U.S. Open 2026: Jackson Koivun leads the 20 amateurs competing this week at Shinnecock Hills
There are a whopping 20 amateurs in the field this week at the U.S. Open, and a win for one of them isn’t totally out of the question.
It just hasn’t happened in a very, very long time.
An amateur has won the U.S. Open fives times in the event’s history, most recently with John Goodman’s win in 1933. Now, close to 100 years later, golf is very different.
But there are several amateurs in the field this week at Shinnecock Hills outside of New York who are worth keeping an eye on. Jackson Koivun is the top-ranked amateur in the world, and he’s going to turn pro after this week. He’s helped lead Auburn to two national titles, and is currently ranked No. 28 in the world in true strokes gained. He also holds a 68.89 scoring average, which is the best in NCAA history.
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There’s also Miles Russell, a high schooler who won his local qualifier with Charlie Woods on the bag for him. The pair will head to Florida State in 2027. Preston Stout, who will be the top-ranked amateur in the world once Koivun turns pro, won a national title himself earlier this year. And 39-year-old Remax real estate broker Brandon Holtz is back, too.
Here’s a look at the 20 amateurs competing this week at the U.S. Open:
Amateurs at the U.S. Open
Jackson Koivun
From: Auburn
Qualification: McCormack Medal winner
This is Jackson Koivun’s final event as an amateur. This marks his second straight U.S. Open start. He helped lead Auburn to a pair of national titles in his first three years with the program.
Miles Russell
From: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Qualification: Local qualifier
Miles Russell is the top-ranked junior golfer in the world, and he won his qualifier in a playoff to earn a spot in the field this week. Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, was on the bag for him in that qualifier, too. Both Russell and Charlie will attend Florida State in 2027, though Charlie will not be on his bag this week.
Preston Stout
From: Oklahoma State
Qualification: NCAA men’s individual champion
Preston Stout won the NCAA individual championship earlier this season with the Cowboys, which earned him his spot in the field this week, and he’ll soon be the top-ranked amateur in the world.
Hamilton Coleman
From: Georgia
Qualification: U.S. Junior Amateur champion
Hamilton Coleman won the U.S. Junior Amateur last year to earn his spot in the U.S. Open. The 18-year-old also won the AJGA’s Junior Players Championship and is a member of the U.S. National Junior team.
Brandon Holtz
From: Bloomington, Illinois
Qualification: U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Brandon Holtz is back. The 39-year-old Remax real estate broker out of Bloomington, Illinois, who played basketball at Illinois State, won the U.S. Mid-Amateur last year, which is the amateur tournament for golfers older than 25. He was one of the oldest amateurs to tee it up at the Masters earlier this year, too.
Mason Howell
From: Georgia
Qualification: U.S. Amateur champion
After winning the U.S. Amateur as a high school junior last year, Mason Howell is back for a second straight U.S. Open start. He played alongside Rory McIlroy in the first two rounds of the Masters earlier this spring, too.
Ryder Cowan
From: Oklahoma
Qualification: Local qualifier
Ryder Cowan won an event in Hawaii earlier this season with the Sooners, and he’s earned a spot in the last three U.S. Amateurs.
Jackson Herrington
From: Tennessee
Qualification: U.S. Amateur runner-up
After finishing in second at the U.S. Amateur, Jackson Herrington also played at the Masters earlier this season.
Ethan Fang
From: Oklahoma State
Qualification: British Amateur champion
Ethan Fang won first-team All-American honors with the Cowboys before claiming the British Amateur title in 2025. That earned him a spot in the Masters earlier this season, too.
Marek Fleming
From: South Carolina
Qualification: Local qualifier
Marek Fleming will be a junior at South Carolina this fall, and is making his first U.S. Open start this summer.
Bryan Lee
From: Virginia
Qualification: Alternate
Lee was a late addition to the field after he was named the first alternate from his qualification site. This will mark his second straight U.S. Open.
Vaughn Harber
From: Ohio State
Qualification: Local qualifier
Vaughn Harber will be a junior at Ohio State this fall, and is making his first U.S. Open start.
Chase Kyes
From: Tennessee
Qualification: Local qualifier
Chase Kyes, who will be a sophomore at Tennessee this fall, is making his first U.S. Open start.
Eric Lee
From: Oklahoma State
Qualification: Local qualifier
Eric Lee is the No. 27 ranked Amateur in the world, and he helped lead the Cowboys to the national championship in 2025.
Jackson Ormond
From: Florida
Qualification: Local qualifier
Jackson Ormond will play for Florida this fall. He earned medalist honors at his initial qualifier, and then secured his spot in the U.S. Open at final qualifying in North Carolina.
Arni Sveinsson
From: LSU
Qualification: Local qualifier
Arni Sveinnson will be a junior at LSU this fall, and is now competing in his first U.S. Open.
Mateo Pulcini
From: Argentina
Qualification: Latin America Amateur champion
Mateo Pulcini became the oldest Latin American Amateur winner earlier this year when he claimed the event in a playoff. The 25-year-old used to compete for Arkansas before graduating.
Giuseppe Puebla
From: West Palm Beach, Florida
Qualification: Local Qualifier
Giuseppe Puebla will be a senior in high school this fall. He’s a member of the U.S. national junior team, and has already committed to play at Florida in 2027.
Logan Reilly
From: Auburn
Qualification: Local qualifier
Logan Reilly is fresh off leading the Tigers to a national championship earlier this year, where he sank the clinching putt.
Matthew Robles
From: Santa Clara
Qualification: Local qualifier
Matthew Robles will be a junior at Santa Clara this fall, and will be competing in his first U.S. Open.
