Seminoles star Whaley, 22, wins U.S. Amateur title
Seminoles star Whaley, 22, wins U.S. Amateur title --> Skip to main content Skip to navigation MenuESPN scores NFLNBAMLBSoccerWNBANHLNCAAFMore SportsBoxingNCAACricketF1GamingGolfHorseLLWSMMANASCARNLLNBA G LeagueNBA Summer LeagueNCAAMNCAAWNWSLOlympicsPLLRacingRN BBRN FBRugbyBananasSports BettingTGLTennisUFLMen's World CupWWEProfessional WrestlingEditionsWhere to WatchFantasyWatch GolfHomeScoresScheduleToursRankingsStatsFedEx Cup FAQWhere To WatchStandingsWatch PGA TOUR on ESPN Seminoles star Whaley, 22, wins U.S. Amateur title2hScheffler opens playoffs with dominant 8-shot win3hTeen, with cart path help, crushes 514-yard drive10hWinther wins Danish title in front of home fans10hLeBron tests new talent with YouTube golf pagePhiladelphia 76ers12hMitchell, Spieth find water, out of Tour playoffs2hFedEx St. Jude Championship 2026: Best shots and highlights from the final round2hESPN StaffThitikul cards 64 to win Portland LPGA tour stop2hAssociated PressSchubert, Yubol lead Portland Classic by 2 shots1dScheffler fires a 68, builds two-shot St. Jude lead1dWhaley, Leng to square off for U.S. Amateur title1dYubol takes 2nd-round LPGA lead in Portland2dScheffler's 'dream' 61 ties course mark in Memphis2dAuburn's Reilly advances to U.S. Amateur semis2dFedEx St. Jude Championship 2026 highlights: Scottie surges ahead and more2dESPN StaffBang, a rookie golfer from Australia, dies at 183dGaldiano carries 1-shot lead at Portland Classic3dReilly, Loflin go OT to reach U.S. Amateur quarters3dFedEx St. Jude Championship 2026 highlights: Spieth tied for first3dESPN StaffSpieth grabs share of lead in FedEx playoff opener3dWhat is the FedEx Cup? 2026 playoff format, schedule, prize3dKeith JenkinsOklahoma's Cowan beats Russell at U.S. Amateur4dFlorida State's Jack Whaley, 22, secures U.S. Amateur titleAssociated PressMultiple AuthorsAug 16, 2026, 06:41 PM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARDMORE, Pa. -- Jack Whaley held back tears as he clutched the U.S. Amateur championship trophy and could only think of the countless times his father kept encouraging him, kept playing golf with him, all to urge a promising teenager on the cusp of quitting the game to stick with it for better days ahead. With his dad on the bag, Whaley fulfilled Andy Whaley's unwavering belief and capped the tournament victory of his life at Merion with a father-son embrace that put an exclamation point on a career that, at one point, seemed destined to dry up on English soil. "He can actually see me happy, and I can see him happy coming off the golf course," Jack Whaley said. Whaley played with double gloves, needed an umbrella, was stung by a wasp at rainy Merion Golf Club and still pushed through the inconveniences to cap a tremendous tournament and hold off Jay Leng Jr. to win the U.S. Amateur on Sunday. The 22-year-old Englishman gets to soak up the spoils that come with winning amateur golf's greatest prize. With the sky finally clear on the rain-slogged course, Whaley sank his final putt for birdie to win the 36-hole final 4 and 3 and hugged it out with his father. Whaley's mother ran out to join them for a family embrace while Andy gripped the famed wicker basket flagstick. "This week, it just clicked," Andy Whaley said. "I can't explain it. I don't know why." His son broke down in tears as he held the Havemeyer Trophy and dedicated the win to his father, who never gave up on Jack, even as he kept missing cuts as a teenager. SEMINOLE MOMENT 🏆Jack Whaley wins the 126th U.S. Amateur at Merion! pic.twitter.com/820vUbCMGB "As we were driving back, I was looking at my dad with some of the names that are on this thing," Whaley said after his win. "I never thought my name would be among such impressive people." Whaley made a rapid rise from NAIA star to Florida State to amateur champion. The college senior now has an exemption into the 2027 US Open, the 2027 British Open at St. Andrews and the Masters should he remain an amateur. He wore his Florida State Seminoles cap and team colors for the championship round. Whaley won the seventh U.S. Amateur held at Merion and is the first Englishman winner since Matt Fitzpatrick at Brookline in 2013. Whaley shook off a wasp sting on the fourth fairway in the afternoon session before he rallied to the title. Leng, a Stanford junior, held a 2-up advantage through the first 18 holes after both players bogeyed the par-5 18th on an overcast and windy round. Whaley pointed to a spot on his right ankle where the wasp got him and left him throbbing for the next two holes. "I had to pull this stinger out," Whaley said with a laugh. Maybe the stinger will be immortalized down the line at Merion. The U.S. Amateur holds a special place in Merion history. Take a look at the rock near the 11th hole tee box at Merion and one of the grandest holes in golf is marked. "On September 27, 1930, And on this hole, Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., completed his 'Grand Slam' by winning the U.S. Amateur Championship." It was on that hole where Bobby Jones closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final and clinched golf's only season Grand Slam with a win at the U.S. Amateur. Ben Hogan also has a plaque that honors his 1-iron on the 18th hole of the 1950 Open. "It's a huge honor to be part of the names of all the famous people," Whaley said. Aaron Rai used double gloves months earlier in his PGA Championship victory at nearby Aronimink Golf Club, just as Whaley did months later. Whaley made the change after he sliced one out of bounds on six because the rain affected his grip. Merion is set to host the US Open in 2030, 2040, and 2050, alongside the U.S. Women's Open in 2034 and 2046. Whaley is No. 90 in the world amateur golf ranking, while Leng is at No. 23. Leng gets pretty nice consolation prizes. He also earned a spot on the 2026 U.S. Walker Cup team, in the Masters and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach next year, provided he is still an amateur. The other five players named to the Walker Cup team were Kihei Akina, Ryder Cowan, Josiah Gilbert, William Jennings and Stewart Hagestad. "It shows I can compete with the best," Leng said. "I can compete with anyone, honestly. I can't wait to see what's next."
Source: ESPN
This article has been carefully curated and reformatted for educational and informational purposes. Full credit goes to the original publisher.
📚 Visit more helpful articles on Joab Peters Blog
No comments