Jose Luis Ballester makes history as first Spanish player to win US Amateur

On his 21st birthday, Jose Luis Ballester, a senior-to-be at Arizona State, triumphed in the US Amateur after a thrilling 36-hole match at Hazeltine. Ballester held off Iowa sophomore Noah Kent with a 2 up win, becoming the first player from Spain to win this prestigious event.
Ballester, ranked top 10 in the world amateur ranking, took an early lead and never let go, joining Jon Rahm as the only Spaniards to win a USGA tournament.
"We have many great Spaniards, many great legends," Ballester was quoted as saying by AP. "Being able to add my name into that history is pretty sweet."
The victory guarantees both finalists exemptions for next year's Masters and US Open, with Ballester also securing a spot in the British Open. Despite trailing in his previous three matches, Ballester dominated the final, donning Spain's colors and holding a 4-up lead at the lunch break.
Kent, ranked No. 560 in the world amateur ranking, put up a fierce fight.
"You don't want to be 4 down going into an 18-hole match, but it's been done before, and I kept telling myself that. Everybody in my corner kept telling myself that," Kent said. "I fought like crazy out there." He narrowed the gap to one hole with seven to play, but Ballester maintained his composure, parring the final two holes to secure his win.
Ballester's win stirred strong emotions, thinking of friends and family in Spain, especially his ill grandmother. The crowd at Hazeltine, last hosting the men's amateur in 2006, showed strong support for Kent, with many fans in gold Caitlin Clark shirts cheering him on.
The US Amateur, in its 130th edition, has historically propelled many golfing legends, including Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson. Ballester's win marks the first European victory since Viktor Hovland of Norway in 2018 at Pebble Beach.