Pulcini, at 25 the oldest winner of the Latin America Amateur since its inception in 2015, closed with a 2-under 68 and outlasted Missouri senior Virgilio Paz, who was trying to become the first winner from Venezuela.
“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.”
Paz, who also had a 68 at Lima Golf Club, grabbed a share of the lead with a 25-foot birdie putt at the tough par-4 17th. Pulcini, who played his college golf at Oklahoma Christian and a senior year at Arkansas, stayed tied for the lead by following with a 20-foot par putt.
On the 18th hole in regulation, Paz went over the green and ran his chip about eight feet past the hole, joining Pulcini at 5-under 275 and forcing only the second playoff in tournament history.
And then the big Argentinian got his biggest break on the first playoff hole. From a bad lie on the right rough, his shot headed towards the trees and somehow missed all the big branches, leaving him about 40 yards short of the pin. He threw that to 18 feet and made the par putt to send the play-off to another hole.
“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?”
Paz was on the left side on the 18th, partially blocked by trees, and caught a flyer that went right of the green and lodged in a dirt monster framing a tree. He ducked to stay under the limbs, chipped in about 25 feet and missed the par putt.
“It was a fun fight, a long day,” Paz said. “I’m proud of myself for what I’ve done. I’m going back to school happy.”
Pulcini is the third Argentine winner. Chile has also produced three winners.
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