Josele Ballester will play in the 36-hole championship match at the 124th U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. The three-time All-American will try to become the fourth player in program history to lift the coveted Havemeyer Trophy.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH BOUND ??????
Josele Ballester will play for the Havemeyer Trophy at the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship tomorrow??
He’s earned a spot in the 2025 U.S. Open and a likely invitation to the Masters Tournament #ForksUp /// @USGA pic.twitter.com/0iEx8s65HI
— Sun Devil Men’s Golf (@sundevilmgolf) August 17, 2024
By defeating fellow Spaniard Luis Masaveu 3 and 2 in the semifinals, Ballester earns a spot in the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club as well as a likely invitation to the Masters Tournament in April. The 10th ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® trailed in the match for much of the front-nine, but par on the eighth hole, followed by a birdie on the ninth, gave him a lead he would never relinquish. Staying in control on the back-nine, the senior made birdie on the par-4 14th hole to take a 3-up lead with four holes to play. Pars on holes 15 and 16 would seal the deal, punching a ticket to the final match.
“I felt super calm all the way and feel like that’s why I kept striping it all the way through the end,” Ballester told Golf Channel after his victory. “I felt like I was playing just a normal match play with a buddy and honestly was more nervous yesterday than today, today I was calm all the way.”
Feeling comfortable ??
Josele ?? with @ColtKnost after his semifinal victory pic.twitter.com/A5VsnjzfKK
— Sun Devil Men’s Golf (@sundevilmgolf) August 17, 2024
Ballester will face Noah Kent of Iowa in the championship match. The match will begin at 7:15 a.m. local time/5:15 a.m. in Arizona. Coverage of the second 18-holes will air live on Golf Channel beginning at 11:00 a.m. AZT.
BALLESTER’S ROAD TO THE FINAL
Stroke Play: Shot 68-71–141
Round of 64: Def. Ben James, 2 and 1
Round of 32: Def. Tiger Christensen, 3 and 1
Round of 16: Def. Christen Brand, 3 and 1
Quarterfinals: Def. Bobby Massa, 3 and 1
Semifinals: Def. Luis Masaveu 3 and 2
SUN DEVIL AMATEUR HISTORY
Three Sun Devils have won the U.S. Amateur title, with the last win by a Sun Devil coming 24 years ago when Eugene,…
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