s Ana Giuliano is a shot behind after her two-under 70, highlighted by three birdies in the last five holes from the talented 16-year-old who won this year’s Argentine Junior Championship. Emily Odwin from Barbados, the runner-up at the championship in Peru in 2024, recovered from two-over after five holes to also record a 70.

“It’s a strong start,” said a smiling Odwin. “I was six shots behind Clarisa last year so I know how tough it is to win this but I’ll keep trying to do my best. You have to make good decisions off the tee and commit to that.

“I have this week circled on my calendar every year to play in. It’s just a really fun week and each year the field gets stronger. I’m really happy to be here again. I know The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation really work hard to make this the premier event for us in Latin America.”

Chile’s Ameila Ruiz Topali, Mercedes Aldana from Argentina, Mexico’s Regina Jimenez Jardon and Luana Valero of Colombia are in a group on one-under, while defending champion Clarisa Temelo carded a 73.

Topali added, “My round was really good. I felt really solid from the tee and I had a lot of opportunities for birdies. I made some of them and I’m really happy with how I finished. I feel so good with my game and feel so comfortable.

“I have been practising a lot at college (Lynn University) and did really good preparation for this tournament. The course is super tight and you need to be really good from the tee boxes.”

The 72-hole championship features its strongest ever field with 60 players representing 14 countries as leading talents compete on the region’s most prestigious amateur stage.

With Mexico hosting the championship for the first time, Paloma Ibarra Ambia had the honour of striking the opening tee shot in her home country and went on to score 78.

The winner this week will play alongside the stars of women´s professional golf through exemptions into three major championships in 2026 –  the AIG Women’s Open, The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship.

Inaugurated in 2010 and located in Tulum – a popular destination in the Mexican Caribbean – PGA Riviera Maya is one of the leading golfing destinations in Latin America. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the course is part of Grupo Piñero’s Real Estate & Golf division and stands out for its breathtaking natural surroundings.

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, with the average age of the field this week just under 20. 

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