RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Mexico’s Luis Carrera carded a bogey-free second round of 5-under 67 at Grand Reserve, giving him a one-shot lead at the weekend’s Latin American Amateur Championship.
Argentina’s Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira shot 67 to miss the playoffs last season, one shot behind.
The winner earns a spot at the Masters in April and the US Open in June, among other exemptions.
Carrera, a senior at Central Florida, won the 2019 Latin American Amateur, inspired by Alvaro Ortiz, and said he wants nothing more than to give Mexico another title in this championship.
The reduction reached 147.
Cayman Islands’ Aaron Jarvis, the defending champion, had a 70 and was eight shots behind. After two rounds, only eight players were within five shots.
Peru’s Julian Perico had the low round of 66 and was two shots behind Carrera.
Colombia’s Mateo Fuenmayer, the 18-hole leader at 6-under 66, is nine shots back with a 77.
