Maclauchlan, Russell Reach US Junior Amateur Final After 1-Up and 2-and-1 Wins

Q: Will a miraculous underdog run by an alternate finally shatter the dominance of a top-ranked prodigy at the U.S. Junior Amateur?

Yes — Noah Maclauchlan has a real chance to pull it off, but Miles Russell remains the clear favorite. Maclauchlan’s run is the definition of an underdog story. The 18-year-old from Virginia got into the field only as the first alternate, slipped into match play as the No. 49 seed, and then beat top seed Brayden Jones before edging Cooper Moore in the semifinals. He has shown exactly what wins in match play: timely birdies, nerve under pressure, and resilience late in rounds. His brother Liam on the bag has also been part of that steadying formula. Still, Russell arrives with the stronger case. The 17-year-old Floridian is one of the most accomplished juniors in the world, ranked No. 7 in WAGR, a co-medalist in stroke play, and already a U.S. Open cut-maker. His semifinal form was exceptional: two eagles, five birdies, and 14 under over 30 holes on Friday. He beat Tyler Mawhinney, who himself played superbly, and did it with the kind of controlled, explosive golf that suggests Russell is peaking at the right time. The evidence points to Russell’s edge in pedigree, ranking, and recent scoring firepower. But match play compresses those advantages, and Maclauchlan has already proved he is comfortable upsetting bigger names. If he keeps the final close and turns it into a pressure test deep into the 36 holes, the alternate’s Cinderella run could absolutely end Russell’s bid. The upset would be stunning, not impossible.

3 articles · Updated · 69News WFMZ-TV · Jul 25

Noah Maclauchlan and Miles Russell advanced to Saturday's US Junior Amateur championship match in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with the final set for 8 a.m.
Maclauchlan earned his place by beating Cooper Moore by 1 hole, while Russell defeated Tyler Mawhinney 2-and-1 in the other semifinal.
A champion will be crowned Saturday in the final round of the US Junior Amateur.