Former Lion Leon Qualifies For 2009 World Cup
Hugo Leon (second from right) will compete for the $5.5 Omega Mission Hills World Cup in November
Will represent Chile at World Cup in China
9/30/2009 12:07:32 PM
HAMMOND – Former Southeastern Louisiana golfer Hugo Leon, competing for his native Chile, qualified for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup after capturing the South American Qualifier last week at Caracas Country Club in Caracas, Venezuela.
Leon, who competes on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, and teammate Martin Ureta led from wire-to-wire and finished with an aggregate score of 27-under par 257, setting a record for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup South American Qualifier Copa Marriott Venezuela Playa Grande. The final score was the lowest during the eight years the event has been conducted by the Tour de las Americas on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours.
“It’s really a huge honor to have the opportunity to represent Chile in the World Cup,” Leon said. “This was our first time representing our nation as professional players, so it has been a great start. Martin (Ureta) is one of my closest friends, so it’s an honor as well to have the opportunity to share this experience with him.”
Leon, who played for Southeastern from 2003-07, was a three-time All-Southland Conference performer and recorded a 74.39 stroke average in his career and ranks seventh in school history in career rounds played (114). The 2006 Cleveland Golf All-American Scholar captured team medalist honors as a sophomore with a 74.6 scoring average and was named to the SLC All-Academic squad in 2007.
Leon, who joined the Canadian Tour earlier this year and is currently 11th on the Tour’s money list, finished third at 2009 Desjardins Montreal Open and finished tied for second at 2009 Saskatchewan Open.
The US $5.5 million Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be played November 26-29 in China.