Jose Luis Ballester became the first Spaniard to win the US Amateur when beating 19-year-old American Noah Kent in the 36-hole final at Hazeltine National in Minnesota.
Ballester, who turned 21 on the day of the final, took the lead on the second hole on Sunday and never looked back, eventually running out a 2up winner.
Ballester went 3up after four holes on two early birdies. He had a 4-up lead at the lunch break. Kent fought back in the afternoon round, holing a long putt for eagle on the 7th hole (the 25th) to move within two.
Then, after falling behind by four with seven holes to go, Kent player snapped back to win hole 31, 32 and 34 and pull within one.
On the 34th hole, Hazeltine’s signature lakeside 16th, Ballester hit into the thick rough off the tee and, after clipping a tree, landed in worse shape in the reeds. He wound up with a bogey.
But with his lead down to one, Ballester got back on track to par the final two holes. He nailed the shot off the 17th tee within striking range off the green, and when Kent found a fairway bunker off the 18th tee, then the rough, the title belonged to the Spaniard.
On the eve of the final, Ballester spoke on the phone with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who reached the semi-finals of the US Amateur in 1998. The two are from the same area in Spain and have known each other for several years. Ballester even has Sergio’s winning score from his 2017 Masters triumph written on the shaft of his driver.
Ballester, who won the European Amateur last year, said: “We have many great Spaniards, many great legends, so being able to add my name to that history is pretty sweet.”
Both finalists gained exemptions for the Masters and the US Open next year, while Ballester also earned a place in the field for the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.