Updated

Updated · golfchannel.com · Jul 24

Miles Russell Reaches U.S. Junior Amateur Final With 2-and-1 Win as Modern Slam Nears

Updated

Updated · golfchannel.com · Jul 24

Miles Russell Reaches U.S. Junior Amateur Final With 2-and-1 Win as Modern Slam Nears

Q: Will a heavy favorite secure a historic junior golf slam, or can an unexpected alternate pull off the ultimate championship upset?

Miles Russell should be favored to finish the job, but match play leaves real upset room for Noah Maclauchlan. Russell arrives with the strongest case in junior golf. He is the world’s No. 7 amateur, already a 2026 Walker Cup pick, and has won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, Junior Players and Junior PGA. A U.S. Junior Amateur title would give him the modern junior slam, something no player has completed. His form at Saucon Valley has matched the résumé: he was 14 under through 30 holes Friday, made two eagles and five birdies in the semifinals, and beat Tyler Mawhinney even though Mawhinney played 7 under in 17 holes. Russell also has shown he can produce the decisive shot under pressure, most notably the chip-in eagle at the 13th that turned the semifinal. Maclauchlan, though, is not just a feel-good alternate story. He has already knocked off top competition in this bracket, including co-medalist Brayden Jones, and survived a series of tight match-play tests, including a 1-up semifinal win over Cooper Moore. His 2026 results included an AJGA victory and other strong finishes, suggesting his ranking of No. 2,047 understates his current level. The evidence still points to Russell because of his superior ranking, deeper résumé and the quality of golf he is producing this week. But over 36 holes of match play, where one hot stretch can flip everything, Maclauchlan has already shown he is capable of the kind of run that makes this championship unpredictable.

3 articles · Updated · golfchannel.com · Jul 24

17-year-old Miles Russell beat Tyler Mawhinney 2-and-1 in the U.S. Junior Amateur semifinal, earning a spot in Saturday’s 36-hole championship match at Saucon Valley.
Two eagles and five birdies powered Russell’s win, with the decisive swing coming on a chip-in eagle at the drivable 13th that put him 1 up.
Russell was 14 under across 30 holes Friday after also beating Dylan Boenning 6 and 5 in the quarterfinals, while Mawhinney shot 7 under through 17 holes in the semifinal and still lost.
Noah Maclauchlan, a Liberty signee ranked No. 2,047 in WAGR, awaits in the final after a 1-up semifinal win over Cooper Moore; Russell is No. 7.
A title would make Russell the first player to complete junior golf’s modern four-event slam, adding the U.S. Junior to wins at the Junior Invitational, Junior Players and Junior PGA.