Qualifying Standards

Qualifying Standards

The 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) will have a field of 108 male players.

The field will be selected as follows:

  1. 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Winners of the Latin America Amateur Championship.

  2. From the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship, the five lowest scorers and anyone tying for fifth.

  3. The top two players from each IGF Member National Federation in Latin America, plus an additional four players from the host country, as ranked on World Amateur Golf Ranking® / WAGR® as of 8 September 2024 (Week 36) published on 11 September 2024. If an eligible federation has only one ranked player, that federation will receive only one position and cannot nominate additional players. If an eligible federation does not have a player ranked on WAGR, that federation may nominate one player, with an established World Handicap System (WHS) Handicap Index® not exceeding 5.4, subject to LAAC Executive Committee approval, to fill up to one position.

  4. The remainder of the field will be filled by taking the next ranked players from WAGR as published on 11 September 2024. The maximum number of players from any country, except the host, will be six. The maximum number of players from the host country will be ten. Note: When establishing the initial field, there will be a maximum of six players allocated per country from WAGR (except for the host country). However, in filling alternate positions, this maximum may be extended at the Executive Committee’s discretion.

  5. If players from 1 and 2 above do not fall within the WAGR-ranked players allocated from their countries under 3 and 4, these players will be added to the field. If, however, they fall within the WAGR-ranked players from their countries who qualify under 3 and 4, their countries will not receive additional invitations.

  6. The LAAC Executive Committee reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to invite additional players or withdraw an invitation for any reason including but not limited to disciplinary matters, the players standing with the National Federation, anti-doping sanctions or based on conduct or behavior exhibited by a player that the Executive Committee determines to be contrary to the best interest of the Championship.

It is the national federation’s responsibility to review and verify the eligibility of their top WAGR-ranked players before 9 September 2024. Federations should notify the Executive Committee before this date if any of the following conditions exist within the ranking:

  • A player’s national indication in WAGR is incorrect or will be changed

  • A player listed for a country is not known to that federation

  • A player listed for a country has turned professional

  • Any other similar circumstance that could alter the federation’s player list

If one of these conditions exists within the ranking, federations should immediately advise the LAAC Executive Committee by contacting Victoria Lawrie at vlawrie.laacgolf@gmail.com. If not advised in advance of 9 September, the federation’s invitation list could be affected.

Amateur Status and National Representation

In order to participate in the Latin America Amateur Championship, a player must meet all three of the following eligibility guidelines:

  1. Amateur Status – Each player must remain an amateur as defined by the USGA/R&A’s Rules of Amateur Status throughout the duration of the Championship.

  2. Nationality – Each player must meet the following nationality requirements in order to represent one of the IGF Member National Federations in Latin America.

    1. A player may represent any country/territory provided he holds a current and valid passport from that country/territory

    2. If a player wishes to represent an IGF recognized country/territory that does not issue its own passport, he must appeal to inclusion in the Championship and provide requested documentation to the Executive Committee of the LAAC who will make a final determination on eligibility.

    3. If a player has represented a country/territory in the LAAC, in continental or regional games or in world or regional championships recognized by the World Amateur Golf Ranking, he may not represent another country/territory for a period of four years. (Four years must have passed between the final day of the previous competition and the first day of the LAAC.)

  3. World Amateur Golf Ranking – If ranked, each player must be listed under the country/territory he intends to represent in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.