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Ethan Fang birdies final hole to become first American in 18 years to win British Amateur

Ethan Fang birdies final hole to become first American in 18 years to win British Amateur

Yahoo21-06-2025
SANDWICH, England (AP) — Oklahoma State junior Ethan Fang held off a late charge Saturday with a 5-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 1-up victory over Gavin Tiernan of Ireland, becoming the first American in 18 years to win the British Amateur.
The match at Royal St. George's was all square through 31 holes when Fang built a 2-up lead, Tiernan won the next two holes with big putts, and Fang won it on the 36th hole with an approach shot just 5 feet left of the hole.
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Tiernan, a sophomore at East Tennessee State, missed well to the left some 45 feet away and grazed the edge of the cup with his long birdie putt, setting the stage for Fang.
Fang, who grew up near Dallas and played his freshman year at Cal, earned a trip to the British Open next month and gets into the Masters at Augusta National next year.
'Probably one of the longest days of golf I've ever played,' Fang said. 'I just hit a really good shot on the last hole.'
The last American winner of the British Amateur was Drew Weaver in 2007 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
Tiernan led 1 up after the morning 18 holes, and neither player was ahead by more than one hole until late in the match. Fang two-putted for birdie on the par-5 14th, after Tiernan hit a poor pitch that left him some 30 feet short. Fang went 2 up when Tiernan got in trouble off the tee at the 15th and made bogey.
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But the Irishman answered in stunning fashion — a 30-foot birdie putt to win the hole on the par-3 16th, and a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th to square the match again.
Fang held his nerve with two great shots to set up birdie and change his summer plans. Fang was already looking good for the Walker Cup in September at Cypress Point, and this victory might be enough to seal a spot on the team for the No. 7 player in the world amateur ranking.
But first up is another test of links golf at Royal Portrush for The Open Championship.
'Playing the Masters and Open Championship is going to be sweet,' Fang said. 'I had signed up for a couple of amateur tournaments (this summer), but think I'll cancel that.'
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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A guide to all 16 teams in the Women's Rugby World Cup
A guide to all 16 teams in the Women's Rugby World Cup

San Francisco Chronicle​

time28 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

A guide to all 16 teams in the Women's Rugby World Cup

Pool A LONDON (AP) — England World ranking: 1 Captain: Zoe Aldcroft Coach: John Mitchell Best finish: Champion 1994, 2014 Prospects: The team to beat. Won 57 of its last 58 tests, and the last 27, many of them blowouts. The one blip was the 2022 final in Auckland, where England overcame an 18th-minute red card to lead New Zealand until the 71st minute. England lost 34-31. The Red Roses have lost only seven times in RWC history, six of them to New Zealand, five of those in finals. Eight of the squad have never lost a test and don't have RWC baggage. Center Emily Scarratt will appear in a record-tying fifth RWC. World ranking: 6 Captain: Siokapesi Palu Coach: Jo Yapp Best finish: Semifinals 2010 Prospects: The game against the U.S. on Aug. 30 will likely decide the pool's second quarterfinalist. The Wallaroos beat the U.S. 27-19 in May in Canberra, one of only three wins in seven tests this year. Only Tia Hinds from the champion sevens side has reached the RWC. The squad also includes the youngest Wallaroos in tournament history, all backs: Waiaria Ellis (17), Caitlyn Halse (18) and Manu'a Moleka (18), who joins older sister Faitala. Ex-England captain Jo Yapp coached Australia to its first ever silverware, the WXV 2 in 2024, but is stepping down for family reasons after the RWC. United States World ranking: 10 Captain: Kate Zackary Coach: Sione Fukofuka Best finish: Champion 1991 Prospects: A 34-21 win over Fiji in Washington in front of a U.S.-record 15,000 fans last month ended a nearly year-long winless run. Back-rower Kate Zackary, captain since 2018, leads the Eagles at a second straight RWC. Loosehead prop Hope Rogers, the most capped Eagle, will appear at her fourth RWC. Center Ilona Maher, the most followed rugby player on social media with 8.7 million fans, returns to England where she made a big impact during a three-month stint with Bristol Bears this year. 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Midfielder Alexandra Tessier, a world player of 2024 nominee, took over the captaincy after goalkicking No. 8 Sophie de Goede, another former world player nominee, tore her ACL. De Goede returned in July after 13 months out. Canada has won 16 of its 22 matches since the last RWC, including wins over New Zealand and France. Says back-rower Fabiola Forteza of their RWC preparedness, 'We feel ready.' Scotland World ranking: 8 Captain: Rachel Malcolm Coach: Bryan Easson Best finish: Quarterfinals 1994, 1998 Prospects: The pool game with Wales on Saturday in Manchester looks set to decide whether Scotland reaches its first quarterfinals in 27 years. First-choice hookers Lana Skeldon and Elis Martin turned up at the squad announcement on crutches but are expected to be fit. Lock Emma Wassell made an inspiring comeback in July after two surgeries to remove a benign tumor in her chest. Captain Rachel Malcolm says they're motivated to do well for Bryan Easson, the coach since 2020 who is leaving after the RWC. Wales World ranking: 9 Co-captains: Alex Callender, Kate Williams Coach: Sean Lynn Best finish: Semifinals 1994 Prospects: The historic first test win in Australia on July 25 in Brisbane can't be understated. It followed Wales' first Six Nations whitewash and was the first win under coach Sean Lynn, who took over in January. Wales lost the second match in Sydney but it finally had signs of progress and encouragement after a tumultuous winter regarding contract negotiations that threatened Wales' withdrawal from the RWC. The squad has two pairs of sisters from the same club, including uncapped Wales Under-20 captain Branwen Metcalfe, and hooker Carys Phillips reaching her fourth RWC. Fiji World ranking: 14 Captain: Alfreda Fisher Coach: Ioan Cunningham Best finish: 9th 2022 Prospects: Fiji made its RWC debut in 2022, beat South Africa, and missed out on a quarterfinal spot on points difference. Ioan Cunningham was appointed the Fijiana coach in February, three months after resigning from leading Wales, which he improved. He's happy with the strides made by Fijiana in four matches since May, including a historic first visit by Australia and first test with the U.S. Flanker Alfreda Fisher became Fijiana's youngest captain at 20 and back Adi Salote Nailolo has come out of the new local Na Soko women's competition. Pool C New Zealand World ranking: 3 Co-captains: Ruahei Demant, Kennedy Tukuafu Coach: Allan Bunting Best finish: Champion 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2022 Prospects: Only the trophy marks a successful RWC for the perennial champion. The Black Ferns won't give it up easily. 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She debuted in their last warmup, a loss to Canada in Belfast. Japan World ranking: 11 Captain: Iroha Nagata Coach: Lesley McKenzie Best finish: Quarterfinals 1994 Prospects: Not good for New Zealand. Japan has never been drawn in a pool containing the eventual champion. The Sakura Fifteen followed their longest winless streak — seven tests — with a five-match winning run until this month when they lost to Italy in their last warmup in Calvisano. The wins included a first against the U.S. and two at home against Spain, also a pool opponent on Sept. 7. Japan is relatively experienced; only three players have less than 10 caps. Spain World ranking: 13 Captain: Laura Delgado Coach: Juan Gonzalez Marruecos Best finish: Quarterfinals 1998, 8th 2002 Prospects: Las Leonas won at least one match in their previous six RWC appearances, and their goal is one win in this RWC. They beat Fiji in the 2024 WXV 3 final to qualify. While they missed the 2022 RWC, they still have four players from the 2014 tournament, including prop and captain Laura Delgado. Fullback Claudia Peña is considered the team's budding star at 20. The Spaniards were farewelled by original 1991 RWC players in a rousing sendoff. Pool D France World ranking: 4 Co-captains: Marine Ménager, Manaé Feleu Co-coaches: Gaëlle Mignot, David Ortiz Best finish: Semifinals 1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2017, 2022 Prospects: Les Bleues should ease through the tournament until the semifinals when they will likely run into England. Their last warmup was a 40-6 hiding from England in Mont-de-Marsan; a 16th straight loss to England and the biggest defeat in the contest since 2009. France's stars are backs, Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Gabrielle Vernier, and to boost a pack that was overwhelmed by England they have introduced prop Makarita Baleinadogo after Ambre Mwayembe broke her ankle, and back-rowers Marie Morland and Khoudedia Cissokho. Italy World ranking: 7 Captain: Elisa Giordano Coach: Fabio Roselli Best finish: Quarterfinals 2022 Prospects: A team that should stay poised under pressure. Eleven players have more than 50 caps, led by back Sofia Stefan's 98. Ten players are going to their third RWC. Keep an eye on center-wing Alyssa D'Inca, a threat since last year who scored four tries across the Azzurre's warmup wins over Scotland and Japan. South Africa World ranking: 12 Captain: Nolusindiso Booi Coach: Swys de Bruin Best finish: 10th 2010, 2014 Prospects: The most capped women's Springbok, lock Nolusindiso Booi, captains them at a second RWC and her fourth overall. South Africa prepared at home with two hidings from Canada and shared spoils with a Black Ferns XV. Winning the second match 41-24 in Cape Town this month heartened coach Swys de Bruin, who believed his Boks delivered what he hoped to see. Brazil World ranking: 25 Captain: Eshyllen Coimbra Coach: Emiliano Caffera Best finish: Debut Prospects: Brazil played its first test in 2008 then not another one for 11 years. As Yaras, named for a female warrior in myth, earned their first test win in 2023 and beat Colombia for the first time in 2024 to qualify for the RWC. They earned their fifth ever win in their 17th test and first over the Netherlands by 22-0 last month. It's no surprise that 11 of the squad are also sevens players. Brazilian rugby was accelerated by hosting the 2016 Olympics and the team has made every Games since. The 15s captain, Raquel Kochhann, recovered from breast cancer and was Brazil's flagbearer in the 2024 Paris Games. ___

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