20:55
Pars on the 30th
Maclauchlan 5 up (30)
5 up, six to play.
Matter of time now.
Noah Maclauchlan celebrates with his family on 18
U.S. Junior Amateur Final: Noah Maclauchlan stuns Miles Russell to win Tiger Woods Trophy
Noah Maclauchlan completes stunning U.S. Junior Amateur upset as Miles Russell falls short.
Noah Maclauchlan, ranked No. 2,047 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, has pulled off a remarkable upset to win the 78th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley.
The 18-year-old left-hander from Moseley, Virginia, defeated No. 7-ranked amateur Miles Russell 6&5 in Saturday’s 36-hole final, sealing the biggest win of his young career with a birdie on the 31st hole — his 13th of the day.
Maclauchlan’s victory came against one of the most highly ranked players ever to reach the final, with Russell sitting an astonishing 2,040 places above him in the WAGR.
The all-left-handed final was also a first in an individual USGA championship, adding another piece of history to an extraordinary week for Maclauchlan.
Russell, who finished tied 39th at last month’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, had been bidding to match Jordan Spieth as the highest-ranked amateur to win the U.S. Junior Amateur. Spieth was ranked No. 7 in the world when he claimed his second Junior title in 2011.
Instead, it was Maclauchlan who etched his name onto the newly renamed Tiger Woods Trophy.
Russell showed grace in defeat after his runner-up finish at Saucon Valley, admitting Maclauchlan was simply the better player on the day.
"It was a great week. He definitely played better than I played, so I mean, he deserved it," Russell said.
For Maclauchlan, the victory is not only the biggest title of his career but also comes with a remarkable reward: an exemption into next year’s U.S. Open at famed Pebble Beach.
"It's pretty surreal to think I'll be at the U.S. Open next year. This is by far the most memorable championship I've ever played," Maclauchlan said.
The U.S. Junior Amateur has long served as a springboard for future stars, with Tiger Woods, Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Brian Harman, David Duval, Johnny Miller and Will Zalatoris among the championship’s illustrious past winners.
Woods remains the only player to win three consecutive titles, lifting the trophy in 1991, 1992 and 1993. His dominance was later honoured when the championship trophy was renamed the Tiger Woods Trophy.
Now, Maclauchlan has added his name to that roll of honour after producing one of the most remarkable upsets in the championship’s history.
Follow all the reaction and latest updates from Saucon Valley below.
25 Jul 2026
21:28
Pebble Beach bound!
21:21
Congratulations Noah Maclauchlan
21:09
Maclauchlan wins!
Maclauchlan wins 6&5
Noah Maclauchlan, the 2,047th best ranked amateur, wins the 78th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley.
Maclauchlan sealed the deal with a birdie on the 31st, his 13th birdie of the day.
He wraps up a convincing 6&5 victory over Miles Russell.
20:42
Hang on now...
Maclauchlan 5 up (29)
Let's try and build some drama.
Russell claws one back on the 29th with a par.
Maclauchlan is 5 up with seven holes to play.
20:35
6 up
Maclauchlan 6 up (28)
What an incredible performance this has been from 18-year-old Maclauchlan.
He's just rolled in his eighth birdie in the last 12 holes to surge into a 6 up lead with eight holes to play.
It's a matter of time now until he becomes 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur champion.
Russell hasn't played badly by any stretch, he's just been up against a world class performance from his compatriot today.
20:15
Russell needs a miracle
Maclauchlan 5 up (26)
Two tied holes in a row on the 25th (pars) and 26th (birdies) see McMaclauchlan remain 5 up.
Russell needs a miracle to turn this one around.
Remember, Maclauchlan is the 2,047th best ranked amateur in the world, and Russell is seventh.
Incredible.
20:03
Pars at the 25th
Maclauchlan 5 up (24)
Pars at the 25th.
Maclauchlan remains in command.
19:36
5 up
Maclauchlan 5 up (24)
They think it's all over...
Maclauchlan makes his fourth birdie in six holes to surge into a 5 up lead.
19:26
Maclauchlan closing in
Maclauchlan 4up (23)
It's another birdie for Maclauchlan, who surges into a commanding 4up lead thru 23 holes.
Russell looks down and out here.
19:13
Maclauchlan in command
Maclauchlan 3up (22)
Maclauchlan is closing in here.
He's just birdied the 21st to move 3up.
They've just tied the 22nd.
18:53
Pars at 20th
Maclauchlan 2up (20)
Pars all round at the tough par-4 2nd and Maclauchlan remains 2 up.
18:45
Maclauchlan 2up
Maclauchlan 2up (19)
We're back underway and Maclauchlan rolls in a birdie at the par-5 1st to move 2up.
17:13
Birdies for both at 18
Maclauchlan 1up (18)
It's birdies for both players on the short par-4 18th.
Maclauchlan heads into the final 18 holes with a narrow 1up lead.
Time for lunch. Back soon.
USGA
17:01
Maclauchlan back in front
Maclauchlan 1up (17)
The rollercoaster continues!
Maclauchlan has just made a birdie on the par-4 17th to nose ahead once more.
16:44
Double for Russell
Tied (16)
Where did this come from?!
Russell makes a disastrous double-bogey six on the 16th, and it hands Maclauchlan the hole.
We're tied up again.
16:31
Russell takes lead
Russell 1 up (15)
What a difference an hour makes as Russell goes from 3 down to 1 up in the space of five holes.
Russell rolls in his third birdie of the round to move into the lead for the first time all day.
16:17
Pars at 14
Tied (14)
Maclauchlan steadies the ship with a par on the par-3 14th.
The match remains tied.
16:05
Wheels off for Maclauchlan
Tied (13)
Russell has just won three holes on the spin to pull the match back to a Tie.
Maclauchlan has just gone bogey-double-bogey to let Russell back in.
We're tied up heading down the 14th.
But remember this is a 36-hole final, so there is a long way to go here.
Russell looks to have momentum now.
15:54
Tide is turning
Maclauchlan 1 up (12)
Russell is now just 1 down after Maclauchlan makes a hash of the par-4 12th with a double-bogey six.
That's two holes on the spin for the pre-tournament favourite.
Game on.
15:38
Russell claws one back
Maclauchlan 2 up (11)
Russell wins his first hole of the day with a par at the par-3 11th.
The deficit is down to 2.
15:18
Three tied holes
Maclauchlan 3 up (9)
It's pars at 7, 8 and 9 for Maclauchlan and Russell.
Maclauchlan takes a commanding 3 up lead into the back nine.
Still 27 holes to go though.
14:41
Maclauchlan cruising
Maclauchlan 3 up (6)
Some start from Maclauchlan.
He's just sent home a fourth birdie in six holes to move into a commanding 3 up lead.
An extremely long way to go, but this is looking like an uphill battle already for the pre-final favourite Russell.
Russell has not played badly by any stretch, he's 1-under for six holes.
But Maclauchlan has caught fire.
14:07
Maclauchlan in control
Maclauchlan 2 up (4)
This is some start from Maclauchlan, who was very much considered the underdog in today's final.
He's just drained a third birdie in the first four holes to move into 2 up lead.
Work for Russell already here, but of course a long way to go as this is a 36-hole final.
13:47
Pars at the 3rd
Maclauchlan 1 up (3)
It's pars for both players on the 375-yard par-4 3rd as Maclauchlan remains with the lead.
