Florida State University Athletics
Whaley Earns U.S. Amateur Championship Berth
8/15/2026 6:13:00 PM | Men's Golf
ARDMORE, Pa. - The Florida State men's golf rising senior Jack Whaley won his semifinal match on Saturday at the U.S. Amateur Championship, which is being held at the Merion Golf Club.
Â
Whaley becomes the first Seminole to appear in the final since Drew Kittleson in 2008, when the tournament was hosted at Pinehurst.
Â
Representing England, Whaley advances to the final on Sunday, against No. 15 Jay Leng of Stanford for 36 holes, starting at 9 a.m. The afternoon will air at 3 p.m. on Peacock and coverage will shift to NBC from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Â
On Saturday in the semifinal, Whaley started the day winning the first two holes against No. 8 Carter Loflin behind a pair of birdies to go 2 Up. He added another point on No. 6 with a birdie, moving to 3 Up. Loflin battled back within one after the ninth, but Whaley answered with birdies at No. 10 and No. 12 to move back to 3 Up. Loflin followed with a birdie on the 13th and par on the 15th, cutting into Whaley's lead, 1 Up. Â Loflin tied it after the 17th, with one hole in regulation to play.
Â
With the pressure on, Whaley outlasted Loflin to win the 18th, finishing 1 Up.
Â
Since his arrival at Florida State in August of 2025, Whaley has moved up over 200 spots in the World Golf Amateur Rankings, where he currently sits 90th. Â This summer, Whaley competed in three tournaments, finishing 21st at the Western Amateur with a score of 10-under, 274 after carding rounds of 68, 69, 71 and 66. He also placed 33rd at the European Amateur at 1-over, 285 and competed at the British Amateur. Â Â
Â
For more information on Florida State men's golf, visit Instagram (fsumensgolf), X (FSUGolf) and Facebook (FSUMensGolf).
Â
U.S. Amateur Match Play : 5-0
Round of 64: Jack Whaley def. No. 5 Jackson Ormond  (Florida)– 1 Up, 22 holes
Round of 32: Jack Whaley def. No. 37 Bowen Mauss (Arizona State) – 2&1
Round of 16: Jack Whaley def. No. 53 Christian Cavliere – 3&4
Quarterfinal: Jack Whaley def. No. 29 Adam Bresnu (Texas Tech) – 5&4
Semifinal: Jack Whaley def. No. 8 Carter Loflin – 1 Up
Â
Â
Whaley becomes the first Seminole to appear in the final since Drew Kittleson in 2008, when the tournament was hosted at Pinehurst.
Â
Representing England, Whaley advances to the final on Sunday, against No. 15 Jay Leng of Stanford for 36 holes, starting at 9 a.m. The afternoon will air at 3 p.m. on Peacock and coverage will shift to NBC from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Â
On Saturday in the semifinal, Whaley started the day winning the first two holes against No. 8 Carter Loflin behind a pair of birdies to go 2 Up. He added another point on No. 6 with a birdie, moving to 3 Up. Loflin battled back within one after the ninth, but Whaley answered with birdies at No. 10 and No. 12 to move back to 3 Up. Loflin followed with a birdie on the 13th and par on the 15th, cutting into Whaley's lead, 1 Up. Â Loflin tied it after the 17th, with one hole in regulation to play.
Â
With the pressure on, Whaley outlasted Loflin to win the 18th, finishing 1 Up.
Â
Since his arrival at Florida State in August of 2025, Whaley has moved up over 200 spots in the World Golf Amateur Rankings, where he currently sits 90th. Â This summer, Whaley competed in three tournaments, finishing 21st at the Western Amateur with a score of 10-under, 274 after carding rounds of 68, 69, 71 and 66. He also placed 33rd at the European Amateur at 1-over, 285 and competed at the British Amateur. Â Â
Â
For more information on Florida State men's golf, visit Instagram (fsumensgolf), X (FSUGolf) and Facebook (FSUMensGolf).
Â
U.S. Amateur Match Play : 5-0
Round of 64: Jack Whaley def. No. 5 Jackson Ormond  (Florida)– 1 Up, 22 holes
Round of 32: Jack Whaley def. No. 37 Bowen Mauss (Arizona State) – 2&1
Round of 16: Jack Whaley def. No. 53 Christian Cavliere – 3&4
Quarterfinal: Jack Whaley def. No. 29 Adam Bresnu (Texas Tech) – 5&4
Semifinal: Jack Whaley def. No. 8 Carter Loflin – 1 Up
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
Saturday, August 15
Saturday, August 15
Friday, August 14
Thursday, August 13