Emerging amateurs highlight future of golf at U.S. Open

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Five amateur golfers, including University of Oklahoma’s Ryder Cowan, made the cut and advanced to the weekend rounds at the U.S. Open, the highest number since 2015. Their strong performances highlight the rising depth of American golf talent and suggest these players could become future major contenders.

A group of five amateurs made a notable impact at this year’s U.S. Open, showcasing the potential next generation of American golf talent as they continued their rounds at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club over the weekend. This marks the most amateurs to make the cut at the U.S. Open since 2015, raising expectations about their future in the sport.

Among the group is Ryder Cowan, a member of the University of Oklahoma golf team, who is competing in his first major. Entering the third round’s eighth hole, Cowan stood at 1 over par, seven shots behind leader Wyndham Clark. Fellow amateurs Miles Russell, Jackson Koivun, Eric Lee, and Marek Fleming also advanced, with Russell and Koivun both posting 4 over for the round. Lee totaled 12 over for the tournament after finishing the day 8 over, while Fleming matched the 4-over score.

Jonathan Moore, head coach of Oklahoma’s golf team and a former amateur himself, drew parallels between the current cohort and the distinguished 2007 Walker Cup team he was part of, which included Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, and Webb Simpson. That group went on to win major championships and achieve top rankings, with Johnson and Rory McIlroy ascending to world No. 1 status. Moore expressed confidence that Cowan and the other amateurs could follow a similar trajectory.

During the tournament, Cowan briefly led the field after shooting 3 under through 10 holes, a feat Moore described as “surreal” given the competitive context and time of day.

Jackson Koivun, who recently turned professional after three seasons at Auburn University and was formerly ranked No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, returned to the weekend stage after missing the cut by a single stroke at last year’s U.S. Open. His coach, Nick Clinard, highlighted Koivun’s determination following that close call and praised his current performance as a sign of the promising future ahead for American golf.

Miles Russell, currently the top-ranked player in the American Junior Golf Association, showed steady play, including a critical par save from a bunker on the sixth hole. Despite his strong performance, Russell remained measured about expectations. “Golf is a very difficult sport,” he said, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the game and the importance of focusing on consistent effort rather than future projections.

The presence of these amateurs on the weekend leaderboard brought renewed attention to the strength of emerging talent in American golf. As the tournament progressed, their performances underscored a potential shift toward a new generation poised to contend in major championships in the years to come.