By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JAN. 14, 2016 – USF's Claudio Correa is near the front of the pack after the first round of the Latin America Amateur Championship on Thursday.
Correa carded four birdies on the back nine on the way to an even-par 72 at Casa De Campo in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The sophomore from Santiago, Chile is tied for 13th place and four shots away from leaders Alvaro Ortiz and Jose Andres Miranda.
The top 50 players, plus ties, will make the 36-hole cut at the prestigious event that continues with 36 more holes Saturday and Sunday. The overall winner will receive in an invitation to the 2016 Masters and exemptions into The Amateur Championship, the U.S. Amateur Championship and other USGA amateur championship events.
The Latin America Amateur Championship features 107 players representing 29 countries and territories recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Watch Friday's second round in progress at LAACGolf.com and get live scoring HERE.
DiMarco Competes in St. Pete
Cristian DiMarco tied for 20th place at the 90th annual New Year's Invitational that took place Jan. 7-10 at St. Petersburg Country Club. DiMarco went under par the final two rounds and finished with a score of 73-75-71-72—291 (+3) on the par-72 course.
The sophomore transfer from the University of Kentucky posted a 73.0 scoring average in three events this fall. DiMarco competed as an individual at the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic and tied for third at 5-under on Oct. 13 in Duluth, Ga.
Fernandes Plays in Patriot All-America Invitational
Rigel Fernandes had the honor of playing in the 2015 Patriot All-America Invitational and tied for 22nd place with a score of 77-70-75—22 (+9) on New Year's Eve at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
The PING All-America honorable mention represented Michael C. Anderson, a Navy Builder Petty Officer who was killed by hostile fire in Iraq in 2004. Learn more about Anderson HERE and the incredible way the Patriot All-America Invitational honors military heroes HERE.
