In a breathtaking conclusion to the South American Open Golf Championship, Peru’s Luisamariana Mesones emerged victorious after a tense sudden-death playoff against Barbados’ Emily Odwin on Sunday at Buenos Aires’ Nordelta Golf Club. The tournament culminated in high drama as the two competitors finished regulation play tied at 280 strokes after 72 holes, forcing an extra-hole decider that captivated spectators.
Odwin, Barbados’ 2025 Senior Female Athlete of the Year, demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the competition, shooting under par across all four rounds (71, 69, 70, 70). The Southern Methodist University student-athlete appeared destined for victory after recording five birdies through the first 13 holes on Sunday, building a commanding lead. However, a disastrous double bogey on the 16th hole followed by a bogey on the final hole opened the door for her Peruvian rival.
Mesones mounted an impressive comeback after struggling initially with a first-round 73 (+1). The Peruvian showed tremendous composure, improving her performance with each subsequent round (70, 69, 68). Her critical birdie on the 17th hole during the final round created the tie that forced the playoff.
The competitors remained deadlocked after the first playoff hole, but Mesones ultimately prevailed on the second attempt, securing the title from a field of 63 golfers. This marked Odwin’s second playoff defeat in recent months, having experienced similar heartbreak at November’s Women’s Amateur Latin America championship in Mexico. Despite the setback, the 21-year-old from St James continues to build an impressive amateur resume, including a sixth-place finish at the 2025 Australian Amateur Open and her historic achievement as the first Barbadian to compete in the U.S. Women’s Open last year.