Jack Whaley of England holds off Jay Leng Jr. to win U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club

Jack Whaley of England wins the U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club, overcoming rain, a wasp sting, and tough competition from Jay Leng Jr. He clinched the 36-hole final 4 and 3, celebrating with his caddy father and mother

ARDMORE, Pa. -- Jack Whaley of England used double gloves, needed an umbrella, was stung by a wasp at rainy Merion Golf Club and still pushed through the inconveniences to cap a tremendous tournament and hold off Jay Leng Jr. to win the U.S. Amateur on Sunday.

The 22-year-old English amateur golfer from Doncaster gets to soak up the spoils that come with winning amateur golf's greatest prize.

With skies finally clear on the rain-slogged course, Whaley sank his final putt to clinch the 36-hole final 4 and 3 and hugged it out with his caddy — his father, Andy. Whaley's mother ran out to join them for a family embrace while Andy gripped the famed wicker basket flagstick.

Whaley broke down in tears as he held the Havemeyer Trophy and dedicated the win to his father, who never stopped encouraging his son to play, even as he kept missing cuts as a teenager.

Whaley made a rapid rise from NAIA star to Florida State to amateur champion and now has an exemption into the 2027 US Open, and the 2027 British Open at St. Andrews and the Masters should he remain an amateur. He wore his Florida State Seminoles cap and team colors for the championship round.

Whaley won the seventh US Amateur held at Merion and is the first English amateur to win since Matt Fitzpatrick at Brookline in 2013.

Whaley shook off a wasp sting on the fourth fairway in the afternoon session before he rallied his way to the title. Leng, a Stanford junior, held a 2-up advantage through the first 18 holes after both players bogeyed the par-5 18th on an overcast and windy round.

“It was just getting confidence back into my head that I was a good putter,” Whaley said.

The U.S. Amateur does hold a special place in Merion history. Take a look at the rock near the 11th hole tee box at Merion and one of the grandest holes in golf is marked.

“On September 27, 1930, And on this hole, Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., completed his ‘Grand Slam’ by winning the U.S. Amateur Championship.”

It was on that hole where Bobby Jones closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final and clinched golf’s only season Grand Slam with a win at the U.S. Amateur.

Of, course, you can't spell Tyre Jones without Trey Jones — Whaley's golf coach at Florida State who was at Merion to cheer on his star player.

Ben Hogan also has a plaque that honors his 1-iron on the 18th hole of the 1950 Open.