How They're Doing: Minnesotans on Pro Tour Money Lists -- Jan 6
January 6, 2025
CHASKA, Minn. – Celebrating his 21st birthday on Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Arizona State University golfer Jose Luis Ballester survived a late surge by the University of Iowa’s Noah Kent to claim the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship.
Making just his second start at a USGA championship this week, Ballester enters the record books as the first Spaniard and fourth Sun Devil to hoist the Havemeyer Trophy.
“I think I'm still not conscious of what just happened today,” Ballester joked following the championship match Sunday. “Super thankful to have the opportunity to live this moment, especially on my 21st birthday.
“We have many great Spaniards, many great legends, and being able to add my name into that history, it's pretty sweet. They have done many more things than I have accomplished yet. Just having my chance to put my name into history, especially doing something that none of the Spaniards did, even the best of the best, it's special.”
Setting the tone early Sunday, Ballester birdied two of his first four holes to jump out to a 3-up lead over Kent, extending his lead to four following the first 18 holes of play.
Ballester stumbled late in the round with a string of wayward iron shots, leading to a string of two bogeys and a double-bogey to allow Kent to pull within one shot of Ballester.
A two-putt from 15-feet on the 36th hole of the championship gave Ballester the title as the first Spaniard to claim the championship.
Bailed out by a spectacular short game on multiple occasions this week, Ballester drew comparisons to fellow Spaniards Seve Ballesteros and friend Sergio Garcia.
“I think it's in the blood, it has to be,” he said. “I've been working a lot on my short game lately. Even with my wedges, I feel like I was really good this week. It's always nice to hear that comparison, I'm pretty happy they can say that about my short game.”
Opening the championship with a 2-under 68 at Chaska Town Course to begin stroke play Monday, Ballester then fired a 1-over 72 during the second round Tuesday to earn the No. 47 seed for match play.
Ballester ousted Ben James, the fifth-ranked amateur in the world, 2 and 1, to begin match play Wednesday before a victory over Big 12 Conference rival Tiger Christensen from the University of Arizona, 3 and 1.
During his Round of 16 match against Christian Brand Thursday, Ballester carded two late birdies to pull out a victory, 2 and 1, to reach the quarterfinals.
Falling behind Texan Bobby Massa during the front nine, Ballester again carded a pair of late birdies to edge Massa, 3 and 1, to advance to the semifinal round.
Squaring off against countryman Luis Masaveu, Ballester drew even at the par-4 ninth and rallied with a late birdie to reach the finals in his second appearance at the U.S. Amateur.
Carding a 3-over 146 last season at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Ballester missed the cut for match play by three strokes.
Ballester now joins ASU alumni Billy Mayfair (1987), Phil Mickelson (1990) and Jeff Quinney (2000) as winners of the U.S. Amateur.
A promising week turned into a disappointing finish for Kent, who trailed just five holes over his first 83 holes to begin match play this week.
Falling behind Ballester on the second hole during the final match, Kent would trail for the remaining 35 holes to claim a runner-up finish in his first USGA appearance.
“You don't want to be 4-down going into an 18-hole match, but it's been done before, and I kept telling myself that,” Kent said following the final match Sunday. “Everybody in my corner kept telling myself that. I fought like crazy out there.
“I know I shot under-par on my ball. I know I gave it my all. I got it to 18. I'm sure a lot of people are like, oh, it's going to be a wipe early, and I made it to 18.”
A runner-up finish will likely come with perks for the Hawkeye sophomore in the way of an invite to both the 2026 Masters Tournament, as well as the U.S. Open.
“It means the world. I kind of made a joke to [swing coach Claude Harmon] the other day. He teaches [Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson]. I'd like to play a practice round with them. It would be pretty cool,” Kent said. “He's like, I know a guy who can set this up. We have a college tournament before the Masters. I made a joke to my Coach before the week, I could still play. I want to go play the [Masters] Par-3 Contest now.
The 125th U.S. Amateur will be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco Aug. 11-17, 2025.
THE 124TH U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
HAZELTINE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
CHASKA, MINN.
7,548 YARDS, PAR 72
SUNDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Jose Luis Ballester, Spain, def. Noah Kent, Naples, Fla., 2-up
SATURDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Noah Kent, Naples, Fla., def. Jackson Buchanan, Dacula, Ga., 2-up
Jose Luis Ballester, Spain, def. Luis Masaveu, Spain, 3 and 2
FRIDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
Noah Kent, Naples, Fla., def. Ethan Fang, Plano, Texas, 3 and 2
Jackson Buchanan, Dacula, Ga., def. Jacob Modleski, Noblesville, Ind., 4 and 3
Jose Luis Ballester, Spain, def. Bobby Massa, Dallas, Texas, 3 and 1
Luis Masaveu, Spain, def. Brendan Valdes, Orlando, Fla., 3 and 2
THURSDAY’S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS
Ethan Fang, Plano, Texas, def. Bastien Amat, France, 2-up
Noah Kent, Naples, Fla., def. Garrett Engle, Harrisburg, Pa., 4 and 2
Jacob Modleski, Noblesville, Ind., def., Omar Morales, Mexico, 2 and 1
Jackson Buchanan, Dacula, Ga., def. Tyler Mawhinney, Fleming Island, Fla., 1-up
Jose Luis Ballester, Spain, def. Christian Brand, Hurricane, W.Va., 2 and 1
Bobby Massa, Dallas, Texas, def. Ashton McCulloch, Canada, 23 holes
Luis Masaveu, Spain, def. Phichaksn Maichon, Thailand, 3 and 2
Brendan Valdes, Orlando, Fla., def. Peter Fountain, Raleigh, N.C., 3 and 2
WEDNESDAY’S ROUND OF 64 RESULTS
3. Luis Masaveu, Spain, def. GUNNAR BROIN, SHOREWOOD, MINN., 3 and 2
TUESDAY’S FINAL STROKE PLAY RESULTS
T54. GUNNAR BROIN, SHOREWOOD, MINN., 74-68—142
MC. BEN WARIAN, STILLWATER, MINN., 69-74—143
MC. JACQUES WILSON, CHASKA, MINN., 72-72—144
MC. SAM UDOVICH, INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINN., 74-74—148
MC. NATE DEZIEL, EAST GRAND FORKS, MINN., 84-69—153
MC. JOSH PERSONS, UNIV. OF MINN., 81-74—155
MC. JACOB PEDERSEN, SHOREWOOD, MINN., 73-83—156
For complete tournament results go to: https://championships.usga.org/usamateur/2024/scoring.html
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