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USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Meet the 5 amateurs playing in the 2025 Masters at Augusta National
Meet the 5 amateurs playing in the 2025 Masters at Augusta National It's a good week to be an amateur at the 2025 Masters. Every amateur is making their first start at Augusta National Golf Club this year and will battle it out for the low amateur title. If they made the 36-hole cut, they will have the chance to win the Silver Cup and be honored alongside the Masters winner. There is no low amateur awarded if none make the weekend. An amateur has never won the Masters, though the Masters 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 became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur, winning 1 up at Hazeltine National last August. The senior at Arizona State has been one of college golf's best players this year. He's also from the same hometown as 2025 ANWA winner Carla Bernat Escuder. 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 has a good chance of making the Walker Cup team later this year, too. 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. Hastings, a senior at San Diego State, is challenging numerous career school records held by Xander Schauffele. Noah Kent Kent, who became a fan favorite during the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine, transferred to Florida over the winter and will begin play with the Gators this fall. He has played each of the last two weeks at the Texas Children's Houston Open and the Terra Cotta Invitational, but he has the most "rust" of the amateurs coming in. Hiroshi Tai Tai waited almost 11 months to get to Augusta National. He earned his spot in the Masters 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.
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.
