Politano Wins Vermont Amateur Championship, Earns U.S. Amateur Berth
Jul 09 | Men's Golf
MANCHESTER, Vt. – Rutgers rising sophomore Lucas Politano won the 2026 Vermont Amateur Championship on Thursday at historic Ekwanok Country Club, closing with a 5-under 65 to claim his home state's most prestigious amateur title by 12 strokes and earn a spot in next month's U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club.
Politano finished 72 holes at 8-under 272 (70-66-71-65) on the par-70 layout — the only player in the field to finish the week under par. Alex Leonard of Burlington Country Club was second at 4-over 284.
Trailing by one after an opening 70, Politano answered with a 4-under 66 to seize a lead he would never surrender. He carried a three-shot cushion into the final round, then pulled away with the low round of the championship, gaining nine strokes on Leonard over the closing 18 holes alone. His 65 and 66 stand as the two lowest rounds recorded at Ekwanok all week.
As Vermont Amateur champion, Politano receives a full exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur, contested Aug. 10-16 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., with Philadelphia Country Club co-hosting stroke play. Merion's East Course will welcome the championship back for the first time since 2005. The field is capped at 312 players.
Walker Allen of Neshobe Golf Club and Austin Giroux of Newport Country Club tied for third at 5-over 285. Defending champion Michael Walsh finished 20th at 19-over 299. Forty players advanced through the 36-hole cut, which fell at 13-over 153.
Politano earned PING All-Northeast Region honors as a freshman for Rutgers this past season. Politano capped an incredible freshman season at Rutgers where he became the first freshman to qualify for the NCAAs in head coach Rob Shutte's tenure at RU.
