María José Marín will take a one-shot lead over Emily Odwin into the final round of the Women’s Amateur Latin America (WALA) championship after a dramatic finish on day three in Mexico.

The top-ranked player in the field signed for a four-under-par 68 after closing with back-to-back birdies at PGA Riviera Maya, as the Colombian reached a total of eight-under 208 for 54 holes.

Marín, eighth on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), sits just a stroke clear of Odwin from Barbados – who chipped in for a birdie from 20 yards at the last – as the pair battle for the championship, presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation.

Marín, 19, has enjoyed an outstanding season competing as a Junior for the University of Arkansas and is now targeting a victory to secure exemptions into three major championships in 2026 – the AIG Women’s Open, The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship.

Marín recorded three birdies in the opening 11 holes but again struggled to keep bogeys off her card, dropping shots at the 2^nd and 12^th. However, a brilliant eagle three at the par-5 14^th sparked her round and she replied from another bogey at the par-5 16^th with her thrilling finish.

“I had two really good closing birdies after a mistake on the 16^th so I knew I had to bounce back with something good,” said Marín. “It’s left me with a really good feeling going to tomorrow’s round. I think I’m building momentum.

“I need to stay patient and I think I have a really good strategy for the course. All of my rounds have started slowly and I’ve bounced back on the back nine. I’m going into tomorrow with a clear mind and being calm to let the good golf talk.” 

Odwin, 134^th on the WAGR® was a model of consistency on the front nine in the glorious yet breezy conditions, producing excellent ball striking to claim birdies at the 1^st, 5^th and 8^th. The 21-year-old mixed three birdies with three bogeys on the back nine in her 69 for seven-under 209.

“On the 18^th I had 106 yards in with my approach and left it short of the green,” said Odwin. “I really couldn’t go home and tell my coach what had happened so I had to try and do something and it managed to go in.

“I’ve been hitting the ball well, I think I did a good job giving myself chances and I was able to hole a couple of putts. Anything I feel tomorrow is what you want to feel because it means you’re in with a chance to win it. I’m just going to try and keep the same gameplan and have some fun.” 

Debutant Krishny Elwin, 17, from Puerto Rico is next best on two-under 214 after her 69 featured four birdies. She said, “I played really well. It could have been lower as I didn’t make as many putts as I wanted but overall I’m really happy with the round. It’s very hot, very humid, and if you try to rush things it won’t go your way. I’ve started to stay more patient the last couple of days.

“I feel great to be playing in this prestigious tournament. It’s a confidence boost for me. I wasn’t really nervous coming in as I knew I could play well.”

Home favourite Alexa Saldana is a shot further back, with Luana Valero from Colombia on level par. Defending champion Clarisa Temelo from Mexico is in 12^th spot on six-over.

Saldana said, “It was a good round. It was quite difficult in the middle but I was proud that I was able to fight through it and finish with a few birdies. I think it’s very important to stay calm throughout the whole round, it’s easy to want to think ahead but you need to stay patient. I feel very comfortable with the course lay-out and I think it fits my game very well.”

This week’s WALA in Tulum features its strongest ever field with 60 players representing 14 countries chasing the prestigious amateur title.

Joint-overnight leader Daniela Paez faded down the leaderboard following a 80, the Colombian dropping six shots in three holes at the end of the front nine.

Annika Sörenstam enjoyed watching the third-round action, as well as hosting a golf clinic with the players post-round, as the championship reaches new audiences being staged in Mexico for the first time this week.

Annika, the ten-time major champion, said, “It´s been wonderful to bring the Women´s Amateur Latin America championship to PGA Riviera Maya. The course and hospitality have been fantastic and I know the players are enjoying their experience.

“It was great to see so many familiar faces at the clinic today as well as meet new girls. Each year, the talent gets better and better so we are excited for what the future holds for not only this championship, but for the next generation of Latin American players."

The Women’s Amateur Latin America championship 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.

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