Admin August 17, 2024
Jose Luis Ballester watches his tee shot on the 4th hole during the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minn.
Chris Keane/USGA
CHASKA, Minn. — After five days of golf, four names remain and we know only one thing for certain: the U.S. Amateur final will be an American versus a Spaniard.
As for which players will represent those countries, that’s what we have Saturday’s semifinals to figure out, as back-to-back matches at 2 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. ET at Hazeltine National Golf Club will decide who plays in Sunday’s final. On one side of the bracket are two Americans, and on the other are two players representing Spain.
There’s a lot on the line now too. The U.S. Amateur winner receives an exemption into the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, but the winner and runner-up receive invites to the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont and a likely one to the 2025 Masters. As you might imagine, that will be on players’ minds as an added bonus for winning on Saturday.
How to watch the 2024 U.S. Amateur Saturday
The semifinals of the U.S. Amateur begin at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. The action will be broadcast on Golf Channel from 3-6 p.m. ET.
2024 U.S. Amateur semifinal matchups (ET)
2 p.m. — Noah Kent, Naples, Fla. (Age: 19 / Rank: 560) vs. Jackson Buchanan, Dacula, Ga. (Age: 22 / Rank: 17)
Noah Kent birdied the first four holes versus Ethan Fang and made a fifth birdie on the 8th hole, going 4 up at the turn. He also holed out for eagle on 11 en route to his 3-and-2 win.
While Kent is the lowest-ranked player in the field, the rising Iowa sophomore has dominated since Tuesday. He shot 77 on Monday, but he fired a six-under 64 at Chaska Town Course on Tuesday — 13 strokes better than the previous day — to advance to match play. He hasn’t slowed down. He’s won two other matches 4 and 2 and has yet to play the 18th hole.
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Buchanan, however, won’t be easy to beat. The rising senior at Illinois — last year’s Big Ten Player of the Year — is ranked 17th in the world and took down top-ranked Luke Clanton in the Round of 32. Buchanan beat Notre Dame’s Jacob Modleski 4 and 3 on Friday.
2:15 p.m. — Jose Luis Ballester, Spain (Age: 20 / Rank: 10) vs. Luis Masaveu, Spain (Age: 21 / Rank: 23)
Jose Luis Ballester and Luis Masaveu will face off in the second of Saturday’s two matches, and they are already quite familiar with each other’s game. They’ve known each other for nearly a decade and have gotten close over the last few years while playing with the Spanish National Team and on other European squads.
“I wish I could face him in the final, but just the fact that we’re going to be competing for a spot in the final at the U.S. Amateur is just amazing,” Ballester said.
Ballester, the 10th-ranked amateur in the world, is a rising senior at Arizona State and earned honorable mention All-American honors in each of his first two seasons. On Friday he beat Bobby Massa 3 and 1, the second straight day he’s sent home a mid-am from match play.
Masaveu is the only non-collegiate player in the semis but keeps a busy schedule overseas. He made the cut at the Open Championship last month and finished 78th. He beat Brendan Valdes 3 and 2 on Friday.
