China’s Ding wins US Junior Amateur, Guan top-8

Jeffrey Guan’s US Junior Amateur quarter-final should see the Sydney based golfer’s amateur world ranking improve to inside the top-100 following his impressive list of results at Bandon Dunes.

Guan was eventually defeated in the quarter-final by American Eric Lee on the 20th hole, with Lee then falling to China’s Wenyi Ding also on the 20th with Ding eventually taking the US Junior Amateur title 3&2 over American Caleb Surratt.

Australia’s Jeffrey Guan (Credit: USGA)

Guan finished the qualification stroke play in a share of 35th at 1-under-par and was one of two Aussies to progress with Harvey Young taking 11th position at 4-under-par.

Harvey would be eliminated in the first match play event 3&2 by American Mason Snyder, with Guan accounting for Germany’s Tiger Christenson 7&5. Guan then accounted for American Nicholas Gross, 1-up in the round of 32, and Charlie Palmer, 5&4.

Guan’s efforts now see him with entry into the US Amateur at The Ridgewood Country Club being staged 15-22 August in New Jersey. Guan had been the first alternative having narrowly missed qualifying in Arizona last month.

Wenyi Ding is the first male from China to win a USGA title. Ding also becomes the fifth international champion of the US Junior, joining three players from the Republic of Korea (Terry Noe, Sihwan Kim and Andy Bo Hyeon Shim) and Australia’s Min Woo Lee.

Ding’s victory earns him an exemption into the 2023 US Open at The Los Angeles Country Club providing he remains an amateur.