In 2014, Colombia's Nico Echavarria made his first trip to Japan to play that year’s World Amateur Team Championship in Karuizawa. He was exposed to some serious talent—a U.S. team featuring Bryson DeChambeau,

Tied for the lead at the 72nd hole, Echavarria reached the par-5 18 th in two, leaving himself a 40-foot eagle putt. He lagged to 3 feet and converted the clinching stroke, finishing at 20-under 260, to edge Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman by one shot.