LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic -- Right when it looked as though Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico would endure more heartache at the Latin American Amateur Championship, he delivered his best shots and earned a trip to the Masters.
A runner-up each of the last two years, the former Arkansas Razorbacks golfer hammered a 3-wood into the wind to set up a 20-foot eagle and a share of the lead, and he finished with two birdies for a 6-under 66 and a two-shot victory Sunday.
"It feels good to finally lift the trophy," Ortiz, 23, said.
Ortiz earned a spot at Augusta National in April, and if he chooses to stay amateur, he will be exempt into the final stage of qualifying for the U.S. Open and British Open. He will be the first Mexican to play in the Masters since Victor Regalado in 1979.
Ortiz earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors after his senior year with the Razorbacks in 2018. He finished his collegiate career leading his team with a stroke average of 71.24 in earning Ping All-Central Region honors for the third consecutive year.
Luis Gagne of Costa Rica, who plays at LSU, was tied with Ortiz with two holes to play on the Teeth of the Dog course at Casa del Campo. Gagne's tee shot on the short par-4 17th hole went into a bunker. Facing a 90-yard shot with a strong wind at his back, he went over the green and failed to get up-and-down.
Ortiz, in the final group behind him, decided against going for the green on the 295-yard hole. He hit 8-iron off the tee that bounced hard into light rough, and then pinched a 58-degree wedge that checked about 2 yards in front of the pin and rolled out to inches away for birdie.
Gagne missed a long eagle attempt on the par-5 18th and shot 66. Ortiz easily reached the green in two and tapped in for birdie to finish at 14-under 274.
"I've been close so many times, I start to realize that maybe this isn't right for me, maybe I'm playing the wrong sport," Ortiz said. "I kept positive. I kept telling myself good things."
He was between 3-wood and hybrid from 265 yards away on the par-5 12th when he opted for the 3-wood and hit it hard and high into the Caribbean wind.
"It came out like a rocket, and in the end, it floated," he said.
The eagle allowed him to tie for the lead, and Ortiz hit wedge from the rough to 3 feet for birdie on the 13th, while Gagne made birdie on the 14th to set up the finish.
Ortiz, whose older brother Carlos plays on the PGA Tour, decided to stay an amateur on the advice of his parents, who told him there was no rush. He played in the Palmer Cup and then decided to go through Web.com Tour qualifying as an amateur. The plan was to get through and begin his professional career at the start of this year.
"Gladly, it didn't work out," Ortiz said. "As soon as I missed second stage, my first thought was: 'This is my year. I'm going to win the Latin American and play in the Masters."
Sports on 01/21/2019