CGN Feature: Amateurs in Augusta

Meet the Amateurs Competing in the 2025 Masters

With the Masters kicking off this week (April 10–13) at Augusta National, we at CGN are spotlighting the amateurs set to tee it up alongside the game’s biggest names. These players have earned their spots through standout performances on the amateur circuit — and for many, it’ll be their first taste of the big stage.

Here’s a closer look at four amateurs in the 2025 Masters field and how they got here:

1. Josele Ballester

School: Arizona State

Grade: Senior

How he got here: Ballester made history last August at Hazeltine, becoming the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur. He won the final match 1-up and earned an invitation to Augusta with the victory. Currently, he’s ranked No. 14 in the Clippd rankings.

Player Profile

2. Justin Hastings

School: San Diego State

Grade: Senior

How he got here: Hastings punched his ticket by winning the Latin America Amateur Championship in a tight 36-hole finish. He’s the second player from the Cayman Islands to earn that title in the last four years. He’s currently ranked No. 29 in the Clippd men’s rankings.
Player Profile

3. Noah Kent
School: Florida
Grade: Sophomore
How he got here: Kent advanced through Regionals with a 66 (-6) to qualify for the state tournament earlier this season. After transferring from Gulf Coast Prep to Florida over the winter, he’ll officially join the Gators this fall. He’s also made recent appearances at the Texas Children’s Houston Open and the Terra Cotta Invitational.
Player Profile

4. Hiroshi Tai
School: Georgia Tech
Grade: Junior
How he got here: Tai earned his Masters invite by winning the NCAA individual title last May at Omni La Costa. When he tees it up this week, he’ll become the first player from Singapore to ever compete in the Masters. He currently sits at No. 47 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
Player Profile