Jack Whaley became only the third English winner of the U.S. Amateur after defeating Jay Leng Jr. 4&3 in Sunday’s 36-hole final at Merion Golf Club.

The 22-year-old Florida State player completed the victory with a birdie on the 33rd hole, securing the Havemeyer Trophy and exemptions into three major championships in 2027.

Whaley will be eligible to play the Masters at Augusta National and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. His victory also earned him a place in The Open Championship at St Andrews.

The result puts Whaley alongside Harold Hilton, who won the U.S. Amateur in 1911, and 2013 champion Matt Fitzpatrick as the only Englishmen to claim the title.

Whaley entered the final ranked 90th in the world amateur standings, while American opponent Leng was ranked 23rd. The match remained level despite the rankings, with both players holding the lead before Whaley took control after the break.

Leng Takes the Morning Lead

Whaley made the quicker start at Merion, moving two up within the opening three holes. Leng responded during the middle of the morning round, winning four of five holes between the ninth and 13th.

That run changed the direction of the match, taking Leng from two down to one up. He increased his advantage at the 16th before the final two holes of the opening round were halved, giving him a two-hole lead at the halfway stage.

Whaley responded after the break, winning four of the first five holes and turning a two-hole deficit into a two-hole lead.

Whaley Turns the Final Around

The sequence placed Leng under pressure after he had controlled the closing stretch of the morning round.

Leng narrowed the margin at the 24th, which was the sixth hole of the afternoon round, but Whaley birdied two holes later to re-establish his two-hole advantage.

Another Whaley birdie at the 28th moved him three up. Leng won the next hole to keep the match alive, only for Whaley to take the 30th and regain a three-hole cushion with six left to play.

Pars at the 31st and 32nd left Whaley three up with four remaining. Leng then missed his birdie opportunity at the 33rd, allowing Whaley to finish the match.

The Englishman converted his mid-range birdie putt to win the hole and complete a 4&3 victory. The afternoon recovery meant Leng did not lead again after Whaley moved ahead during the opening five holes of the second round.

A Place in U.S. Amateur History

The 126th U.S. Amateur was played from August 10 to 16 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore and Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.

Whaley’s victory was the biggest of his amateur career and ended a 13-year wait for another English champion. Fitzpatrick won at The Country Club in 2013 before developing into a major winner, while Hilton’s victory came 102 years earlier.

The title also gives Whaley an unusual opportunity to play three of golf’s major venues within one season. Augusta National will host the Masters, while Pebble Beach stages the U.S. Open. The 2027 Open will be played on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Whaley left Merion with the Havemeyer Trophy after making the final putt.