Justin Hastings

Justin Hastings celebrated victory in January’s Latin America Amateur Championship - the second player from the Cayman Islands to do so in three years after Aaron Jarvis's success in 2022.

Held at the Pilar club on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the 21-year-old San Diego State University senior went into the event 52nd on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and for the sixth year running improved on his record.

Aged only 14 in 2018 he survived the halfway cut and came 50th, then posted finishes of 28th, 22nd, 19th and fourth. He then established a four-stroke lead by following an opening round 71 with scores of 65 and a nine-birdie 64.

Because of a bad weather forecast the final 36 holes were all played on Saturday and although he was caught by Peru’s Patrick Sparks, a par on the short 17th took him one ahead again and another on the last secured his success with a 16 under par total of 272.

“It's still crazy to think about - I don't think it's totally kicked in,” he said as he contemplated starts at not only Royal Portrush, but also The Masters and US Open.