The ninth Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama feels like a yearly reunion for most of the 108 players in the field, who regularly coincide in amateur events and college competitions in the United States and who, in many cases, have seen each other in previous editions of the Championship. For the four sets of brothers in the 2024 LAAC field it certainly feels like a family affair. “It makes it more fun going out there and playing with your brother. Coming to Panama and having him play is a great thing, and it is good to see there are more brothers in the field,” said the 2022 LAAC Champion Aaron Jarvis, from Cayman Islands.
CHAMPION SIBLINGS
Aaron, the first LAAC winner to make the cut at The 2022 Open in St Andrews, is practicing alongside his older brother, Andrew, who is playing in his fourth edition of the championship. “It feels almost like home. I have my uncle on the bag as well,” said 24-year-old Andrew Jarvis.
Lukas and Simon Roessler from Chile are also brothers of an LAAC Champion: Toto Gana, who took home the victory in 2017 at Club de Golf of Panama, the first time the Latin America Amateur visited the Central American country. The 19-year-old twins attended the 2017 Masters Tournament to support their older brother.
“When I play with my brother Toto, I learn a lot from his experience. He tells me about the things he has learned during his career, so I can be prepared in the best way possible,” said Lukas, who is playing in his fourth LAAC, while Simon is making his debut in the Championship at Santa Maria Golf Club.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Paraguayan 18-year-old Benjamin Fernández is also playing his first Latin America Amateur Championship, following the lead of his younger brother Franco (16), who is making his second appearance.
“He is guiding me everywhere and showing me the course,” said rookie Benjamin, who is also the brother of Giovanna Fernández, a junior at the University of Arkansas and winner of the 2022 Brazil Women’s Amateur. “I compete with my brothers, and we try to do our best every day,” said Giovanna Fernández.
Bolivian 15-year-old Vicente Quiroga’s sister Constanza, runner-up at the South American Girls Junior Championship, was Vicente’s inspiration to start playing golf. “She was taking lessons, and I was very attracted to the game. From that moment until now, I have practiced almost every day,” said LAAC rookie Vicente about his 17-year-old sister.
FAMILY TRADITION
Jean Paul and Jean Louis Ducruet, from Panama, are the fourth set of brothers after a late addition to the field, both competing in the Championship for the second time. Jean Louis missed the cut in 2022 in Dominican Republic and Jean Paul finished T-37 in 2023 in Puerto Rico.
“They told me there was a possibility, I waited, and it happened,” said 21-year-old Jean Louis, who substituted Chris Richards from Trinidad and Tobago after he withdrew two days before the start of the competition. “Playing with my brother motivates me. We are together in college, and it is very nice to play together at the LAAC,” he added.
Another Panamanian in the field, 17-year-old Samuel Duran, will try to emulate his grandfather Roberto Duran Sr., captain of the men’s golf team at University of Miami and participant in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. “I have followed Samuel and seen his evolution since he was a baby,” said Roberto Sr.
“I try to follow the steps of my grandfather. He is still teaching me new things that help me in competition,” said young Samuel Duran.
