CHASKA, Minn. — University of Iowa sophomore Noah Kent has had an interesting week in which he earned invites to The Masters and the U.S. Open while chasing the Hawkeyes first ever U.S. Amateur title as he competed in his first ever U.S. Golf Association (USGA) tournament.
However, he would take runner-up in the tournament in which he would fall to the first ever Spaniard to win the event: 21-year-old Jose Luis Ballester.
Ballester came into the tournament ranked 10th in the world in amateur standings while Kent stood at 560th.
Sunday, the two went head-to-head in the 36 holes of match play for the tournament finals, teeing off together at 7:15 a.m.
After the first 18 holes, Kent was four shots back from Ballester who was even on the round.
On the second 18 of the day, Kent was able to cut his deficit to two early through both a chip-in on hole 19 and an eagle putt on hole 25.
After a back-and-forth struggle into the deeper part of the round, Kent was able to win hole 34 to make the deficit a single stroke.
Both would par hole 35, and Ballester would win hole 36 to win the tournament.
Ballester joins John Rahm as the only Spaniards to ever win a USGA tournament.
Both Ballester and Kent will receive invites to The Masters and U.S. Open due to their finishes Sunday.
Kent will begin preparation for his 2024-2025 sophomore collegiate season.
