Jack Whaley holds on at US Amateur and will meet Jay Leng Jr. in championship match at Merion

In Ardmore, Pennsylvania, Jack Whaley of England secured his spot in the championship match at Merion by overcoming two 3-up leads against Georgia senior Carter Loflin. Whaley scored a dramatic 5-foot bogey putt on the final hole to claim victory. The match, held on Saturday, will determine who advances to the Masters and U.S. Open at Pebble Beach next year, assuming they remain amateurs.

Whaley, a senior at Florida State, will face off against Stanford junior Jay Leng Jr., who never trailed throughout the day. Both finalists are potential future champions, reaching the championship match as the top-ranked and second-ranked amateurs in the world. Leng, who has not trailed in his last 42 holes, expressed amazement at his win, stating that it would take some time for the reality of the achievement to sink in.