Jack Whaley, a 22-year-old rising senior at Florida State, is the new U.S. Amateur champion after defeating Stanford’s Jay Leng Jr., 4 and 3, in the 36-hole final at historic Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The victory makes Whaley the 126th U.S. Amateur champion and the first player in Florida State men’s golf program history to lift the Havemeyer Trophy.
Whaley entered match play as the No. 60 seed and needed a Wednesday morning playoff just to reach the 64-player bracket — making the run to the title even more remarkable. He is only the third Englishman ever to win the U.S. Amateur, joining Matt Fitzpatrick, who won in 2013.
Emotional Father-Son Moment Caps Jack Whaley’s U.S. Amateur Title Run
Whaley’s win was defined as much by emotion as by golf. His father, Andy Whaley, caddied for him throughout the tournament, and the two shared a tearful embrace on the 18th green after Jack sealed the championship with a birdie putt. Whaley’s mother joined the celebration moments later for a full family embrace on the fairway.
Whaley credited his father directly for helping carry him through the week, saying it meant everything to be able to share the experience with him on the bag. Andy Whaley, for his part, said the week simply “clicked” in a way he couldn’t fully explain.
The moment carried extra weight given Whaley’s junior golf struggles. As a teenager, Whaley repeatedly missed cuts and came close to walking away from the game entirely — a stretch during which his father never stopped encouraging him to keep playing and stick with the sport.
How Jack Whaley Battled Rain, a Wasp Sting and Double Gloves to Win at Merion
Merion Golf Club delivered brutal weather conditions for the final, and Whaley had to adapt on the fly. After slicing a shot out of bounds on the sixth hole due to a rain-affected grip, Whaley switched to wearing gloves on both hands for the remainder of the tournament — a tactic also used by Aaron Rai during his PGA Championship win months earlier at nearby Aronimink Golf Club. Whaley said the change worked immediately, so he stuck with it the rest of the way. He also pushed through a wasp sting during the rain-soaked final to complete the win.
Jack Whaley’s Comeback: Trailing by Two at the Turn, Rallying to Win 4 and 3
Whaley’s championship match was far from a wire-to-wire victory. He trailed Leng Jr. by two holes after the morning 18, but stormed back in the afternoon round, winning four holes in a row to take a 2-up lead. After trading holes down the stretch, Whaley closed out the match on the 33rd hole, going 4 up with three holes to play to secure the 4-and-3 victory and the Havemeyer Trophy.
What Jack Whaley’s U.S. Amateur Win Means for His Future in Golf
The championship comes with a massive set of rewards for Whaley’s amateur and future professional career. As U.S. Amateur champion, Whaley earns:
- An exemption into the 2027 Masters Tournament, making him the first current Florida State golfer to qualify since Harry Ellis in 2018
- A spot in the 127th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach next June
- An invitation to The 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews
- A place on the 2026 Walker Cup team, representing Great Britain and Ireland
Runner-up Jay Leng Jr. also earned a Walker Cup berth for Team USA, along with invitations to the 2027 Masters and next year’s U.S. Open, provided he remains an amateur.
Jack Whaley’s Path to Florida State and the U.S. Amateur Title
A native of Doncaster, England, Whaley began his college career at NAIA program Dalton State, where he won the 2025 NAIA individual national championship and that level’s Jack Nicklaus Award before transferring to Florida State ahead of the 2025-26 season. In just his first year with the Seminoles, Whaley has now delivered the biggest individual win in program history, becoming the first Florida State player to reach the U.S. Amateur final since Drew Kittleson in 2008.
Jack Whaley’s Complete U.S. Amateur Match Play Run at Merion
Whaley went a perfect 6-0 in match play en route to the title:
- Round of 64: def. No. 5 Jackson Ormond (Florida), 1 Up, 22 holes
- Round of 32: def. No. 37 Bowen Mauss (Arizona State), 2&1
- Round of 16: def. No. 53 Christian Cavaliere, 3&4
- Quarterfinal: def. No. 29 Adam Bresnu (Texas Tech), 5&4
- Semifinal: def. No. 8 Carter Loflin, 1 Up
- Final: def. No. 15 Jay Leng Jr. (Stanford), 4&3
With the win now etched into Florida State golf history, all eyes turn to how Jack Whaley’s amateur breakthrough translates onto the biggest stages in the game starting with the 2027 Masters and U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
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