Jack Whaley Reaches 126th U.S. Amateur Final After 1-Up Semifinal Escape
Updated
Updated · golfchannel.com · Aug 16
Jack Whaley Reaches 126th U.S. Amateur Final After 1-Up Semifinal Escape
3 articles · Updated · golfchannel.com · Aug 16
Summary
Jack Whaley, a 22-year-old Florida State senior from England, beat Carter Loflin 1 up at Merion to reach Sunday’s 36-hole U.S. Amateur final against Stanford’s Jay Leng Jr.
A 4-foot bogey putt on the par-4 18th sealed it after Whaley squandered a 3-up lead; Loflin’s third shot ran into the back rough, opening the door for the winning two-putt.
Whaley’s run nearly ended in stroke play, where he survived a 16-for-11 playoff and entered match play as the 60th seed after nearly acing the 13th hole.
The victory keeps alive major rewards — spots in the 2027 Masters and U.S. Open, plus a place in the Open at St. Andrews if he becomes the first English winner since 2013.
Andy Whaley, his father and caddie, had been due to fly home Saturday night, but instead stays for one more round after years of backing a son who once wanted to quit golf.