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GERARDO RIQUELME – FMC
Updated
August 18, 2024 is already written in gold letters in the history of Spanish golf. Josele Ballester, from Castellón, which blew 21 candles On the appointed day he conquered the US Amateurthe most important amateur tournament in the world, which was held in HazeltineChaska, Minnesota.
The Spaniard defeated Noah in the final Kent19-year-old American, second year at the University of Iowain a final to 36 holes played in the hole won mode, by two of difference, and one achieved precisely in the last. Despite this, domino from the start and was always ahead. Two birdies and a mistake by Kent, much less accustomed to games of this kind transcendencein the first four holes they opened a comfortable difference of three knocks, that Ballester knew how to endure and expand four before the lunch break.
There could have been sentenced the triumph before the limit because he reached the hole 30 with Four up and six to go to be played. However, from holes 29 to 34 the American won three holes and reduced his disadvantage to only one. José Luis sentenced by winning the last hole.
Josele is the son of Jose Luis, Olympic swimmer Seoul 88and Sonia Barrio,Olympic champion dand Barcelona 92 in hockeyand that’s it European Champion amateur in 2023.
Excellent puncher, student of Victor Garcia, the father of Sergioat the Golf Club of MediterraneanBallester faces the last course of Sports Sciences in Arizona State, the university that has defined talents like Jon RahmAdri Arnaus, David Puig, Azahara MuñozCharlotte Ciganda. with this victory he will get a place in the US Open, the Masters in Augusta and the British Open, who already played in 2023, although he will have to retain amateur status to do so.
Men’s golf thus manages to complete all possible titles. Rahm won the World from Japan 2014; Jose Maria Olazabal He was the first in a list of golfers who conquered the British Amateur (Sergio GarciaAlexander Larrazabal…); Alexander Cañizares raised the title of champion of the NCAA in 2003 and now Ballester joins the group of chosen ones with the most resounding victory at the moment in the amateur field, the trophy that Tiger Woods won thrice (1994, 95 and 96) before making the leap to professional.
