Julian Perico breaks records in “ greatest week ” at Latin America Amateur Championship
BGGA : What was this experience like ? Perico : My experience at the Latin America Amateur Championship was amazing . It was surreal . I never played that good in my life . I did a lot of work to prepare for the tournament , and it worked out really well . I broke two records in the first round with the lowest scores on 9 and 18 holes in tournament history .
The second day was a struggle , but it was a great experience also . I got to experience how it is to be on TV and to be with all the cameras , Dottie Pepper and everybody watching my life and running after my balls . It was really nice .
BGGA : How did you find out you had set the 9- and 18- hole scoring records after the first round ? Perico : I looked at the previous scores , and I knew that with nine holes to play that I had the record already . I wanted to keep it that way and break 65 .
BGGA : What were you feeling when leading the event to start the second round ? Perico : I was really calm and steady because I thought that it was going to be the same as the first day but it wasn ’ t . It was so uncomfortable to play with all of those ( TV ) guys out there , but in the end , it was a great learning experience for me .
BGGA : What did you think of the attention you received after the first round ? Perico : I got a lot of press conferences and I had fun . I wasn ’ t expecting it to be that big but it was really big .
Julian Perico , 17 , competed as the youngest player in the field at the Latin America Amateur Championship and walked away with an experience of a lifetime . Perico started hot in the first round with a 6-under 64 at Club de Golf de Panama to take a one-shot . Perico ’ s hot round set the tournaments 18-hole scoring record and his 29 on the first nine holes was also a new record .
We caught up with Perico when he returned to BGGA to talk about his experience .
BGGA : What was your goal heading into the Latin America Amateur Championship ? Perico : My goal at the Latin America Amateur Championship was to make the cut , and after that it was to make the top 10 . I really didn ’ t think of winning before the tournament . I was really calm and steady and focusing on my positives .
BGGA : How did you prepare for the tournament ? Perico : I played two big tournaments before that one to gain momentum for it . I then just went out there and played the best I could .
BGGA : How did you feel about your finish ? Perico : In the end , I came in fourth , one shot off a playoff with Alvaro , Joaquín and Toto and their big friends of mine . I ’ m really glad for them to make it , but I would ’ ve loved to have won and play in Augusta in three months . In the end , someone had to win it and I ’ m happy for Toto .
BGGA : What did you learn from this experience ? Perico : I had the lead after the first day . I broke two records and I was having fun out there . The second day was a struggle , as I wasn ’ t used to the cameras and everything . I did the best I could and it still was a good learning experience . When I have this in following years in that event , if I get the opportunity to compete as well as I did , I will know how to manage myself . I did manage myself better the last two rounds . It ’ s just that the second round was really tough for me .
BGGA : What are your plans and goals this spring ? Perico : I know I have big things to come . I ’ m looking forward to play some big events in the rest of the year .
BGGA : Final thoughts on the week . Perico : In the end , the experience was amazing . They treat us like kings . It ’ s an event run by the R & A , The Masters and the USGA so they basically made it perfect . It was one of the greatest weeks for me .