Updated Aug. 13, 2026, 7:43 p.m. ET
ARDMORE, PA — The first half of a marathon Thursday at the 2026 U.S. Amateur is in the books.
The Round of 32 has wrapped up at Merion Golf Club, and only 16 players are left with a chance to place their hands on the Havemeyer Trophy come week’s end. However, that number will be eight by Thursday night.
Follow the Round of 16 at the 2026 U.S. Amateur on Thursday for live updates, highlights, leaderboard, scores and more.
Editor’s note: Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan is following all the action from Merion. You can follow along on his social media (X/Twitter, Instagram) and check out Thursday morning’s coverage.
U.S. Amateur live leaderboard
Click here to follow scores from the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Explore how to live where you love to play Access community guides, golf real estate insights, trusted agent connections, and content built for passionate golfers. Logan Reilly advances in 20 holes
The Auburn sophomore is moving on. He outlasts OU senior Ryder Cowan on the 20th hole, winning with a par.
Ryder Cowan has won consecutive holes to force extras. On to the par-4 14th.
Michael Lugiano hangs on to win
The lone Pennsylvanian left is moving on into the quarters. He takes down Drake Harvey 1 up after a stellar chip on the 18th green.
Jay Leng Jr. takes out World No. 3
Down goes Tyler Watts, the No. 2 seed and third-ranked amateur in the world. Jay Leng Jr., the Western Amateur champion, is now 7-0 in match play over the past three weeks and is into the quarterfinals.
Another quarterfinal is set. Carter Loflin knocks off World No. 5 William Jennings in 19 holes.
Brandon Knight survives and advances
Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Brandon Knight had a will to win his Round of 15 match against Gaven Lane. He didn’t lead for a single hole the entire match but wins on the 18th hole with a bogey to punch his quarterfinal ticket.
Adam Bresnu will take on Jack Whaley in the second quarterfinal match. Whaley, the Englishman, knocks off mid-am Christian Cavaliere 4 and 3 to move on.
First quarterfinal spot secured
Adam Bresnu has a dominant victory against Max Herendeen, winning 5 and 4 to advance into the quarterfinals at the U.S. Amateur.
Multiple big leads on the back nine
Adam Bresnu and Jack Whaley each lead their matches 4 up on the back nine. Bresnu is 4 ahead of Max Herendeen on the 13th while Whaley is 4 up on the lone mid-amateur, Christian Cavaliere, thru 10 holes. Jack Turner is also four up on his Florida teammate Joshua Bai thru 10.
How about a bomb to tie up the match? That’s what Jay Leng Jr. did on the seventh.
In perhaps the biggest Round of 16 matchup, Tyler Watts is 2 up on Western Amateur champion Jay Leng after winning both par 5s. This matchup is likely to be a heavyweight bout.
Logan Reilly wins final Round of 32 match
Logan Reilly likes coming from behind. He was 1 down with one hole to play in the Round of 64 before winning in extra holes. On Thursday morning, he was 2 down with eight to play against Evan Liu but came back to win, 2 and 1. Now, the sophomore at Auburn gets Oklahoma senior Ryder Cowan in the final Round of 16 match.
Gaven Lane off to hot start again
When the week started, Gaven Lane was probably not the Oklahoma State player many people thought would be the lone player alive come the Round of 16. And here we are, with Lane as the lone Poke at Merion trying to make a run. similar to Thursday morning, he’s off to a hot start again in the afternoon, leading 2 up after 3 against Colorado senior Brandon Knight.
U.S. Amateur Thursday Round of 16 tee times1:15 p.m.: No. 33 Gaven Lane vs. No. 48 Brandon Knight1:25 p.m.: No. 8 Carter Loflin vs. No. 56 William Jennings1:35 p.m.: No. 29 Adam Bresnu vs. No. 20 Max Herendeen1:45 p.m.: No. 60 Jack Whaley vs. No. 53 Christian Cavaliere1:55 p.m.: No. 2 Tyler Watts vs. No. 15 Jay Leng Jr.2:05 p.m.: No. 7 Jack Turner vs. No. 55 Joshua Bai2:45 p.m.: No. 3 Drake Harvey vs. No. 19 Michael Lugiano2:55 p.m.: No. 59 Ryder Cowan vs. No. 11 Logan ReillyWhere to watch U.S. Amateur 2026, TV informationThursday, Aug. 13Round of 16: Peacock/NBCSN, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.Friday, Aug. 14Quarterfinals: Peacock/NBCSN, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.Saturday, Aug. 15Semifinals: Peacock, 3 p.m.-4 p.m.Semifinals: NBC, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.Sunday, Aug. 16Championship Match (Afternoon 18), Peacock, 3 p.m.-4 p.m.Championship Match (Afternoon 18): NBC/Peacock, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.Watch the U.S. Amateur on PeacockWhat winner of U.S. Amateur receivesA gold medalCustody of the Havemeyer Trophy for one yearExemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. AmateursExemption into 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf LinksExemption into 2027 Open Championship, conducted by The R&A, on the Old Course at St. Andrews (must be an amateur)Likely invitation into 2027 Masters Tournament (must be an amateur)Name engraved into 2026 USGA Champions’ plaque that resides in the USGA Museum’s Hall of Champions in Liberty Corner, New JerseyU.S. Amateur tickets
Tickets must be purchased to attend.
U.S. Amateur future sites2027: Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, N.Y. (Aug. 9-15)2028: Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wis. (Aug. 14-20)2029: Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio (Aug. 13-19)2030: Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Ga. (Aug. 12-18)2031: The Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tenn. (Aug. 11-17)2032: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore. (Aug. 9-15)2033: Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash. (Aug. 15-21)2034: The Country Club, Brookline, Mass. (Aug. 14-20)2035: Erin Hills, Erin, Wis. (Aug. 13-19)2036: Scioto Country Club. Columbus, Ohio (Aug. 11-17)2038: Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 2), Village of Pinehurst, N.C. (Dates TBD)2039: Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J. (Dates TBD)2041: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore. (Dates TBD)2042: The Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, N.J. (Dates TBD)2047: Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (Dates TBD)2051: Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pa. (Dates TBD)
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amate