With the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club over and Jose Luis Ballester becoming the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur, just the second to claim any USGA championship (Jon Rahm 2021 U.S. Open), we can now look back and see just how it came to be.
Ballester defeated rising sophomore Noah Kent 2-up in the final match and had to withstand a furious rally from Kent at the end of the match.
He’s also the fourth Arizona State Sun Devil to etch his name on the Havemeyer trophy, joining Billy Mayfair (1987), Phil Mickelson (1990), and Jeff Quinney (2000).
“I think I'm still not conscious of what just happened today,” said Ballester to the USGA after the win. “Super thankful to have the opportunity to live this moment, especially on my 21st birthday. That's what I'm considering now.
Ballester added, “Super sweet. Again, we have many great Spaniards, many great legends, and being able to add my name into that history, it's pretty sweet.”
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