HOMETOWN BOY JOSHUA RYAN LEADING QUALIFIER AT US AMATEUR

Golfer's Companion August 12, 2026 2 min read

Philadelphia is a big sports town and loves nothing more than a hometown hero to support.

Now they have local boy Joshua Ryan to root for this week as he finished leading medalist in the stroke-play qualifying for the US Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club and heads into matchplay after he produced a near-record breaking performance, posting a 36-hole total of 8-under 132.

The 22-year-old, who grew up 10.5 miles from this week’s venue, followed up Monday’s 3-under 67 at stroke-play co-host Philadelphia Country Club with a 5-under 65 at Merion on Tuesday to edge 2026 USA Walker Cup competitor Tyler Watts by two strokes.

Ryan’s total was one off the championship record set by Hayden Wood, son of PGA Tour winner and 1977 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Willie Wood, in 2017 at The Riviera Country Club and co-host Bel-Air C.C., in Los Angeles. Seven others have posted 132

Play was suspended for darkness at 8:09 p.m. with a handful of competitors still on the course at Merion. Every player finished their second round at stroke-play co-host Philadelphia Country Club.

The cut for match play came at 2-over 142. A playoff for the final match-play spots will take place after the second round concludes Wednesday. The exact number has yet to be determined.

Making the short commute hasn’t hurt Ryan. He has been living off mom’s cooking, including chicken parmigiana on Monday night. Plus, he’s coming off winning the Pennsylvania Amateur at Oakmont, a 10-time U.S. Open host site and arguably the toughest venue in America.

“It’s awesome,” said Ryan of the crowd support. “There’s a lot of people who’ve never seen me play who were able to get out to [watch me] play this week. So … it was super special. [Some] guys took a bus over here this morning.”

“There’s no experience like staying in my own bed, eating my mom’s food. And just excited to be [playing] my style of golf, too.”

Photo: Joshua Ryan watches his tee shot at the seventh hole. (Ishika Samant/USGA)