Jackson Buchanan, Josele Ballester highlight 2024 U.S. Amateur semifinalists

CHASKA, Minn. — Come Sunday, there's going to be an American and a Spaniard matching up in the final.

No, it's not the Ryder Cup (yet) at Hazeltine National Golf Club, but the 2024 U.S. Amateur. And regardless of what happens Saturday, the matchup is going to be Ryder Cup-esque, featuring an American and a Spaniard. And with a bit of history, as it will be the first time a player from Spain has played in the final of the U.S. Amateur.

Who that will be, however, will be determined Saturday.

The quarterfinals are in the books after a stellar Friday, and the stage is set for Saturday's semifinals. On one side of the bracket will be two Big 10 collegiate players, and on the other are two Spaniards that are longtime friends.

U.S. Amateur: Photos from Hazeltine

Here's everything you need to know from the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Amateur.

Kent 'out of body experience'

Noah Kent was going to swing as hard as he could and hope for the best.

His wedge slid beautifully underneath his golf ball, launching it softly into the air. The ball landed in the rough, tumbled into the fringe and then rolled onto the green.

The only thing to stop it was the bottom of the cup.

"All my like family standing behind the green, they're going crazy," Kent said. "And then I just saw it drop in. It was like an out of body experience."

Kent's chip-in eagle on the par-5 11th hole was a dagger on a brilliant afternoon at Hazeltine, one that saw him made six birdies and an eagle to knock off No. 64 Ethan Fang. Kent, a rising sophomore at Iowa, is playing in his first USGA championship, but he's on a roll.

Fang played wonderfully through 16 holes. He had four birdies and one bogey. But it wasn't enough to match Kent, who has a background in hockey and friends who play for the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils. There's plenty of comparisons between the two sports that have helped him succeed, even as a newer player.

"I just feel like, driver, slap shot, hit it a mile," Kent said. "I feel like all hockey players have good fundamentals."

Kent gets his competitiveness from hockey, too. That's why when Fang drilled a 25 footer for birdie on the first, it ignited a fire from within. Kent responded with a birdie of his own. Then he birdied the second, the third and the fourth holes.

"I was just kind of like, oh, it's on now," Kent said. "You kind of have to accept the player to pull off everything in match play, but to see it go in, it was kind of like, 'all right, like, let's go. It's game time.'"

Buchanan calm and collective in dominating effort

Jackson Buchanan never shows much emotion.

Whether he knocks in a long birdie putt or misses a short one for par, Buchanan's demeanor remains the same. It's part of the mental growth in his game. It's one of the reasons why when he gets a lead in match play, good luck coming back.

Buchanan won the first hole Friday in his match against Jacob Modleski, and he never looked back, cruising to a 4-and-3 victory. Modleski battled a cold putter, but even if it was lukewarm, Buchanan didn't leave many opportunities for the result to change.

"I tried to not give anything up," Buchanan said. "Got 4 up and just kept telling myself that you can still lose this. And that kind of kept me in it."

Buchanan was in the fairway bunker on the par-4 fifth hole, and Modleski threw a shot to 10 feet. Buchanan responded, finding the left side of the green about 20 feet from the hole. His putt never left the center, and Modleski missed.

"Just kept telling myself that Jacob's not out of this," Buchanan said. 'He's really good. So that's kind of what kept the pedal down."

Again on the back nine, Modleski was in tight with Buchanan much further from the hole. And again, he knocked in a long birdie putt, and Modleski missed his shorter look.

Buchanan is entering his senior season at Illinois, a school he chose because of coach Mike Small. The two have talked plenty during the week, and the message is always the same.

"He says talk is cheap," Buchanan said. "It's like, what are you going to say? You know, just keep the pedal down. He's proud of me, but, you know, if I want to win, there's still two huge matches I've got to play, so we're just kind of taking it one at a time."

Josele Ballester looking forward to playing friend

Josele Ballester said he and Luis Masaveu have known each other for years.

The amateurs from Spain have taken different paths, with Ballester coming to the United States to play in college at Arizona State while Masaveu stayed in Europe. However, they've dominated European Team Championships together and even were paired the first time they met when they were younger.

Now, it's friend vs. friend for a spot in the U.S. Amateur championship match.

Ballester knocked off 36-year-old Mid-Am Bobby Massa 3 and 1 on Friday evening, taking control on the back nine after trailing at the turn. Ballester won four of his final eight holes to advance to the semifinals.

"I was playing really good. I wasn't making putts, and I just have one mistake on No. 6 that kind of cost me a hole that I should have won," Ballester said. "But besides that, I kept trusting on my swing that has been feeling really good all week. And yeah, the putts weren't dropping today. But again, it was playing harder."

Sergio Garcia was the last Spaniard to make the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur, and that happened in 1998. None have ever made the championship match.

Ballester said he has talked with Garcia numerous times this week, and he has shared encouragement. One of the things Garcia has helped Ballester with is his confidence.

"Sometimes I feel like I underestimate myself in certain situations," Ballester said. "It's just believe that I'm a really good player enough to pull the shots when matters."

Luis Masaveu can't believe he's a semifinalist

What a week it has been for Luis Masaveu.

For many American golf fans, the name isn't familiar. That's because Masaveu decided to not play collegiately in the United States, so he has played most of his amateur golf in Europe. But he has played well, and he's one of the best in the world, ranked No. 23 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

He has proven that ranking this week, advancing to the semifinals after knocking off rising Auburn senior Brendan Valdes 3 and 2.

"I don't really believe it right now," Masaveu said, "I mean, when I went to the golf course today, I was like, I'm playing the quarterfinals. I have a chance to go to semifinals. I was not really believing it, but I just kept myself trying to play my game, and that's what I did today."

Masaveu trailed 2 down after four holes and said a couple of missed putts would've helped him tie the match sooner, but nevertheless, Masaveu won Nos. 7, 10 and 12 to take a 1 up lead with six holes to play.

Valdes responded, winning the 13th with a par to tie the match. But then Masaveu ended it with authority, winning Nos. 14-16 to advance.

Masaveu played in his first major championship last month at the Open, and it's an experience he wants to feel more of now. He originally planned to turn pro in October, but winning Saturday, which would earn him a spot in the Masters and U.S. Open, would possibly change his plans.

"I mean, if I win tomorrow, probably I won't turn pro," Masaveu said. "Playing the Masters ... it's a dream."

Saturday's semifinal matchups

No. 41 Noah Kent vs. No. 53 Jackson Buchanan, 2 p.m. ET

No. 47 Josele Ballester vs. No. 3 Luis Masaveu, 2:20 p.m. ET

TV information

Saturday, Aug. 17: 3-6 p.m., Golf ChannelSunday, Aug. 18: 2-5 p.m., Golf Channel

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jackson Buchanan, Josele Ballester highlight 2024 U.S. Amateur semifinalists