Aaron Jarvis’ victory at the 2022 Latin America Amateur Championships certainly qualifies as one of the most improbable upsets in regional golf history.
Nineteen-year-old Jarvis was competing in that tournament against a field of golfers with more robust resumes and higher world rankings – Argentina’s Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira was the tournament’s top-ranked player at No. 38 in the world – so few expected him to contend for the title.
Yet with dozens of ESPN cameras watching the young Caymanian's every move on an internationally broadcast final round, Jarvis battled back from a bogey and double-bogey on the eighth and ninth holes to shoot a 3-under-par 69 for his final round and win the tournament at 7 under par.
“It has been a pretty crazy ride,” Jarvis said.
He became the first Caribbean player to win the Latin America Amateur Championships. He also punched his ticket to prestigious tournaments like The Masters and The 150th Open, where he’ll play against professionals the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy.
“It's unbelievable that somebody from the Cayman Islands is going to go play in the Masters and play in The Open,” Cayman Islands Golf Association President Jonathan Joyce said. “I don't even think any of us thought that was a possibility. But here we are.”
Although Jarvis earned the victory with his skill, he — and other young Cayman golfers who are reaching new heights — have benefited from the combined efforts of a golfing community that has focused on improving the sport over the past decade.
