It took an extra day, but Jay Leng came out on top after a marathon at the Western Amateur.
The rising junior at Stanford claimed the title at Beverly Country Club in Illinois on Sunday, knocking off the world's No. 1 junior Miles Russell in the semifinals before topping Vanderbilt's Michael Riebe in the afternoon, a dominating 5-and-4 victory, to cap a summer that has vaulted Leng into Walker Cup contention. Leng finished runner-up at the Northeast Amateur and then tied for fifth at the Southern Amateur, and now he's champion of one of the most prestigious amateur events in the world.
“To be honest, I'm kind of at a loss for words still,” Leng said. “I was trying not to think about it on the course at all, just trying to stay calm and play my
game. But I don't think it's sunk in yet.”
Etched into history. 🏆
— WGA Championships (@WGAChamps) August 2, 2026
Congratulations to 2026 #WesternAmateur Champion Jay Leng! pic.twitter.com/9C2yfgrrwJ
Weather on Saturday forced the postponement of the semifinal and championship matches to Sunday, where Leng came out on top. He was the fifth seed, taking down the medalist in Russell and No. 6 Riebe.
The 20-year-old Leng became the fifth Stanford player to win the Western Amateur, joining Michael Thorbjornsen (2021, Glen View Club), David Chung (2010, Skokie Country Club), Joel Kribel (1996, Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club) and Tiger Woods (1994, Point O' Woods). Thorbjornsen won Sunday on the PGA Tour for his first professional win.
Ranked 33rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Leng is yet another American that captain Nathan Smith can look at for one of the final spots on the Walker Cup team, which will be finalized following the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur, which begins Aug. 10 at Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Four players, including Russell, have already been selected to the team.
The Western Amateur, in its 124th edition, is the third oldest amateur championship in golf behind the British and U.S. Amateurs.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Stanford's Jay Leng wins Western Amateur, boosts Walker Cup hopes
