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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Meet the 15 amateurs playing in the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club
Meet the 15 amateurs playing in the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club Nearly 10 percent of the field at the 2025 U.S. Open is comprised of amateurs. When the 125th edition of the U.S. Golf Association's national championship gets underway Thursday at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, there will be 15 amateurs in the field. Josele Ballester, the 2024 U.S. Amateur champion, is also teeing it up, but he turned pro last week and joined LIV Golf. There remain plenty of notable ams teeing it up, including the No. 1 in the world, the NCAA individual champion and numerous qualifiers, too. The 15 amateurs competing in 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Evan Beck Beck had a dominant 9-and-8 victory in the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur, punching his ticket to his first U.S. Open start. Trevor Gutschewski The son of Scott Gutschewski and Florida commit, Trevor won the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur and will make his first start at the U.S. Open. Frankie Harris Harris, who will be a senior at South Carolina, advanced through local and final qualifying to earn his first start at the U.S. Open. Justin Hastings Hastings recently finished his college career at San Diego State, and he earned his spot at Oakmont thanks to winning the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship. Mason Howell Howell, the 17-year-old Georgia commit, dominated final qualifying in Atlanta, shooting 18 under over 36 holes to tie for medalist honors. Ben James James is making his second straight U.S. Open start after advancing through qualifying at Canoe Brook Country Club, where he qualified in 2024, too. Noah Kent Kent, who transferred to Florida from Iowa over the winter, is making his first U.S. Open start thanks to his runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur. Jackson Koivun The top-ranked amateur in the world advanced via final qualifying at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, Georgia, and is making his first appearance. Michael La Sasso La Sasso locked up his first major championship start after winning the NCAA individual title last month at Omni La Costa. Bryan Lee The rising senior at Virginia punched his ticket to the U.S. Open after advancing through the Woodmont Country club qualifier. Zachary Pollo Pollo advanced through local and final qualifying, helping the rising senior at Arizona punch his ticket for Oakmont. Lance Simpson Simpson, a rising junior at Tennessee, shot 8 under at Bent Tree Country Club qualifier in Dallas to earn his first U.S. Open start. Cameron Tankersley The junior at Ole Miss also advanced from the Dallas qualifier at Bent Tree, and it will be his U.S. Open debut. Matt Vogt One of the best stories of the U.S. Open, Vogt is a dentist by day and will make his debut at Oakmont after advancing through local and final qualifying. Tyler Weaver Weaver, a sophomore at Florida State, advanced via the Piedmont Driving Club qualifier in Atlanta and will make his major debut at Oakmont.
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Masters: Meet the 5 amateurs teeing it up at Augusta National
2025 Masters: Meet the 5 amateurs teeing it up at Augusta National One of the best parts of Masters week is getting to follow the amateurs in the field. For each amateur this year, it's their first time at the famed Masters tournament in what each hopes will be a long stretch of making the trek down Magnolia Lane every April. The five will compete for the title of low amateur. If they make the 36-hole cut, then they will battle for the Silver Cup. There is no low amateur awarded if none make the cut. An amateur has never won the Masters, but the tournament has plenty of history involving ams, including the famed Crow's Nest, the living space on the third floor of the Augusta National clubhouse, and the Monday night Amateur Dinner. Here's a look at the five amateurs competing in the 89th Masters Tournament. Josele Ballester Ballester made history last August, as he became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur, winning 1 up at Hazeltine National. The senior at Arizona State has been one of the best players in college golf this year and heads to Augusta National looking to add to the Spanish success at the Masters. Evan Beck Beck made it to the championship match of the U.S. Mid-Amateur for the second straight year, but this time, he had a dominating 9-and-8 win over Bobby Massa to win the championship and earn his spot in the Masters. He also remains in contention to be the mid-am representative for the U.S. at the Walker Cup in September. Justin Hastings Hastings survived a 36-hole marathon to win the Latin America Amateur Championship, the second player from the Cayman Islands to win the event in the past four years. The senior at San Diego State is on the verge of breaking numerous school career records held by Xander Schauffele. Noah Kent Kent became a fan favorite during the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine, eventually battling back from a 4 down deficit after 18 holes to force a 36th hole against Ballester, but he fell short. Kent transferred to Florida over the winter and will begin play with the Gators this fall. Hiroshi Tai Tai has had the longest wait of any of the amateurs to get to Augusta National. He earned his spot in the field last May when he won the NCAA individual title at Omni La Costa. He's set to become the first Singaporean to play in the Masters.
