Jack Whaley ends England's 13-year wait to win U.S. Amateur Championship

Jack Whaley has ended England's 13-year wait for a U.S. Amateur champion after defeating American Jay Leng Jr 4&3 in the 36-hole final at Merion Golf Club.

The Florida State senior became the first Englishman since Matt Fitzpatrick in 2013 to lift the coveted Havemeyer Trophy, and only the third Englishman since 1911 to win the prestigious USGA championship.

Whaley's final against Stanford's Leng was a contest of changing momentum, but it was the 22-year-old Englishman who produced the decisive response when it mattered most.

He made a flying start, chipping in at the opening hole to take an early lead before extending his advantage with a par at the 3rd. 

Leng Jr fought back by winning the 9th and 10th holes in succession, and after another spell of back-and-forth golf, the American headed into the halfway point with a 2up lead. 

Whaley's afternoon response proved the turning point though. 

He won four consecutive holes to move 2up after 23 holes, although Leng Jr immediately reduced the deficit by taking the 24th. 

Whaley then responded with back-to-back birdies at the 26th and 28th to establish a three-hole lead.

Leng won the 29th, but Whaley held firm with a crucial par at the 30th. 

The next two holes were halved before Whaley delivered the decisive blow, holing a birdie putt at the 33rd to move four ahead with five holes remaining.

The match was over soon after, with Whaley completing a 4&3 win and perfect 5-0 record in match play.

The victory was extra sweet for Whaley with his father acting as his caddie. 

Whaley's route to the title included victories over five ranked opponents. 

He began with a 22-hole, 1up win over fifth seed Jackson Ormond before beating 37th seed Bowen Mauss 2&1 in the last 32.

Whaley then defeated Christian Cavliere 4&3 in the last 16, No. 29 Adam Bresnu 5&4 in the quarter-final and No. 8 Carter Loflin 1up in a tense semi-final.

The victory is also a landmark moment for Florida State, with Whaley becoming the program's first U.S. Amateur champion and its first finalist since Drew Kittleson in 2008.

More importantly, the title opens the door to three of golf's biggest stages in 2027. 

Whaley has earned exemptions into The Masters at Augusta National, U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, and The Open at St Andrews.

He has also secured a place on Great Britain's Walker Cup team later this season.

For a player who entered the championship ranked No. 90 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Whaley's week at Merion represents a huge breakthrough.

England now has another U.S. Amateur champion to celebrate — and Whaley has three of golf's most iconic venues waiting for him in 2027.

Scroll down for all of Whaley's results...

Jack Whaley's U.S. Amateur 2026 - Results

• Strokeplay (36 holes): 2-over par (came through a 16-for-11 playoff) 
• Round of 64: def. No. 5 Jackson Ormond (Florida), 1 up after 22 holes
• Round of 32: def. No. 37 Bowen Mauss (Arizona State), 2&1
• Round of 16: def. Christian Cavliere, 4&3
• Quarter-final: def. No. 29 Adam Bresnu (Texas Tech), 5&4
• Semi-final: def. No. 8 Carter Loflin, 1up
• Final: def. No. 15 Jay Leng Jr, 4&3

Check out all U.S. Amateur results here