Daniel Zou made quite the first impression at Ruby Hill Golf Club. Playing all 18 holes of the Pleasanton layout for the first time, the Stanford-bound transfer fired a 9-under 63 Monday to share medalist honors at U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
Brandon Knight matched Zou's number, birdieing the 18th hole in the final group to claim the other half of the medal and his second U.S. Amateur berth.
Forty-nine players competed for nine spots into the championship at Merion Golf Club. The top seven secured their places outright, while two others survived a playoff for the final berth.
Daniel Zou — 63 (-9)
The Rice transfer, who joins Stanford this fall, started on the 10th tee and played even through five holes before torching a six-hole stretch from the 15th through the first in 6-under. Zou stayed with future Cardinal teammate Kush Arora, a Ruby Hill member, and rode the momentum from a ninth-place finish at last week's North & South Amateur.
Brandon Knight — 63 (-9)
The Foothill High School alum knows Ruby Hill well, having played it throughout his prep career. Knight, who reached match play at the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine, sealed his return with a closing birdie.
Zihang Qiu — 64 (-8)
Qiu posted a bogey-free 64 to qualify for his second U.S. Amateur. The Notre Dame player, once ranked as high as 60th in the world, battled injury in 2025 but has returned to form.
Josh Kim — 64 (-8)
The UCLA freshman capped a brilliant two-month run — Big Ten individual title, NCAA team championship — by closing with three straight birdies to reach his first U.S. Amateur. "When my putts roll in, I play well," Kim said.
Jaden Dumdumaya — 66 (-6)
On May 27, the top 100 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking earned exemptions. USC's Dumdumaya was No. 101. "It felt like I was so close yet so far," he said. His 66 left no doubt.
Jack Jerge — 67 (-5)
The Ruby Hill local used a back-nine 32 to claim his first U.S. Amateur berth.
Cameron Wei — 67 (-5)
Twenty-four hours after announcing his commitment to Carnegie Mellon, the rising senior duffed a chip on his final hole, then holed the next one to avoid a playoff. "I certainly didn't make it easy," Wei said.
Sam Higaki — 68 (-4)
The Carleton player made par on the first playoff hole to secure his spot, with incoming freshman and Ruby Hill member Matthew Kang on the bag. "I wouldn't have made it without him," Higaki said.
Edan Cui — 68 (-4)
After losing the ACC individual title in a playoff earlier this year, the Stanford player birdied the second playoff hole to claim the final spot. "The only thing I can control is me," Cui said.
The U.S. Amateur begins Monday, Aug. 10 at Merion.