In the end, after 21 holes of play on a dramatic Sunday, the relief was evident. Behind the sunglasses and steely exterior, you could sense it. When what proved a routine, winning par dropped into the hole, there was no immediate, wild celebration. It was simply relief. María José Marín was finally victorious in the Women’s Amateur Latin America (WALA) championship, presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation. It was a dream come true.

Her on-rushing Colombian team-mates soon sparked gleeful scenes on the 10^th green at stunning PGA Riviera Maya in Mexico – the third extra hole of a tense, nervy play-off with Barbados’ Emily Odwin – yet Marín was still trying to take it all in. It was no wonder. After near misses in the championship in 2021 and 2022 – both runner-up finishes – the 19-year-old returned for a third time this year as favourite and, from what seemed a back-nine Sunday stroll to the coveted title, she very nearly faltered again.

“I was under pressure and I was really, really nervous,” Marín admitted after letting slip a four-shot lead with four holes to play to go to extra time with Odwin in Tulum. “I’ve been nervous before but this time was one of most nervous I’ve ever been because you can see the prizes that the champion gets. I tried to stay calm and breathe through it but it was really hard.”

Yet she dug deep, very deep, and eventually prevailed. It was the type of gutsy display that the on-watching Annika Sörenstam, the ten-time major champion, would have been proud of. While Odwin applied late pressure, aided by her booming drives down the 18^th both in regulation play and twice in the play-off, Marín played her own game, a strategy that took the trophy. A loving hug with her dad, Jose, who was put through the emotional wringer walking every hole on the final day, was a delight. The triumph saw Marín become the second Colombian to lift the WALA trophy, following in the footsteps of Valery Plata four years ago.

“It was a crazy finish,” added Marín, who saw Odwin find the water in front of the 10^th green with her approach. “I put the championship at risk but luckily I was able to hold on. By the third play-off hole, the 10^th, I knew it could be decided because it’s a very difficult hole due to its green despite being short.”

Ultimately, Marín lived up to her billing as the highest-ranked player in the 60-player field at eighth on the World Amateur Golf Ranking®. She has enjoyed an outstanding season competing as a Junior for the University of Arkansas and simply maintained her consistency at a championship where 14 countries were represented. Marín won the NCAA Division I Women’s National Championship, played in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur for the third time and competed in two majors in 2025 – the US Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship. She also claimed the South American Amateur Championship title.

Over the testing PGA Riviera Maya lay-out – standing out for its breathtaking natural surroundings in harmony with the Mayan jungle, natural lakes and lush tropical vegetation – Marín was a class apart. Across four rounds, she recorded 17 birdies and two eagles – one a stunning 97-yard hole-out at the 9^th in the final round that led to a jump for joy on the fairway. It was the odd lapses in concentration and the missed putts that led to 12 bogeys and a double bogey during the 72 holes. She often used the word “rollercoaster” to describe her efforts post-round and that was certainly the case on the final day. “She knows she still needs to learn and keep improving,” noted Jose in the aftermath. For now, she can bask in the glory.

“I’m really grateful and so happy,” said the semi-finalist at last year’s US Women’s Amateur. “It was an amazing week on the golf course, I completely loved it. PGA Riviera Maya is an amazing course and I’m really grateful that we got to play here. I’m just really happy that it turned out in my favour. Maybe it was God’s will, I don’t know, but I’m really happy.”

Colombia, the third largest market in Central & South America for golfers (across R&A affiliated nations), has a young talent to look up to. A talent again set for major stages in 2026. By virtue of her success, she earned exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open, The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship.

Marín made the cut at the Amundi Evian this year and relished the experience. She can’t wait to return. Royal Lytham & St Annes in England’s north-west for the AIG Women’s Open will provide a completely different challenge but she will be inspired by the performance of fellow amateur Paula Martín Sampedro from Spain, who tied for eighth place at Royal Porthcawl in August and walked away with the Smyth Salver.

“I am really, really excited to be playing in the AIG Women’s Open,” beamed Marín, as she stood next to the trophy on display at PGA Riviera Maya. “It’s going to be fun. I know links golf is totally different golf to what I’m used to so I’m really, really looking forward to that championship.

“It was an incredible opportunity to play in two majors this year and I really wanted to do it again. I’ve never been to England and look forward to it. England has some great players like Lottie Woad and Charley Hull.”

Majors have long been Marín’s goal. Six years ago, a Golf Channel video showed her saying she wanted to play in majors in the future. Annika replied and told her to “keep working hard”. Fast forward to 2025 and Annika presented her with the WALA trophy on Sunday to open the door to three more major chances. Third time lucky at the WALA for Marín? Perhaps it was simply fate.

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