Aaron Jarvis of the Cayman Islands emerged the winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) that concluded at the Teeth of the Dog Golf Course in the Dominican Republic on Sunday (January 23).

Jarvis carded an overall score of seven-under-par 281 to become the first Caribbean golfer to win the event in its seven-year history.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Justin Burrowes battled his way to a five-way tie for 34th place along with four other players from Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, Mexico and the host country.

Nineteen-year-old Jarvis posted scores of 70, 69, 73 and 69 to secure the victory. He had three birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey on the front nine on Sunday and four birdies and a bogey on the back nine. He had his final birdie on the final hole that kept four other golfers at bay.

Afterwards, the ecstatic Caymanian said that it was every young golfer’s dream to go to the Masters and he was happy to achieve that dream. The winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship gets an automatic spot in the Masters which will be played later this year.

Santiago de la Fuente of Mexico, Fred Biondi of Brazil, Vincente Marjilio and Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira of Argentina all finished tied on 282 for second place.

Closer home, Burrowes entered the final day tied on 23rd with three other golfers but had his roughest day of the championship, posting a 78 for a combined score of 298. He previously shot 74,72 and 74, respectively, over the first three days.

“Not the day that I was kind of hoping for but again another huge learning experience,” he said while congratulating Jarvis on his historic win.

“I am super proud of my very good friend Aaron Jarvis and the win. He kind of opened the door for us Caribbean guys. I grew up playing golf with him, I have beaten him, he has beaten me, it just shows that we in the Caribbean have the talent to do it and to have the guy open the door for is huge.”