Stanford’s Jay Leng Jr. advances to U.S. Amateur semifinals – Santa Cruz Sentinel
Stanford’s Jay Leng Jr. continued his hot streak Friday by advancing to the U.S. Amateur semifinals as his four straight birdies closed out a lopsided 6-and-5 victory over University of Florida standout Jack Turner.
Leng, a San Diego native, will be joined in today’s semifinals in Ardmore, Pa. by Georgia standout Carter Loflin, who knocked off Pleasanton’s Brandon Knight, a Colorado rising senior, 3 and 2.
Leng will face Auburn’s Logan Reilly today while Florida State’s Jack Whaley faces Loflin in today’s other semifinal.
Few people in amateur golf are hotter right now than Leng, who is coming off winning the Western Amateur in Chicago two weeks ago, as well as a runner-up finish in the Northeast Amateur in June and a share of fifth at the Southern Amateur last month.
“I’m pretty much firing at every pin and trying to make as many birdies as possible,” Leng said. “ I know if I’m somewhat close, I should have a chance. My putting has been really good this whole week. It’s a good confidence boost.”
Leng has a chance to become the 10th player in history to capture the U.S. Amateur and Western Amateur in the same year, joining an illustrious list that includes Jack Nicklaus (1961), Tiger Woods (1994), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Justin Leonard (1992) and Hal Sutton (1980). New Zealander Danny Lee, in 2008, was the last to accomplish the feat.
At the Western Amateur, he defeated Miles Russell and former U.S. National Junior Team member Michael Riebe in the semis and finals, respectively.
On Thursday, he eliminated No. 2 seed and 2026 USA Walker Cupper Tyler Watts and in the opening round on Wednesday, he beat 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Evan Beck. Now he could be joining Watts and Russell on Captain Nathan Smith’s Walker Cup Team; a win on Sunday would guarantee it.
Against Turner, Leng made six birdies, including the aforementioned four straight holes to close out the match. On the 119-yard 13th, he almost had a walk-off hole-in-one, hitting a sand wedge to less than a foot for a birdie.
Should Leng defeat Reilly it would guarantee him a spot in next year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and a likely invitation to the Masters.
“That would mean the world,” said Leng. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about this week. I’m not really going to let that affect my game. I’m just going to play my game, and whatever happens happens.”
Meanwhile, when Loflin arrived at the first tee for his showdown with Pleasanton’s Knight, he was shocked at the number of people on the grounds. Knight opened with a birdie, but Loflin answered with a winning par at the second. Then Knight won Holes 3 and 4 with pars as Loflin tried to grind his way back into the match. It all began with a chip-in par at the difficult fifth hole, and then consecutive birdies at 7 and 8 pushed him into the lead for good.
“Probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done, to be completely honest with you,” said Loflin of the chip-in. “I can’t even remember the last time I chipped in, and that one was pretty good.”
Birdies on 10 and 13 pushed the margin to 3 up, and when Knight failed to convert his 8-foot par putt on the No. 16, the match was over.