ALTERNATE WINS US JUNIOR AMATEUR

A few weeks ago Noah Maclauchlan was first alternate at his qualifying site for the US Junior Amateur, ranked 2,047th in the world and a chance of playing in the US Junior Amateur Championships at Saucon Valley Country Club was just a dream.

Well sometimes dreams can come true…….four days after qualifying for the Junior Amateur a young man named Rawlin Sutter goes and wins the Alabama State Junior, the win gives him automatic entry to the US Junior Amateur so suddenly first alternate Maclauchlan finds himself in the field.

A few weeks later the 18-year-old from Virginia beats the No. 7 ranked player in the world Miles Russel 6 & 5 over 31-holes in the final to claim the title, causing one of the biggest upsets in the Championships 78 year history.

“Yeah, I owe Rawlin Sutter a special thanks. I’m sure I’ll text him later and probably give him a call. Yeah, it was pretty surreal. Actually he was at the qualifier that we all played in, drove in the middle of the night, no sleep, and then won the Junior Championship four days later. Pretty unreal stuff from the kid.”

“No, it hasn’t really sunk in. I knew I had kind of a 50/50 chance. Didn’t really expect have much, so to be here now as a U.S. Junior champion still hasn’t sunk in.”

“I don’t really have words right now. It’s pretty surreal. Pretty unbelievable to call myself a U.S. Junior champion. To have my name next to all the legends that have won this including Tiger’s and so many more is so special.”

Indeed he is the first winner to hoist the new “Tiger Woods Trophy” aloft……. It’s unbelievable. Is this the first year it’s the Tiger Woods trophy? Yeah, I’m honored to win the Tiger Woods Trophy for the first year. It’s awesome.”

Now he has the added bonus of a spot in the field of the 2027 US Open at Pebble Beach…….dreams do come true!!!!

Photo: Noah Maclauchlan poses with the newly named Tiger Woods Trophy after winning the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur at Saucon Valley C.C.. (Ishika Samant/USGA)