Charlie Woods will face a 14-for-2 playoff at the U.S. Junior Amateur on Wednesday morning to determine if he advances to match play. The 17-year-old finished 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying at 5 over par at Saucon Valley’s Grace Course, leaving him tied for 63rd place. According to the USGA, the playoff begins at 7 a.m. ET, utilizing holes 1, 5, and 18.
The Path to Match Play at Saucon Valley
After opening with a 5-over 76 on the Old Course, Woods carded an even-par 70 on Tuesday. His front nine, which started on the 10th hole, was highlighted by a 2-under 33, including an eagle on the 332-yard, par-4 13th and birdies at Nos. 16 and 18. However, bogeys on the 4th and 7th holes pushed him back to the cut line.
This marks Woods’ third straight appearance at the U.S. Junior Amateur. He previously missed the match-play cut in 2024 at Oakland Hills and last year at Trinity Forest. Should Woods successfully navigate the Wednesday morning playoff, he would enter the bracket as the 63rd seed, potentially facing his future Florida State teammate, Miles Russell, who secured the No. 2 seed after finishing as a co-medalist at 6 under par.
Rising Stars and Elite Junior Rankings
The field at Saucon Valley features a deep roster of highly ranked prospects and college-bound talent. Miles Russell, currently ranked No. 7 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), shares medalist honors with Sohan Patel and Brayden Jones. Other notable performers advancing to match play include:
- Tyler Mawhinney: An incoming Vanderbilt freshman who finished T-5.
- Louis Klein: The Czech golfer ranked No. 65 in the WAGR, who finished T-11.
- Giuseppe Puebla: A Florida commit who qualified for this year’s U.S. Open.
- Ronin Banerjee: A Tennessee commit who finished T-29.
- Jessy Huebner and Hampton Beebe: Florida and Auburn signees, respectively, who both finished T-51.
Did you know?
Hamilton Coleman, the incoming Georgia freshman, finished at 8 over par, becoming the first defending champion to miss the cut at the U.S. Junior since at least 2002 (the USGA’s recordkeeping of full U.S. Junior results starts in 2002).
Shifts in the Junior Golf Landscape
National Junior Team. According to tournament records, the competitive nature of the field was underscored by the early exit of several high-profile players, including Florida signee Jackson Ormond, who finished at 7 over par.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the U.S. Junior Amateur playoff work?
The playoff for the final spots in match play involves a stroke-play format on specific holes. At Saucon Valley, the 14 players competing for the final two spots will play holes 1, 5, and 18 until the qualifiers are determined.
What is the format for the U.S. Junior Amateur?
The tournament begins with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying. The top 64 players then advance to a single-elimination match-play bracket to determine the champion.
Where is the match play portion held?
While the stroke-play qualifying took place on the Grace Course, the match-play portion of the tournament is hosted on the Old Course.
Follow our ongoing coverage of the U.S. Junior Amateur as the match-play bracket takes shape. Subscribe to our newsletter for daily updates on the next generation of professional golfers.