Hamilton Coleman claimed the 77th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, held at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, with a gritty 2 & 1 win over Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Minh in a fascinating 36‑hole final. Not only did Coleman win, but he also became the first Augusta native ever to lift the title, carving his name into Georgia’s rich golf legacy.
Coleman surged ahead with a commanding 5-up lead through 12 holes during the morning round, but Minh mounted a serious comeback, cutting the margin to one by hole 30. Undeterred, Coleman executed a clutch 15-foot birdie putt on the 35th to seal the championship, showcasing both nerve and precision under pressure.
Road to the Final
Coleman’s journey to the final exemplified match‑play durability. On Wednesday, he fought through a 25‑hole marathon, the longest match in the U.S. Junior Amateur in 23 years, to earn his spot in match play. In the quarterfinals and semis, he dispatched top-seeded opponents, including a commanding 5 & 4 semifinal victory over Luke Colton, who previously beat No. 1 junior Miles Russell.
Colton, ranked among the world’s top amateurs, proved no easy target. But Coleman’s consistency and minimal mistakes gave him the edge, cruising through with just one bogey while capitalizing on Colton’s multiple errors. His semifinal was defined by strategic execution, especially on Trinity Forest’s expansive greens.
“I knew I couldn’t ease my way into winning. I had to keep hitting quality shots,” Coleman said. “It got a little tight there, but I never lost faith. I told my caddie I was nervous but not scared. I was proud of that.”
Augusta’s New Champion
At just 17 years old and set to enroll at the University of Georgia, Coleman now stands alongside legends like Brian Harman (last Georgia recruit to win in 2003) as a rising force in the sport. He honed his game at West Lake Country Club and showcased early promise by reaching the Drive, Chip & Putt national finals at Augusta National in 2022.
His breakthrough win at the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in 2024, decided via playoff, hinted at his late-round clutch ability–a skill he proved invaluable this week in Dallas. From early beginnings in Georgia junior golf to historic triumph on the national stage, Coleman’s upward trajectory now has real momentum.
Nguyen Anh Minh’s Historic Run
Though Nguyen finished runner‑up, his performance was equally compelling. The incoming Oregon State freshman became the first Vietnamese player ever to reach a U.S. Junior Amateur final, defeating solid competition to get there. Nguyen led several earlier rounds with dominant play, only narrowly falling just short of the title.
His run guarantees exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club and other future showcases, underlining his broader breakthrough as a global name in junior golf. Though the title eluded him, his grit and evolution as a competitor were on full display.
What Coleman’s Victory Means
Coleman’s title carries immediate significance: an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills as the champion, a coveted break for any amateur at this level. He also earns starts in the U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club and further age‑based exemptions–an ascent every elite junior aspires to.
More broadly, the U.S. Junior Amateur has long served as a springboard for future stars–Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler among them. Coleman’s name now joins that lineage, suggesting he’s a player destined for major college and eventual pro prominence.
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