Jack Whaley advances to the championship match of the U.S. Amateur at Merion after making a decisive bogey putt on the 18th hole to defeat Georgia senior Carter Loflin. The match includes moments where Whaley twice holds 3-up leads but ultimately must manage pressure to close out the victory.
Whaley, a senior at Florida State, will face Stanford junior Jay Leng Jr. in the final. Leng reaches the final without ever trailing, with the day described as difficult or closely contested until he finishes his semifinal against Auburn sophomore Logan Reilly by winning on the 17th hole. After securing his spot in the championship match, Leng says he is “still speechless,” reflecting the intensity of his path to Merion.
Across outlets, the core details are consistent: Whaley makes the key closing putt to win his match, and Leng emerges from his semifinal with a late finish. The coverage emphasizes different parts of the tension—Whaley’s comeback after lost leads versus Leng’s sustained advantage and final-hole closing performance.
