Joaquin Niemann books place at Masters with Latin America Amateur win

Joaquin Niemann stormed to victory at the Latin America Amateur Championship to earn a place at this year's Masters.

The 19-year-old Chilean shot an eight-under-par 63 in his last round as an amateur to win by five shots at Prince of Wales Country Club.

Niemann lived up to his No 1 world amateur ranking by playing a five-hole stretch in six-under par around the turn. That carried him to a stress-free victory over Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico, a runner-up in the Latin America Amateur for the second straight year.

By winning, Niemann earns a spot in the Masters and would be exempt into the final stage of qualifying for the US Open and British Open. However, he won't be eligible for those exemptions because he plans to turn pro after the Masters.

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Niemann attended the Masters last year with Toto Gana and he plans to return the favour by bringing Gana as a guest this year.

The previous three Latin America Amateur champions have failed to make the cut at the Masters, a trend that Niemann hopes to change.

"I feel ready," said Niemann, who qualified for the US Open last year at Erin Hills and missed the cut.

Trailing by one shot to Ortiz to start the final round, Niemann tied for the lead with one fortuitous bounce. His drive on the reachable par-four eighth hole cannoned off a tree, through the bunker and onto the green to set up an eagle.

They were tied going to the back nine, where Niemann took the lead with a birdie on the 10th hole, and then expanded his lead to three shots with a birdie at the 11th as Ortiz made bogey. Niemann birdied two of the next three holes to pull away.