Top 10 Things to Know — 125th U.S. Amateur
8/10/2025 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: U.S. Amateur, a USGA Championship, Merion Golf Club - East Course
From record-breaking entries to Walker Cup hopefuls, here are 10 storylines you need to know before the 125th U.S. Amateur
Six days. 312 players. One of golf’s most storied venues. Use this quick, scannable guide to know what matters, who to watch, and why the 125th U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club is loaded.
A Record‑Loaded, Global Field
312 players from 48 states and 30 countries. USA has 255; international strength from England, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and more. Average age: 23y 135d. Youngest: Aston Lim (15). Oldest: Louis Brown (61), Greg Sanders (61). Most‑represented states: CA 36 • TX 22 • FL 15 • GA 15 • NC 13.
Star Power from the World Rankings
47 of the Top 50 in WAGR® are here. No. 1 Jackson Koivun leads a top‑10 that includes Benjamin James, Ethan Fang, Preston Stout, Filip Jakubcik, Tommy Morrison, Jase Summy, Michael La Sasso, Christiaan Maas, Jack Turner.
🏆 Don’t Miss a Shot at the 125th U.S. Amateur
The 125th U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club is here. From record-setting qualifiers to future stars, getlive updates all week.
View Full Preview & Live Updates →Follow the action from first tee shot to final putt.
Recent USGA Champions (and Runners‑Up)
USGA Champions (11): Evan Beck, Louis Brown, Hamilton Coleman, Will Hartman, Stewart Hagestad, Trevor Gutschewski, Bryan Kim, Tyler Mawhinney, Matthew McClean, Matt Parziale, Todd White.
USGA Runners‑Up (12): Anh Minh Nguyen, Joshua Bai, Evan Beck, Jackson Herrington, Noah Kent, Drew Kittleson, Bobby Massa, Brad Nurski, Garrett Rank, Dan Sullivan, Cohen Trolio, Tyler Watts.
The Olympic Club: Demanding, Historic, Unforgiving
Tight corridors, tilted fairways, small firm greens — precision over power. Premium on tee balls and smart misses.
Format: 36‑hole stroke play → top 64 to match play → 36‑hole final.
Collegiate Heavyweights
- Michael La Sasso — NCAA D‑I individual champ (Ole Miss).
- Oklahoma State title core: Ethan Fang, Preston Stout.
- Jackson Koivun — award sweep; multiple PGA Tour top‑15s this summer.
Storylines to Watch
- Walker Cup tune‑ups: Koivun, James, Fang, Stout, La Sasso sharpen match‑play games.
- NorCal hopes (14): Jacob Goode (’25 California Am champ), Jaden Dumdumaya (Pacific Coast Am), Baron Szeto, William Walsh.
- Mid‑Am muscle: Hagestad, Beck, Massa, Parziale.
- Youth surge: Hamilton Coleman, Tyler Mawhinney, Tyler Watts, Miles Russell.
Arriving Red‑Hot
- Preston Stout — 2025 Northeast Amateur winner.
- Jase Summy — Fresh Western Amateur champion.
- John Daly II — Southern Amateur winner (by five).
- Jaden Dumdumaya — Pacific Coast Amateur champion.
Famous Names & Family Ties
John Daly II (Southern Am champ) carries a major‑winning surname; Luke Poulter (Florida) debuts for USGA after GB&I’s St Andrews Trophy win; brothers Dean & Reed Greyserman both qualified.
Major Championship Experience
14 players started the 2025 U.S. Open — including Koivun, La Sasso, Evan Beck, Tyler Weaver, Benjamin James. Those reps matter when match play tightens.
What the Winner Gets
- Exemptions: 2026 U.S. Open (Shinnecock Hills) and likely 2026 Masters.
- Company kept: Nicklaus, Woods, McIlroy, DeChambeau, Dunlap.
- Career rocket fuel: Match‑play pedigree that travels to the next level.
Fast Facts
- Played 2024 U.S. Amateur: 88 players.
- Walker Cup alumni: Stewart Hagestad (’17, ’19, ’21, ’23), Benjamin James (’23), Matthew McClean (’23).
- U.S. National Junior Team (8): Hartman, Mawhinney, Watts and more.
- Elite Amateur Program: Koivun, Herendeen, Modleski.
Data compiled from official USGA field information.
About the US Amateur
The U.S. Amateur, the oldest USGA championship, was first played in 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island. The event, which has no age restriction, is open to those with a Handicap Index of .4 (point four) or lower. It is one of 15 national champ...
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