Loading article...
Loading article...
see also: Noah Kent, U.S. Amateur, a USGA Championship, Merion Golf Club - East Course
Luis Masaveu, Jose Luis Ballester, Noah Kent and Jackson Buchanan are the four golfers left in Minnesota
After starting the week with 312 golfers, the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club is down to the Final Four, and each has a different story to tell.
Jackson Buchanan, of Dacula, Ga.
Buchanan is competing in his second U.S. Amateur Championship, having advanced to the Round of 32 last year at Cherry Hills. He played in the 2024 U.S. Open after qualifying, missing the cut by one shot. The rising senior at Illinois was the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year, winning the Duck Invitational.
He finished in solo second place at the 2024 Big Ten Championships and T5 at the 2023 Big Ten Championships. He finished in solo second place at the 2022 NCAA Championships. He is currently ranked No. 8 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings.
Noah Kent, 19, of Naples, Fla.
The rising sophomore at Iowa is currently ranked No. 212 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings and is competing in his first USGA championship. He has been playing well recently, finishing second at the 2024 Porter Cup.
At Iowa, he finished inside the top 25 in five of seven fall events, was the runner-up at the 2023 Western Junior Championships, and recorded a third-place finish at the Puerto Rico Classic.
Luis Masaveu, 21, of Spain
The 2024 Portuguese International Amateur champion is currently ranked No. 21 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings and is competing in his first U.S. Amateur Championship and first USGA championship. He made the cut in the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, finishing 78th, and was the runner-up at the 2024 Spanish Amateur.
He represented Spain in the 2022 and 2023 World Amateur Team Championships and was the runner-up in the 2023 Lytham Trophy.
Jose Luis Ballester, 20, of Spain
The rising senior at Arizona State is competing in his second U.S. Amateur Championship, missing the cut in the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills. He is currently ranked No. 34 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings and recorded Three top-10 finishes in 2024
He earned honorable mention All-America honors in each of his first two seasons, was the 2023 European Amateur champion, and played in the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
Quarterfinal results
No. 41. Noah Kent def. No. 64 Ethan Fang 3 and 2
No. 53 Jackson Buchanan def. No. 20 Jacob Modleski 4 and 3
No. 47 Jose Luis Ballester def. No. 23 Bobby Massa 3 and 1
No. 3 Luis Masaveu def. No. 27 Brendon Valdes 3 and 2
Final Four matchups
No. 41 Noah Kent vs. No. 53 Jackson Buchanan 2:00 p.m. ET
No. 3 Luis Masaveu vs. No. 47 Jose Luis Ballester 2:10 p.m. ET
Masters: Memorable performances by amateurs in the last 40 years
Apr 2, 2026A Mid-Amateur legend and a 14 year old have won low-amateur honors at Augusta National over the years
Meet the Amateurs in the 2026 Masters: Six Different Paths to Augusta National
Mar 22, 2026From teenage phenoms to seasoned dreamers, the amateur class at the 2026 Masters brings six compelling stories to Augusta
San Francisco City Championship: Champions Crowned
Mar 22, 2026Joey Hayden, Gianna Singh, Bob Niger, and Jeff Thomas capped championship week with title-winning performances at Harding Park.
2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur: Full Field Preview, Favorites & How to Watch
Mar 30, 202648 of the top 50 players in the world. Two past champions. One teenager who lost by a single stroke last year.
Gary Woodland Wins Houston Open in Emotional Comeback After Brain Surgery
Mar 30, 2026Gary Woodland’s Houston Open win is a reminder of why perseverance matters in golfLoading latest news...