Jay Leng Jr. did not wait for Merion Golf Club to manufacture another late match-play twist.
He birdied four consecutive holes, nearly aced the par-3 13th and ended Jack Turner’s U.S. Amateur run before their quarterfinal ever reached Merion’s treacherous closing stretch.
That emphatic 6-and-5 victory captured the tone of Friday afternoon.
The opening three days of the 126th U.S. Amateur produced extra holes, late reversals and enough match-play turbulence to eliminate the medalist, defending champion and every top-six seed. The quarterfinals brought something different: separation.
Four matches required only 57 total holes, the fewest at this stage of the championship since 2002. None reached the 17th tee.
When the brisk afternoon was finished, Leng, Jack Whaley, Carter Loflin and Logan Reilly were left standing. Each is one victory from Sunday’s 36-hole championship match and everything that comes with it.
Merion Golf Club | Final Four
Saturday’s U.S. Amateur Semifinals
One victory separates each player from Sunday’s 36-hole championship match.
2 p.m. ET
No. 8 Carter Loflin
vs.
No. 60 Jack Whaley
2:20 p.m. ET
No. 15 Jay Leng Jr.
vs.
No. 11 Logan Reilly
Watch: Peacock from 3 to 4 p.m. ET, followed by NBC from 4 to 6 p.m.
Friday Brings Separation, Not Suspense
Leng’s four-birdie finish was the most explosive closing stretch, but it was hardly the only convincing performance.
Whaley never lost a hole during a 5-and-4 victory over Adam Bresnu, whose run made him the first Moroccan golfer to reach the quarterfinals of a USGA championship. Whaley made birdies on the first two holes, won the third with a par and added another birdie at the eighth to build a 4-up advantage.
Reilly ended Pennsylvania native Michael Lugiano’s crowd-pleasing week with a 6-and-4 victory.
Lugiano had won each of his first three matches 1 up, all decided at the 18th. He also became the first Golf Association of Philadelphia player to reach the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals since Merion member George “Buddy” Marucci in 1996.
There would be no fourth trip to the final green.
Reilly won three consecutive holes beginning at the 10th, then added birdies at Nos. 13 and 14 to finish the match. He handled the largest gallery of the day as comfortably as he handled Merion.
“I actually really enjoyed it,” Reilly said. “I loved how many people there were out there. Just gave me a little extra motivation, honestly.”
Loflin produced the closest match of the afternoon, although even that ended on the 16th. He recovered from an early 2-down deficit against Brandon Knight, chipped in for par at the difficult fifth and made consecutive birdies at Nos. 7 and 8 to take a lead he never relinquished.
His 3-and-2 victory completed a final four that includes the No. 8, 11, 15 and 60 seeds.
The famous names and pre-championship favorites have largely disappeared. What remains is not a random collection of survivors. Friday showed four players whose games are increasingly suited to the moment.
Leng’s Summer Has Become a Statement
Few amateur golfers have assembled a stronger summer than Leng.
The Stanford rising junior won the Western Amateur two weeks ago after finishing second at the Northeast Amateur and tying for fifth at the Southern Amateur. His path through Merion has included victories over 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Evan Beck, world No. 3 Tyler Watts and Turner, the highest remaining seed entering Friday.
Leng made six birdies against Turner. His final four came consecutively, culminating with a sand wedge that stopped less than a foot from the hole at the 119-yard 13th.
“I’m pretty much firing at every pin and trying to make as many birdies as possible,” Leng said. “I know if I’m somewhat close, I should have a chance. My putting has been really good this whole week.”
A victory Sunday would make Leng the 10th player to win the Western Amateur and U.S. Amateur in the same year. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Lanny Wadkins, Justin Leonard and Hal Sutton are among those who accomplished the double. Danny Lee was the most recent in 2008.
First, Leng must get through Reilly.
The Auburn rising sophomore has traveled a more demanding path through the match-play bracket. Reilly needed 19 holes to defeat Emile Lebrun in the Round of 64 and 20 holes to eliminate U.S. Open co-low amateur Ryder Cowan in the Round of 16.
Friday was different. Reilly took control before Lugiano and the local gallery had an opportunity to create another back-nine rally.
His arrival in the semifinals should not be considered surprising. Reilly qualified for the U.S. Open, reached the semifinals of the Western Amateur and tied for fifth at the Northeast Amateur. He also clinched the deciding point when Auburn defeated UCLA for the NCAA championship.
Leng and Reilly are not simply the two hottest players remaining at Merion. Their summers have been pointing toward a match like this.
Whaley and Loflin Arrived Through Different Routes
Whaley needed a 16-for-11 playoff Wednesday morning just to enter the match-play bracket. He nearly holed his tee shot at the 13th during that playoff, watching the ball spin back and lip out before settling close enough for a tap-in birdie.
He has since won four matches.
Whaley was competing at the NAIA level for Dalton State only 15 months ago, earning the Jack Nicklaus Award as the division’s player of the year. He transferred to Florida State for the 2025-26 season and now finds himself one victory from the U.S. Amateur final.
His Merion run has also placed him firmly in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup conversation.
“I just want to play golf,” Whaley said. “I’ve just got to let my golf talk.”
Loflin’s path has been steadier but no less compelling.
The former Georgia standout is the highest remaining seed at No. 8. He has also benefited from having Jack Hopkins, a Merion caddie for 35 years, on his bag.
Hopkins’ understanding of Merion’s greens and preferred angles has given Loflin another layer of confidence on a course where uncertainty can quickly become expensive.
“This must be what Scottie feels like having Ted Scott on his bag,” Loflin said. “You feel like you’re saving shots before you even start.”
Whaley’s momentum meets Loflin’s local knowledge in Saturday’s first semifinal. Leng and Reilly follow in a matchup between two of the summer’s most accomplished amateur players.
One Win Changes Everything
What Saturday’s Winners Receive
Pebble Beach
Both finalists earn exemptions into the 2027 U.S. Open.
Augusta
Both finalists are likely to receive Masters invitations if they remain amateurs.
36 Holes
Sunday’s championship match begins at 9 a.m. ET at Merion.
Already secured: All four semifinalists are exempt into the next two U.S. Amateurs at Oak Hill and Whistling Straits.
One More Victory Changes the Calendar
Loflin and Whaley begin Saturday’s semifinals at 2 p.m. ET. Leng and Reilly follow at 2:20.
NBC’s weekend coverage begins on Peacock from 3 to 4 p.m., then moves to NBC from 4 to 6 p.m.
All four semifinalists are already exempt into the next two U.S. Amateurs, scheduled for Oak Hill Country Club in 2027 and Whistling Straits in 2028.
The next victory carries considerably more.
Both finalists will receive exemptions into the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and are expected to receive invitations to the Masters, provided they remain amateurs. Sunday’s winner will also earn an exemption into the 2027 Open Championship at the Old Course at St. Andrews and qualifying exemptions for the next 10 U.S. Amateurs.
Merion spent most of the week asking players to survive. Friday demanded something more decisive.
Four players answered. By Saturday evening, two of them will have championship tee times, places at Pebble Beach and likely invitations to Augusta National.
PGA of America Golf Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer who serves as Athlon Sports Senior Golf Writer. Read his recent “The Starter” on R.org, where he is their Lead Golf Writer. To stay updated on all of his latest work, sign up for his newsletter or visit his MuckRack Profile.
