If you told me at the start of the week not one top 10 ranked (WAGR) male golfer would make the quarter finals I would not believe it but that is what has happened at the 2026 U.S. Amateur.

Here are how the top ten amateur golfers fared at the championship:

#1 Preston Stout – Missed the cut (+6) and did not make it to match play.

#2 Tyler Weaver – Did not compete due to a back injury.

#3 Tyler Watts – Made it to match play and lost in the round of 16; 1 down to Jay Leng, jr.

#4 Miles Russell – He was my favorite (#1 Jr in world) but shockingly lost in the round of 64 going 19 holes against Ryder Cowan (#8 WAGR). It was a very exciting match to watch.

#5 Williams Jennings – He is from Greenville, SC so I was cheering for him but he lost in the round of 16 to Carter Loftin going 19 holes.

#6 Luck Poulter – Yes, the son of Ian Poulter. He shot +6. He had a chance to go to match play but in the playoff (stroke play) he did not secure one of the 11 spots (out of 16 players in the playoff).

#7 Josiah Gilbert – Lost by 3 with 2 holes to play in round of 64 to Zackary Swanwick

#8 Ryder Cowan – Played well but lost in 20 holes to Logan Reilly (Ranked #47 in WAGR). After Cowan took out Miles Russell in the round of 64 I thought he might win it all.

#9 Ethan Fang – Missed the cut (+5). He was a player that the press made a big deal about a few years ago but he has not lived up to their hype.

#10 Tim Wiedermeyer – from Germany; Missed the cut (+4)

So, of the 8 men that have made the quarter finals today (Friday, August 14, 2026) the highest ranked golfer is Jack Turner ranked 19th. Turner is a senior at University of Florida (Gators). The next highest ranked (WAGR #23) is Jay Leng, Jr. (a junior at Standford University).

Logic would say that Jay Leng is now the betting man’s favorite because he took out #3 in the world (and #2 seed in the match play standings), Tyler Watts. And Leng has been playing well all season most recently winning the Western Amateur. But given how this championship has been going, I have no idea who will lift the trophy on Sunday.