LIMA, Peru – Argentina’s Segundo Oliva Pinto has taken the lead heading into the final round of the 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship at Lima Golf Club. Oliva Pinto’s impressive third-round performance included seven birdies, resulting in a six-under-par 64. This puts him at five under par for the tournament, one stroke ahead of Brazil’s Eduardo Matarazzo and fellow Argentine Andy Schonbaum after 54 holes. The winner will receive an invitation to compete in the prestigious 2026 Masters Tournament on Sunday.

“I started the day quite far behind,” remarked Oliva Pinto, who has been singularly focused on winning this week. “I concentrated on making good swings and following my own strategy. Some days, everything clicks into place, and today was one of those days.”

During the front nine, Oliva Pinto notched birdies on holes 2, 5, 7, and 8, though he faced a setback with a bogey on the 9th. On the back nine, he maintained a flawless performance, achieving three consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13, and 14, and successfully navigating the challenging 17th and 18th holes with pars.

“The up-and-downs on 17 and 18 were particularly satisfying,” Oliva Pinto shared. “After an over-par start, I’m thrilled to be in this position for the final round. It’s exhilarating to have this opportunity, and I’m eager to see how it unfolds.”

At 26, Oliva Pinto is competing in his sixth Latin America Amateur Championship, consistently finishing within the top 15. Last year, he secured a tie for third place in his home country. A former University of Arkansas golfer, he was co-medalist at the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur held at Kinloch Golf Club.

Schonbaum held the lead for much of the day until a double bogey at 11. The 34-year-old recovered with birdies at 13 and 14 but faltered on 18 when his tee shot was blocked out by a bush and he could only manage another double to fall back to four under.

Matarazzo carded his second consecutive round of 66 to climb into contention after a four-over 74 in the first round. The Brazilian is seeking to become the first player from his country to win the Latin America Amateur, while Oliva Pinto or Schonbaum would be the third from Argentina. Countries represented inside the top 10 include Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Paraguay, Colombia and Bolivia.

Sunday’s final round can be seen live beginning at 11 a.m. on ESPNNews.

For more information on the Latin Amateur Championship, please visit LAACgolf.com and follow @LAAC_Golf on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.