Epic triumph at Royal St George’s after 36-hole final
In a thrilling and agonising 36-hole final, American Ethan Fang (20 years old), a student at Oklahoma State University, was crowned champion of the 130th edition of the Amateur Championship, defeating Irishman Gavin Tiernan 1 up with a birdie on the 18th hole at Royal St George’s.
Fang, currently ranked No. 7 in the world in the WAGR® amateur ranking, becomes the first American to lift this title since Drew Weaver in 2007.
🏆 A duel to remember
The duel was balanced from the first hole. Fang withstood Tiernan’s initial pressure, responded with an eagle on the 14th hole, and took the lead for the first time on the 23rd hole. Tiernan held on with magic: long birdies on the 34th and 35th to level the match. But on the decisive hole, Fang, with a swing as accurate as it was calm, left the ball five feet away and sank the final birdie to claim the trophy. What a shot. He hit before Tiernan and put all the pressure on him.
Honours and curiosities
Born in Plano, Texas, Fang initially studied at the University of California, Berkeley, before joining Oklahoma State in his second year.
In 2025, he was part of the OSU team that won the NCAA Nationals. Until this victory, he had a very good amateur record: finalist in the British Amateur, quarter-finals in the U.S. Amateur 2024, and runner-up in AJGA events like the Pauma Valley Invitational and Simplify Boys Championship.
Sponsored by Callaway, he stands out for his consistency and calm mentality under pressure. He is the first American since Drew Weaver (2007, Royal Lytham) to win the British Amateur and only the third player to do so at Royal St George’s.
What this victory means
With this title, Fang secures a place in the next Open Championship at Royal Portrush, the 2026 US Open, the Masters at Augusta, and the Betfred British Masters on the DP World Tour. He is also likely to be the leader of the US team in the next Walker Cup.
Personal story
In emotional statements, Fang highlighted the support of his family: “My parents have helped me a lot over the years, and it’s finally good to see that I win something”. And about the pressure of being the first American in 18 years: “Representing your flag, that’s what it’s about, and I’m happy to have achieved it for the USA.”
What’s next?
After this achievement, Fang plans to enjoy a well-deserved rest: “Masters, The Open… I’m glad it’s all done now and I can think about everything I did this week and enjoy it”. At just 20 years old, Fang adds another milestone to a promising CV, and his 2025 season will be historic: NCAA, Amateur Championship, and the guarantee of participating in three majors. A meteoric career that deserves close attention.
