U.S. Amateur Champion!!! Congratulations Josele Ballester

Phil Mickelson. Billy Mayfair. Jeff Quinney.

You can add Josele Ballester to the list of Sun Devils to win the most coveted amateur trophy in golf  as he won the 124th U.S. Amateur Sunday afternoon 2-up over Iowa's Noah Kent. He did it on his 21st birthday at Hazeltine in the 36-hole match.
 
He was the only top 10 world amateur to reach the round of 16, as he took the lead on the second hole and never looked back. He joins Sun Devil Jon Rahm as the only players from Spain to win a USGA tournament, as Rahm won the U.S. Open in 2021. Ballester gained exemptions for the British Open, Masters and the U.S. Open next year.
 
Ballester trailed at some point in each of his last three matches but never trailed in the final. He went 3 up after four holes after two early birdies and had a 4-up lead at the break.

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
Championship: Def. Noah Ken, 2-up
 

QUOTES (THANKS TO USGA)
"Started crying. I don't know why, but as soon as the match finished, I started thinking a lot about … my family and friends, especially my mom and my dad. It's been a hard summer for me. I wasn't feeling really good and had like some personal issues. My grandma isn't feeling very good. She's pretty sick. It was a hard summer back in Spain, so I feel like all those emotions kind of came out thinking about my family and my friends back in Spain."

(When asked about how his remarkable short game compares favorably to Spain's greatest champion, the late Seve Ballesteros)
"That's what everybody says. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to watch him play that much. Again, it's always nice to hear that comparison, especially with his last name and my last name, about his short game. I'm pretty happy they can say that about my short game." – when asked about how his remarkable short game compares favorably to Spain's greatest champion, the late Seve Ballesteros

(When asked about the stroll up the 18th fairway with his caddie/friend Alberto Ballester)
"We just looked at each other and said, okay, let's enjoy this final walk."

(Whether he'll be the Big Man on Campus at Arizona State now as the U.S. Amateur champion)
"Maybe, but we have Leon Marchand that just won four gold medals [in swimming]. So, I'm just going to be like the second guy, I guess.

(When asked what adult beverage he might drink out of the Havemeyer Trophy)
"Some strawberry tequila maybe."

SUN DEVIL AMATEUR HISTORY
Four Sun Devils have now won the U.S. Amateur title, with the previous 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), JoseleBallester(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.