No more than five Great Britain and Ireland players will make US Amateur cut
Gavin Tiernan watches his tee shot at the 18th hole during the second round of stroke play of the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pa. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/USGA)
Just three Great Britain and Ireland players secured their spots in the first matchplay round of the US Amateur Championship in Philadelphia, with two more left to fight for their spots in today’s qualifying play-off.
England’s Eliot Baker tied for ninth on two-under after a second round 69 at Philadelphia Country Club, six strokes behind leading qualifier Joshua Ryan of the United States.
Baker will be hoping for a Walker Cup pick from Great Britain and Ireland captain Dean Robertson when he names his ten-man team on August 18.
Scotland’s Conor Graham was tied 16th on one under and his compatriot Niall Sheils Donegan joint 33rd on one-over when play was suspended due to darkness, with 13 players set to return to the course at 7.00 am to complete their second rounds at Merion.
The cut fell at two-over 142 with 70 players currently inside the mark.
They include England’s Luke Poulter and Jack Whaley, who will have the opportunity to make it five GB&I matchplay qualifiers via a play-off to finalise the 64-man field.
As things stand, 17 players will be battling for 11 spots should American Jason Schwarz par the 18th at Merion and remain on two-over.
GB&I players at the US Amateur
Walker Cup contender Sam Easterbrook missed out by a shot while Ireland’s Gavin Tiernan (four-over), Matt McClean (six-over) and Stuart Grehan (nine-over) also failed to get through.
They were in good company.
Mason Howell became the first defending champion to miss the cut since Andy Ogletree in 2020.
World No. 1 Preston Stout, who will play in his second consecutive Walker Cup Match at Lahinch next month, also failed to advance along with two-time USA Walker Cupper Ethan Fang; 2025 US Amateur semifinalist Eric Lee; 2025 USA Walker Cupper Jacob Modleski; reigning US Junior Amateur champion Noah Maclauchlan; 2025 US Mid-Amateur champion Brandon Holtz; reigning US Senior Amateur champion/2013 US Mid-Amateur champion Mike McCoy and 2026 US National Junior Team members Tyler Mawhinney, Luke Colton and Ronin Banerjee.
Ryan, the winner of the 2026 Pennsylvania Amateur, posted a 36-hole total of 8-under 132 to top a stellar 311-strong field.
The 22-year-old, who grew up 10.5 miles from this week’s venue, followed up Monday’s three-under 67 at Philadelphia Country Club with a five-under 65 at Merion to edge 2026 USA Walker Cup team member Tyler Watts by two strokes.
“I couldn’t write it up any better,” Ryan said. “Wasn’t trying to get ahead of myself at all. Didn’t expect it, if I was being honest. Just went out and tried to play quality golf, get to match play and see what happens.”
Two others – 18-hole leader Drake Harvey and University of Washington senior Finn Koelle of Germany- finished four strokes back at four-under 136.
Four players posted 137: 2026 USA Walker Cupper and US Junior Amateur runner-up Miles Russell; 2026 US Open qualifier and University of Florida freshman Jackson Ormond and the University of Florida rising senior Jack Turner.
The second round will be completed Wednesday morning at 7 am local time, followed by the play-off for the final matchplay spots at 8:30 am, starting at the par-3 13th hole at Merion and continuing on the course routing until the spots are filled.
