Jose Luis Ballester became the first Spaniard to win a US Amateur when he defeated 19-year-old American Noah Kent in the 36-hole final at Hazeltine National in Minnesota.
Ballester, who turned 21 on the final day, took the lead on the second hole Sunday and never looked back, finishing 2up.
Ballester moved to 3up after four holes with two birdies in the first. He was leading by 4 at the lunch break. Kent bounced back in the afternoon round, hitting a long eagle putt on 7th pit (25th) to move between the two.
Then, after falling behind on four with seven holes to go, the Kent player rallied to win holes 31, 32 and 34 to pull within one.
On the 34th hole, Hazeltine’s signature lakeside 16th, Ballester hit a thick patch near the tee and, after clipping a tree, landed in a rough situation in the reeds. He closed with a bogey.
But with his lead down to one, Ballester got back on track to par the final two holes. He nailed a shot to the 17th green, and when Kent found a fairway bunker on the 18th tee, it became difficult, the title belonged to the Spaniard.
The night before the final, Ballester spoke on the phone with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia, a 1998 US Amateur semifinalist. The two are from the same place in Spain and have known each other for several years. Ballester has Sergio’s winning score from his 2017 Masters victory written on the shaft of his driver.
Ballester, who won the European Amateur last year, said: “We have a lot of famous Spanish players, a lot of great legends, so to be able to add my name to that history is great.”
Both finalists earned exemptions from the Masters and the US Open next year, with Ballester also earning a place in the field for the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
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