LENG INTO LAST EIGHT OF US AMATEUR

Jay Leng Jnr is having an amazing 2026 on the US amateur golf circuit, winning the prestigious Western Amateur, runner-up in the Northeast Amateur, tied fifth in the Southern Amateur and now he is into the last eight of the US Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club.

The 20-year-old Stanford University Junior defeated second-seeded Tyler Watts, 1-up, to reach the quarter-finals, “I knew it was going to be a battle out there from the beginning,” said Leng, who hopes to be one of the last six selections to the USA Walker Cup Team, but a victory on Sunday would guarantee him a spot. “I’ve played with Tyler enough to know how good he is and what he’s capable of.”

As for the Walker Cup spot, he added: “There’s a lot to play for in the U.S. Am in general. There’s no need to add any extra pressure.”

He is joined in the final eight by Brandon Knight, 21, of Pleasanton, Calif.; Carter Loflin, 22, of Duluth, Ga.; Adam Bresnu, 22, of Morocco, Jack Whaley, 22, of England; Jack Turner, 22, of Orlando, Fla.; local favorite Michael Lugiano, of Jackson Township, Pa.; and Logan Reilly, 19, of Lovettsville, Va.

Photo: Jay Leng Jr. makes his putt at the 12th hole during the round of 16 of the 2026 U.S. Amateur . (Dustin Satloff/USGA)