Mayakoba, Quintana Roo, May 13, 2025 – Mexican golfer María Balcázar became the fifth confirmed Mexican player in the 144-player field for the MÉXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, to be held at El Camaleón Golf Course, with a $2.5 million purse.

Balcázar, who was originally set to compete for one of two spots in the Monday Qualifier scheduled for May 19, has now officially received a sponsor exemption for the tournament, which marks the return of the LPGA Tour to Mexico after an eight-year absence.

María Balcázar earned her spot in the qualifier for the MÉXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba by finishing first in the pre-qualifying event held on April 30 in Punta Mita, in collaboration with XUNTAS, followed by Fernanda Lira and Andrea Ostos.

However, after receiving the sponsor exemption, it will be Lira and Ostos who will now compete in the Monday Qualifier. Balcázar joins Isabella Fierro and Clarisa Temelo as the three sponsor invitees, along with Gaby López and María Fassi, who have earned direct entry into the tournament.

Balcázar Castillo, born on January 20, 1998, in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, became in 2020 the first golfer from Chiapas to turn professional. As a college athlete, she represented Central Florida University, where she recorded three Top-10 finishes, seven Top-20s, and a fourth-place finish at both the American Athletic Conference Championship and the Mason Rudolph Championship.

During this stage of her career, she represented Mexico on the international stage. In 2017, she competed at the Summer Universiade held in Taipei, Taiwan, teaming up with María Fassi and Ana Paula Valdés. She also participated in the 2018 World University Golf Championship in Lubao Pampanga, Philippines, an international event organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

In her rookie season on the Epson Tour in 2020, she played in one event and made the cut. In 2021, she participated in five tournaments, and in 2023, in seven events, though she was unable to make the cut in those appearances.

It is worth noting that the MÉXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba will be held at El Camaleón Golf Course in Mayakoba, with a $2.5 million purse, and will serve as a prelude to the U.S. Women’s Open, a Major championship to be played May 29–June 1.

About the LPGA

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 by 13 pioneering women, the LPGA, whose members now represent nearly 40 countries, is the oldest continuing women’s professional sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides professional women with the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level.

In addition to its professional tours and teaching certification programs, the LPGA runs an integrated foundation that offers premier programs for girls through its junior golf program, and LPGA Amateurs, which provides members with global playing and learning opportunities. The LPGA’s mission is to use its unique platform to inspire, empower, and advance opportunities for girls and women—on and off the golf course.

Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and download its mobile apps on Apple or Google Play. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.

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About the LPGA Tour

The LPGA Tour is the premier competitive destination for the world’s best female golfers. The tour hosts over 32 events annually in 12 countries for more than 200 athletes, awarding prizes exceeding $129 million and reaching television audiences in over 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. broadcast partner, Golf Channel.

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About GS Sports Management

GS Sports Management is a 100% Mexican company dedicated to organizing major professional sports events in tennis, padel, and golf. It holds licenses from the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association), LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association), UTS (Ultimate Tennis Showdown), Octagon Ports Agency, PPL (Pro Padel League), Stingrays (San Diego Padel Team), Patrick Mouratoglou Academy, and the GKA Kite World Tour, making it a leader in event management in Latin America.

Beyond organizing sporting events, the company also creates valuable brand communication content, combining top-tier hospitality with an authentic passion for their work.

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About Mayakoba

Nestled in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Mayakoba is a 595-acre resort and residential complex surrounded by nature, known for its emerald lagoons, lush jungle, tranquil waters, and sugar-white sand beaches. It features three luxury hotels—Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Fairmont Mayakoba, and Rosewood Mayakoba—each with distinct personalities and amenities that complement one another.

The destination also includes two collections of private residences, Rosewood Residences Mayakoba and Fairmont Heritage Place Mayakoba. Mayakoba offers a wide array of lifestyle experiences, including three acclaimed spas, over 25 restaurants with diverse cuisines, and El Pueblito, a village square inspired by historic Mexican colonial plazas.

Guests can also enjoy a three-mile nature trail, a variety of recreational activities through Mayakoba Experiences, the Diving and Watersports Center, the Mayakoba Diving School, and El Camaleón Mayakoba, the most prestigious 18-hole golf course in Latin America, designed by Greg Norman.

Mayakoba is also developing a new hotel on the site formerly occupied by Andaz Mayakoba: Alila Mayakoba, scheduled to open in late 2025.

For more information, visit www.mayakoba.com.