Sun Devil three-time All-American Josele Ballester has advanced to the U.S. Amateur semifinals on Saturday. The 124th U.S. Amateur Week started Monday in Minnesota at Hazeltine National Golf Club – and stroke-play co-host Chaska Town Course -- as hosts for the annual championship.
The field played one round at Hazeltine and Chaska Town Course after which it was trimmed to 64 for match play, which runs Wednesday through Sunday's 36-hole championship match. The champion and runner-up both will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club as well as likely invitations to the Masters Tournament in April. The winner also gets a spot in the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
This will be the second U.S. Amateur for Hazeltine, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design that has previously hosted a pair of U.S. Opens (1970 and 1991), two PGA Championships (2002 and 2009) and a memorable Ryder Cup (2016).
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 now 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
The field played one round at Hazeltine and Chaska Town Course after which it was trimmed to 64 for match play, which runs Wednesday through Sunday's 36-hole championship match. The champion and runner-up both will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club as well as likely invitations to the Masters Tournament in April. The winner also gets a spot in the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
This will be the second U.S. Amateur for Hazeltine, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design that has previously hosted a pair of U.S. Opens (1970 and 1991), two PGA Championships (2002 and 2009) and a memorable Ryder Cup (2016).
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 now 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