Latest news with #WAGR
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Gavin Tiernan to face Ethan Fang in the 130th Amateur Championship final
Gavin Tiernan will take on Ethan Fang from the United States in the 36-hole final of the 130th Amateur Championship at Royal St George on Saturday. Tiernan and Fang are the final two left standing out of a field of 288 players in the prestigious championship winning their quarter-final and semi-final matches at a sunny Sandwich Bay today. Fang is ranked seventh in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and is looking to become the first American since Drew Weaver in 2007 to lift the coveted trophy. Tiernan sits 1333 places futher down the WAGR and is the first player that came through the pre-qualifying to reach the final. Tiernan had a longer week than his American counterpart having played 139-holes to reach the final. The 19 year old has been taken to the 18th hole in all three of his matches this week including his quarter-final this morning against Estonia's Richard Teder. Tiernan was behind throughout and managed to square the match with a well-timed birdie at the 16th before a bogey from Teder on the 18th allowed Tiernan to progress in the Championship. Tiernan only needed 15 holes to win his semi-final match against Italy's Riccardo Fantinelli this afternoon. It was all square at the turen before Tiernan pulled away with consistent play on the 10th, 12th, 14th, and 15th holes for a comfortable 4&3 win. Speaking after reaching the final Tiernan said 'If you'd told me at the start of the week I'd be in the final, I would have been over the moon. I'm just really enjoying it, taking it one shot at a time, and just having fun out there. That's all I'm trying to do. 'I hit it way better this afternoon. Off the tee I was way better. I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. I think this morning it was a little bit scrappier but this morning was tighter, as well. I wasn't up the whole match until 18 when I won. 'You don't need to go and take a ton of birdies. If you're hitting it to the middle of the green all the time, you're just going to bore them to death. That's what I've been trying to do this week, and it's worked so far. 'In my head, I'm the best player here. It might not be the truth, but that's what I believe. It doesn't really matter who I'm playing against. Really I'm just playing against the golf course. Playing against myself really.' Fang had a comfortable route to the final with a 5&4 win over Finland's Veikka Viskari in the semi-final following his morning win over France's Callixte Alzas twhere he overcame a two-down deficit to win by as many. FINAL BOOKED: Ethan Fang of USA tees off during the Quarter Finals on Day Five of The Amateur Championship at Royal St. George's Golf Club on June 20, 2025 in Sandwich, England. Pic: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images Fang is looking forward to taking on Tiernan in the final. 'I think each day as I win a match, it gets that much closer to what the whole Championship is. It's just really hard not to (think about the champion's exemptions), especially because I'm 36 holes away from it. I'll just try to stay present and just do everything I've been doing. 'I took a pretty long look on that board over there with the trophies and all those names. I saw Sergio won it. It's cool to see all those professional players come out here and win it, and now I'm doing the same thing, and hopefully have their accomplishments on Tour. 'The Championship is not over, but I think after tomorrow we'll celebrate either way because it's been a good week." Tiernan and Fang will go head-to-head in the 36-hole final at 8.32am playing for the Amateur Champion title and entry to the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, the US Open and by tradition an invitation to the Masters Tournament. The winner will also earn a place at the Betfred British Masters which Nick Faldo hosts on the DP World Tour.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Predicting the 10-man United States roster for the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point
The 50th Walker Cup at Cypress Point is around the corner. On Friday, the top three Americans in the World Amateur Golf Ranking secured their spots on the U.S. squad for the biennial competition between the top amateurs from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland. The full 10-man roster will be announced following the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur, set for Aug. 11-17 at Olympic Club in San Francisco. That means the clock is ticking for golfers to play their way onto the team. With a majority of the major amateur events still on the calendar, there is plenty of time for those on the bubble and on the outside looking in to show captain Nathan Smith why they deserve a chance to wear the red, white and blue. Here's a look at predictions for who will round out the 10-man U.S. Walker Cup team (WAGR ranking in parentheses). On the team Jackson Koivun (No. 1) Ben James (No. 2) Michael La Sasso (No. 3) The trio earned their spots on the team thanks to their WAGR rankings Friday. James will be the only returning member on the U.S. team, having gone 1-2-0 at St. Andrews in 2023, helping the U.S. win at the home of golf. Koivun swept national Player of the Year honors in 2024 and maintained a high level of play this season for Auburn, and La Sasso won the NCAA individual title at Omni La Costa last month, putting an exclamation mark on a stellar junior season. Locks Tommy Morrison (No. 5) Ethan Fang (No. 7) Preston Stout (No. 8) It's hard to see Morrison (OK, not really, he is 6-foot-9), Fang and Stout not making the team. All are proven match-play golfers, with Fang and Stout helping Oklahoma State take the NCAA Championship last month at Omni La Costa. Morrison made match play last summer at the U.S. Amateur, the Amateur Championship and won the European Amateur. Expect to see these three donning red, white and blue in September. Fang and Morrison also made match play at this week's Amateur Championship. Mid-Am representative Evan Beck (No. 18) Beck, who won the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur, is almost guaranteed to get the mid-am spot on the team, barring a late run from Stewart Hagestad, who is 55th in WAGR. On the bubble Jase Summy (No. 9) Jack Turner (No. 11) Josiah Gilbert (No. 14) Wells Williams (No. 17) Jacob Modleski (No. 20) Max Herendeen (No. 22) Bryan Lee (No. 23) With three more spots up for grabs, there's a good chance those names come from this list. Jase Summy could be considered a lock, but as far as WAGR points, he's closer to this group than he is Morrison, Fang and Stout, but he has a big advantage on the rest of the group, especially with a strong summer leading into the U.S. Amateur. As for the rest of the group, it's open season. Have a big summer, and Smith could have no choice but to select you for a spot on the team. Don't play well, and that door slams shut. Outside chance Connor Williams (No. 24) Cameron Tankersley (No. 26) Miles Russell (No. 28) Lance Simpson (No. 30) Ryder Cowan (No. 33) The most intriguing name in this group is Russell, the 16-year-old junior phenom whose name has been floated around all year as a player who could be selected. He would become the youngest Walker Cup participant ever if Smith selected him. This spring, he won four of five junior starts, including the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. If his strong play continues, it may be worth selecting him. As for the others, if they could win an Elite Amateur Golf Series event this summer and make a run in the Western Amateur or U.S. Amateur, they may have a tee time at Cypress Point in September.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USGA announces first 3 selections for 2025 U.S. Walker Cup team, including No. 1 amateur
USGA announces first 3 selections for 2025 U.S. Walker Cup team, including No. 1 amateur The Waker Cup is less than three months away, and on Friday, the U.S. Golf Association announced the first three selections for the United States squad. Jackson Koivun, Ben James and Michael La Sasso will each don the red, white and blue Sept. 6-7 and Cypress Point, site of the 50th Walker Cup. The biennial match between the top amateurs from the United States and those from Great Britain and Ireland takes place Sept. 6-7 at famed Cypress Point in California, which ranks No. 1 in Golfweek's Best Classic Courses. The three earned automatic spots on the Walker Cup team thanks to being the highest-ranked Americans in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. All three players competed in last week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. James, a rising senior at Virginia, is making his second Walker Cup appearance, having competed on the 2023 team that won at St. Andrews, going 1-2-0. He helped the Cavaliers advance to the championship match at NCAAs and is the likely No 1 when the PGA Tour University Class of 2026 rankings are announced this summer. He's ranked second in WAGR. Koivun, the top-ranked amateur in the world, earned his PGA Tour card with a T-4 finish at NCAAs, but his stellar season came as a freshman when he swept the major postseason awards: the Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. He's returning to Auburn for his junior season and will turn pro after NCAAs next May. La Sasso had a standout junior season for Ole Miss, culminating in him winning the NCAA individual title at Omni La Costa. He was a finalist for the Haskins Award, the Heisman Trophy of college golf, and is ranked third in WAGR. The Walker Cup is a two-day event with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes matches. The U.S. leads the overall series, 39-9-1, though its advantage is only 11-7 since 1989.
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Mirabel happy to wait as LPGA dream takes shape
KUALA LUMPUR: With accolades piling up and history already made, Malaysia's top golf prospect Mirabel Ting has every reason to consider turning professional. But the 19-year-old Miri-born is choosing to stay grounded. Despite winning the prestigious Annika Award, being named WGCA Player of the Year, and reaching a career-best No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Mirabel remains committed to finishing her senior year at Florida State University. Mirabel meteoric rise came on the back of a phenomenal 2024/25 season, during which she clinched five titles on the US collegiate circuit. "I just want to play golf and do what I can," said Mirabel. "If things lead to a different path, then it's a different path." It's a line that reflects her maturity and adaptability — a recognition that while she's fully invested in college golf, she's also aware of what could lie ahead. Mirabel has already accumulated 10 points under the LPGA Tour's LEAP (LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway) program, which rewards top-performing amateur golfers with a chance to bypass the notoriously competitive Q School. Points are awarded across five categories: highest WAGR ranking, performances in LPGA events, major amateur titles, year-end awards, and team selections. Reaching the 20-point threshold grants a player direct access to the LPGA Tour. Mirabel currently sits at 10 points — two each from winning the Annika Award, being named WGCA Player of the Year, and achieving a WAGR ranking of No. 2. She also picked up three points from three consecutive Palmer Cup appearances (2023–2025) and one point from a top-40 finish at last year's Maybank Championship, where she placed 12th. Another 10 points would seal her place on the LPGA Tour — a tall order, but not out of reach. She has upcoming opportunities to add to her tally, including the Amundi Evian Championship in France next month — one of the LPGA's five majors — and a return to Malaysia for the Maybank Championship in October. "I'm actually 10 points away from getting the Tour card," she said. "But again, it's nearly impossible. I would need to have another season like this year — or even better — to actually get all the points by the end of the year." That measured realism is what sets Mirabel apart. Instead of rushing into the pro ranks, she's opting to build steadily — enjoying college life, honing her skills, and flying the Malaysian flag high on both collegiate and international stages. "It means a lot," she said of her Annika Award win. "I wasn't actually sure I was the first Asian to win it. I just did what I've always done — practice hard and believe in myself. Surprisingly, I did it. I feel like I've made Malaysia proud." With her trailblazing success, Mirabel now finds herself in a position to inspire the next wave of Malaysian golfers — a role she embraces with humility. "I was once young and looked up to Michelle (Koh, Rio 2016 Olympian) and Kelly (Tan, sole Malaysian representative on the LPGA Tour in the past one decade). Being a role model is challenging, but if you have the opportunity, why not? I'm just trying to enjoy it, embrace it, and take it day by day."
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Mirabel retains TSM Golf Challenge crown
KUALA LUMPUR: Mirabel Ting reinforced her status as Malaysia's top amateur golfer by becoming the first player in over a decade to successfully defend the girls' title at the TSM Golf Challenge—matching a feat last accomplished by Kelly Tan in 2012. The 20-year-old Sarawakian, currently world No. 2 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), carded rounds of 70, 68 and 71 for a winning total of 209 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) as the 14th edition of the prestigious junior event concluded on Thursday. It was another dominant display by Mirabel, who finished a whopping 12 strokes ahead of nearest challenger Wang Xin Yao (221). A three-way tie for third followed, with Nur Batrisya Balqis Abdul Ghani, Foong Zi Yu, and Nik Alicia Miriam Kamil all ending at 222. Former LPGA star and two-time Olympian Kelly had won three consecutive titles from 2010 to 2012. With Mirabel still eligible to compete next year, she could take aim at replicating that feat. However, the best achievement in the girls' category remains with Ainil Johani Bakar, who captured four straight titles from 2006 to 2009. Despite coming off a phenomenal collegiate season in the United States—where she bagged five titles, won the prestigious Annika Award, and finished joint runner-up at the NCAA Division I Championship—Mirabel played down expectations and approached the event with a relaxed mindset. "To be able to come back here and play an event actually means a lot," said Mirabel, who last featured on home soil at the Maybank Championship last October, where she impressed with a tied-12th finish in the LPGA Tour event. "I wasn't playing my best golf this week. Like I said, I've been away for six months at school—I attend Florida State University—and I basically just came back wanting to take a bit of a rest and ease into it. "Overall, I think I did okay, but there's still a lot to work on. I made quite a few mistakes out there, but it's still alright. I was just trying to go out there, have fun, do what I can on the course, and just be myself—not trying to put pressure on myself like, 'Oh, I'm supposed to be good.'" In the boys' division, fellow Sarawakian Anson Yeo also lived up to expectations by sealing a wire-to-wire victory with rounds of 69, 65, and 69 for a total of 203. The 19-year-old held off a strong challenge from Rizq Adam Rohizam (72-69-68) and Hariz Hezri (71-67-71), who shared second place on 209. Nathan Wong (210) and A. Nateeshvar (211) completed the top five. Anson's win further cements his rising status in the domestic amateur scene, having recently clinched the PGM Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy—where he outplayed a strong field including established professionals. "This is my first time playing in the tournament, and I'm really happy to have won it," said Anson. "It was very competitive this week—everyone played really well. I felt good about my game overall, especially with my ball-striking and putting. "The SEA Games is one of my major goals this year, so this win gives me a good boost. I'll be playing in the PGM Penang Closed Championship next week to keep the momentum going." Leading final round scores: Boys 203: Anson Yeo 69-65-69; 209: Rizq Adam Rohizam 72-69-68, Hariz Hezri 71-67-71; 210: Nathan Wong 71-73-66; 211: A. Nateeshvar 73-67-71. Girls 209: Mirabel Ting 70-68-71; 221: Wang Xin Yao 76-73-72; 222: Nur Batrisya Balqis Abdul Ghani 77-72-73, Foong Zi Yu 71-72-78, Nik Alicia Miriam Kamil 72-72-78.
