Camilo Villegas is a wily veteran who found a way to finish inside the top 10 at the American Express last week. The Colombian golfer turned an opening-round 72 into an incredible 62 on Friday. That helped Villegas immensely.

Manuel Merizalde of Colombia already had five birdies in eight holes Thursday and rode that to a 6-under 66, giving him a three-way share of the lead after the opening round of the Latin America Amateur Championship.

Manuel Merizalde of Colombia is a 45-year-old who works for a security company and rarely plays golf more than once a week. Those low expectations might have helped him in the opening round of the Latin America Amateur Championship.

Patrick Sparks of Peru and Gabriel Palacios of Guatemala also were at 66 on ... He is 45, some two decades removed from playing alongside Camilo Villegas in a World Cup and from playing at Brigham ...

Patrick Sparks of Peru and Gabriel Palacios of Guatemala also were at 66 on a day of good scoring ... He is 45, some two decades removed from playing alongside Camilo Villegas in a World Cup and from playing at Brigham Young. And he is far removed from ...