Jack Whaley of England secured the U.S. Amateur title at Merion Golf Club, overcoming challenging weather and a wasp sting to defeat Jay Leng Jr. The 22-year-old amateur golfer from Doncaster clinched the 36-hole final 4 and 3, celebrating the victory with his father, who served as his caddy, and his mother.
Whaley, who wore his Florida State Seminoles cap during the championship round, made a significant ascent from an NAIA star to an amateur champion. This win grants him exemptions into the 2027 U.S. Open, the 2027 British Open at St. Andrews, and the Masters, provided he maintains his amateur status. He also received a Tiger Woods medal.
During the afternoon session, Whaley was stung by a wasp on the fourth fairway. Earlier, Leng, a Stanford junior, held a 2-up lead after the first 18 holes, which concluded with both players bogeying the par-5 18th in overcast and windy conditions. Whaley is ranked No. 90 in the world amateur golf ranking, while Leng is No. 23.
This marks the seventh U.S. Amateur held at Merion, and Whaley is the first English amateur to win the event since Matt Fitzpatrick in 2013. Leng will receive consolation prizes, including a spot on the 2026 U.S. Walker Cup team, and entry into the Masters and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach next year, contingent on his amateur status.
Merion Golf Club has a storied history with the U.S. Amateur, notably as the site where Robert Tyre Jones Jr. completed his Grand Slam in 1930. The club is scheduled to host the U.S. Open in 2030, 2040, and 2050, as well as the U.S. Women’s Open in 2034 and 2046.
