Jack Whaley added his name to U.S. Amateur history Sunday, defeating Stanford’s Jay Leng Jr. 4 and 3 to capture the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
The Florida State rising senior became the first player in program history to win the championship. Whaley, who represents England, is also the first English winner since Matt Fitzpatrick captured the title in 2013.
Leng carried a 2 up advantage into the break of the 36 hole championship match, putting Whaley in a position where he needed to respond during the afternoon session.
Whaley did exactly that.
He won four consecutive holes early in the second 18 to move ahead and maintained control during the closing stretch. Whaley eventually reached the 33rd hole with an opportunity to finish the match and converted a birdie to secure the 4 and 3 victory.
The result completed a six match run through the match play portion of the championship. Whaley needed 22 holes to defeat Jackson Ormond in his opening match before advancing past Bowen Mauss, Christian Cavaliere, Adam Bresnu and Carter Loflin to reach the final.
Leng entered the championship match following his own successful summer, which included winning the Western Amateur earlier in August. The Stanford junior reached the U.S. Amateur final with a 2 and 1 semifinal victory over Auburn’s Logan Reilly.
Whaley’s U.S. Amateur title also brings opportunities on the professional game’s biggest stages in 2027, including exemptions into the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and The Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Jack Whaley’s Match Play Run
Round of 64: Def. Jackson Ormond, 1 up in 22 holes
Round of 32: Def. Bowen Mauss, 2 and 1
Round of 16: Def. Christian Cavaliere, 4 and 3
Quarterfinals: Def. Adam Bresnu, 5 and 4
Semifinals: Def. Carter Loflin, 1 up
Championship: Def. Jay Leng Jr., 4 and 3