01꿈나무 후원과 프로 무대 도전을 동시에 이어가는 특별한 발걸음
DP 월드 투어 퀄리파잉 스쿨(Q스쿨) 무대에 독특한 이력을 지닌 아마추어 선수가 출전해 눈길을 끌고 있다.
이 아마추어 골퍼는 자신의 기업을 직접 운영하며 경제적 어려움을 겪는 라틴아메리카 지역의 젊은 골프 꿈나무들에게 필요한 자금을 지원해 왔다.
차세대 남미 골프 유망주들의 성장을 돕는 후원자이자 열정적인 플레이어로서, 그는 세계 최고 수준의 무대인 DP 월드 투어 입성을 목표로 도전을 이어가고 있다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
When it comes to giving back in sport, Argentinean golfer Segundo Oliva Pinto is a perfect example.
Oliva Pinto is the co-founder of an agency which helps Latin American junior and amateur golfers within the U.S. collegiate system and internationally.
But this week his focus is on his own career, with the 27-year-old one of four players with amateur status competing at DP World Tour Final Stage Qualifying School.
Through the first three rounds of the six-day competition at INFINITUM in Spain, he is riding high on the leaderboard at 15 under and just four shots adrift of co-leaders Marcus Helligkilde and Jose Luis Ballester.
And, yet, amid the high-stakes nature of vying to finish among the top 15 and ties to claim a DP World Tour card for the 2027 season, Oliva Pinto admits he is still working in the background.
"We help kids to not only go to university in the United States, but also with management and a lot of things professionals know how to do," he told the DP World Tour.
"These young kids need to learn so for me it’s huge to give back to the game and I’ve been taking calls this week which kind of takes my mind away from things on the course and help people out.
"The kids can reach out to us anytime they want. We can help them with their practice rounds, their yardage books, their routine and a lot of things that are really useful in the long run."
"We help kids, not only go to university in the United States, but also help them with management and a lot of things professionals know how to do," he told the DP World Tour.
"These young kids need to learn so for me it’s huge to give back to the game and I’ve been taking calls this week which kind of takes my mind away from things and help people out.
"These kids can reach out to us anytime they want. We can help them with their practice rounds, their yardage books, their routine and a lot of things that are really useful in the long run."
After rounds of 69 and 67 over the opening two rounds, Oliva Pinto made two eagles and five birdies on Sunday over the Hills and will now spend the rest of the week at the Lakes.
He came through a Second Stage qualifier last week at Desert Springs Resort and has carried across the momentum.
This year marks the first time he has made it through a stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School, something he believes is down to the confidence gained from two top tens earlier this year on the Korn Ferry Tour.
"For my debut at [DP World Tour Final Stage] Q School, I’m pleased with how it’s gone for the first three rounds," he said
"It’s huge [competing at Korn Ferry Tour events] knowing you can do it under the gun.
"It tells me I can play well at the highest level. It took me seven tries at Q School to make it through my first stage which is this one so there’s definitely been a steep learning curve.
"The amateur status for me is just that, it’s just a status.
"I’ve been playing a lot with professionals lately and I’ve been trying to minimise the difference as much as I can on and off the course.
"I’ll be turning professional next season so I'm trying to get in that mindset as much as I can."