Sometimes you need a little luck to make your dreams come true. At least, that’s what Mateo Pulcini discovered on Sunday at the Latin American Amateur Championship.
With a spot in the Masters, US Open and Open Championship on the line, the 25-year-old from Argentina stepped up to the first playoff hole and hit his iron into the right Rough. With his ball under the ground, Pulcini tried to force his second shot close to the green. But it came out low and looked like it was going to hit a tree, ruining his chances. However, the ball somehow missed all the major branches and came through, leaving Pulcini with a 40-yard chip shot.
Pulcini’s next shot checked to 6 feet, and he banked in the ensuing par putt to send his play-off against Venezuela’s Virgilio Paz to a second hole.
On that second playoff hole, Paz ripped his tee shot into the left rough and caught a flyer lie that sailed right of the green. Paz chipped 40 feet past the hole and missed the par putt, leaving the door open for Pulcini to become the oldest winner in the history of the Latin American Amateur Championship. Pulcini’s third shot came just short of the green. He pulled the putter and rolled his third to ten feet. He tapped the par putt to punch his ticket to Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale.
The best moments from the final round of 2026 LAAC champion Mateo Pulcini. 🇦🇷
The best moments from the final round of the LAAC 2026 champion, Mateo Pulcini. pic.twitter.com/lGFrD5zkCa
— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026
“There were a lot of nerves involved,” Pulcini said. “As always, I tried to have fun and laugh. Since I was in the position I dreamed of at the beginning of the week, why not take advantage of it and enjoy it?”
Pulcini, who played his collegiate golf at D-II Oklahoma Christian before transferring to Arkansas, started Sunday’s final round at Lima Golf Club two shots behind 54-hole leader Segundo Oliva Pinto. But Oliva Pinto’s putter went cold Sunday when he fired a three-over 73 in the final round to finish in fifth place.
Pulcini went out at one under on Sunday and then birdied No. 12 to get to five under. He bogeyed 13, but got one stroke back with a birdie on 14.
Three holes later, at No. 17, Pulcini made a championship-saving putt when he drained a 40-foot par putt just moments after Paz made a 25-footer for birdie to keep him at five under the lead.
Virgilio Paz Valdes doesn’t give up!
His birdie on hole 17 evened the lead heading into the final hole.Virgilio Paz Valdes doesn’t give up!
This birdie on the 17th puts him right at the top with one hole to play. pic.twitter.com/HF4j9AqMPP— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026
Three holes later, Pulcini tapped in for another par, this one to win and set up a majors-filled 2026 that will start at the Masters.
“We dream of playing and winning this,” Pulcini said. “I have no words right now. I am so happy and so grateful for the people around me.”
On Sunday in Peru, Mateo Pulcini realized a dream after 74 holes – with the help of a stroke of luck.
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