Justin Hastings, right, finished top amateur and tied 13th overall at the Mexico Open. Brian Campbell, left, netted US$1.26 million as the overall winner. – Photo: Mexico Open, VidantaWorld
A dream year continued for Cayman Islands golf star Justin Hastings as he finished tied 13th in a field of experienced professionals at the Mexico Open on Sunday.
Hastings was the top amateur in the prestigious tournament, having qualified courtesy of his victory in the Latin America Amateur Championship in Argentina last month.
Such is the young Caymanian’s form and confidence right now that he left Mexico’s Mayan Riviera having carded a magnificent 13-under-par over four rounds ,disappointed not to have done better.
After shooting a thrilling six-under-par 65 on day three, a top 10 finish was within his reach – a milestone that would have qualified him for further pro tournaments.
“I am quite pleased,” he said of his performance over the weekend at VidantaWorld.
Justin Hastings en route to T13th finish in Mexico: – Photo: Mexico Open, VidantaWorld
“I feel like I did a lot of things well – as you have to, to compete on the PGA tour. Obviously there is still room for improvement but overall I am happy with my performance.”
His initial goal, he said, was to make the cut. Once that had been achieved, he played some of the best golf of the weekend, surging up the leaderboard on Saturday.
“I felt very free on day three. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders after I made the cut so I think I played the best because my mindset was that I had nothing to lose anymore.
“I never thought too much about winning because I was eight shots back before the final round, but I definitely was thinking about a top 10. Unfortunately I came up one shot short.”
With a prize purse of US$7 million, the Mexico Open is a coveted title on the PGA tour. Winner Brian Campbell took home $1.26 million after triumphing in a playoff. The three other golfers who tied for 13th with Hastings received $136,083. The 21-year-old Hastings was denied a share of the prize money, however, as he is an amateur and not yet entitled to compete for earnings – standard practice on the PGA tour.
Hastings’ performance, though, does put him in the frame for future paydays as he looks to go professional later this year and establish himself as a competitor to be reckoned with on the tour.
There’s plenty more to come for Hastings this year. He heads to the Puerto Rico Open – another PGA event – next month. Before that, he will be travelling to Augusta, Georgia, this weekend to play his first practice rounds at the renowned course, where he will compete in the US Masters in April.
Hastings, who secured qualification with his win in Argentina, follows in the footsteps of his national teammate Aaron Jarvis, who played at the famous tournament in 2022.
“This year has been a total dream come true, and this [tournament in Mexico] is only the first of many lifelong-dream tournaments. The next dream I will be realising comes this weekend when I will stop at Augusta to play my first practice rounds there.”
For Hastings, a senior at San Diego State University, the hard part might be keeping his feet on the ground. His performances in Argentina and Mexico suggest he has a big future in professional golf.
“I believe that the sky is the limit. I hope to have a long career in golf but I plan on taking it day by day and staying in the moment and enjoying the little things as they come,” he said.
With the Masters, the US Open and the Open Championship in the UK ahead of him, there will be plenty to enjoy for Hastings in the year ahead.
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Publish date : 2025-02-24 16:00:00
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