Sun Devil three-time All-American Josele Ballester -- who won the 2023 European Amateur title -- will play in the 36-hole championship match at the 124th U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota Sunday morning. The three-time All-American will try to become the fourth player in program history to lift the coveted Havemeyer Trophy.
By defeating fellow Spaniard Luis Masaveu 3 and 2 in the semifinals, Ballester earned 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."
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 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, Ore., native Jeff Quinney beat James Driscoll in 39 holes in New Jersey.
SUN DEVIL U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONS
2000: Jeff Quinney defeated James Driscoll, 39 holes; Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J.; Medalists — 137, Jim Salinetti, Jeff Wilson; Entries: 7,124
1990: Phil Mickelson defeated Manny Zerman, 5 and 4; Cherry Hills C.C., Englewood, Colo.; Medalist — 135, Phil Mickelson; Entries: 4,765
1987: Bill Mayfair defeated Eric Rebmann, 4 and 3; Jupiter Hills Club (Hills Course), Jupiter, Fla.; Medalist — 141, Scott Gump; Entries: 4,084
JOSELE BALLESTER TAP-INS
Ballestter has earned honorable mention All-America honors in each of his first three seasons, as in 2023-24 he had a 71.05 stroke average in 12 tournaments (36 rounds) that included four top-10 finishes. In 2022-23, he tied for fifth out of 72 at the Las Vegas Regional with a 15-under 201, tied for seventh out of 80 at the Thunderbird Collegiate and tied for fourth out of 45 at The Calusa Cup.
JOSELE BALLESTER CAREER BEST ROUNDS
64/-6 at Pac-12 Championships first round/April 28, 2023
64/-6 at Maui Jim Intercollegiate second round/Sept. 10, 2022
64/-7 at Thunderbird Collegiate first round/April 14, 2023
JOSELE BALLESTER CAREER STATS
33 TOURNAMENTS
100 ROUNDS
70.89 STROKE AVERAGE
7,089 STROKES
32 ROUNDS IN 60s
ARIZONA STATE MEN'S GOLF ALL-AMERICANS UNDER MATT THURMOND
2024 (4): Wenyi Ding (first), Ryggs Johnston (third), Preston Summerhays (first), Josele Ballester(hm)
2023 (3): Preston Summerhays (first), Josele Ballester (hm), Michael Mjaaseth (hm)
2022 (4): Mason Andersen (third), Josele Ballester (hm), David Puig (hm), Cameron Sisk (hm)
2021 (4): David Puig (second), Chun An Yu (third), Ryggs Johnston (third), Cameron Sisk (hm)
2020 (1): Cameron Sisk (third)
2019 (1): Chun An Yu (first)
2017 (1): Jared du Toit (second)
2023 EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPION
Josele Ballester never let an early lead get too far away at the 2023 European Amateur Championship in Estonia on July 3 to earn an invitation to The 151st Open Royal. He shot 10-under 62 in round one and never looked back in winning the title.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH BOUND ??????
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) August 17, 2024
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
By defeating fellow Spaniard Luis Masaveu 3 and 2 in the semifinals, Ballester earned 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 ??
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) August 17, 2024
Josele ?? with @ColtKnost after his semifinal victory pic.twitter.com/A5VsnjzfKK
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 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, Ore., native Jeff Quinney beat James Driscoll in 39 holes in New Jersey.
SUN DEVIL U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONS
2000: Jeff Quinney defeated James Driscoll, 39 holes; Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J.; Medalists — 137, Jim Salinetti, Jeff Wilson; Entries: 7,124
1990: Phil Mickelson defeated Manny Zerman, 5 and 4; Cherry Hills C.C., Englewood, Colo.; Medalist — 135, Phil Mickelson; Entries: 4,765
1987: Bill Mayfair defeated Eric Rebmann, 4 and 3; Jupiter Hills Club (Hills Course), Jupiter, Fla.; Medalist — 141, Scott Gump; Entries: 4,084
JOSELE BALLESTER TAP-INS
Ballestter has earned honorable mention All-America honors in each of his first three seasons, as in 2023-24 he had a 71.05 stroke average in 12 tournaments (36 rounds) that included four top-10 finishes. In 2022-23, he tied for fifth out of 72 at the Las Vegas Regional with a 15-under 201, tied for seventh out of 80 at the Thunderbird Collegiate and tied for fourth out of 45 at The Calusa Cup.
JOSELE BALLESTER CAREER BEST ROUNDS
64/-6 at Pac-12 Championships first round/April 28, 2023
64/-6 at Maui Jim Intercollegiate second round/Sept. 10, 2022
64/-7 at Thunderbird Collegiate first round/April 14, 2023
JOSELE BALLESTER CAREER STATS
33 TOURNAMENTS
100 ROUNDS
70.89 STROKE AVERAGE
7,089 STROKES
32 ROUNDS IN 60s
ARIZONA STATE MEN'S GOLF ALL-AMERICANS UNDER MATT THURMOND
2024 (4): Wenyi Ding (first), Ryggs Johnston (third), Preston Summerhays (first), Josele Ballester(hm)
2023 (3): Preston Summerhays (first), Josele Ballester (hm), Michael Mjaaseth (hm)
2022 (4): Mason Andersen (third), Josele Ballester (hm), David Puig (hm), Cameron Sisk (hm)
2021 (4): David Puig (second), Chun An Yu (third), Ryggs Johnston (third), Cameron Sisk (hm)
2020 (1): Cameron Sisk (third)
2019 (1): Chun An Yu (first)
2017 (1): Jared du Toit (second)
2023 EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPION
Josele Ballester never let an early lead get too far away at the 2023 European Amateur Championship in Estonia on July 3 to earn an invitation to The 151st Open Royal. He shot 10-under 62 in round one and never looked back in winning the title.