Russell and other amateurs survive U.S. Open cut

Miles Russell, a 17-year-old from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, became the second-youngest male amateur since World War II to make the cut at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills—part of a small group of amateurs who held their nerve past the weekend cutline.

For amateurs, the U.S. Open doesn’t just test skill—it tests whether you can keep your game intact once the pressure turns from familiar to unforgiving. At Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, the 2026 U.S. Open delivered that lesson again, with Miles Russell pushing through on the strength of two steady rounds.

Russell. a 17-year-old lefthander from Jacksonville Beach. Florida. became the second-youngest male amateur since World War II to make the cut at the U.S. Open, according to NBC. He finished his first two rounds at 3-over par, landing one stroke below the cutline of plus-4. After that, he was tied for 46th—level with Dustin Johnson and 12 others.

The youngest male amateur since World War II to make the cut was Beau Hossler, who was also 17 when he did it in 2012, about four months younger than Russell.

Russell’s U.S. Open performance didn’t arrive out of nowhere. In 2024. he became the youngest player to make the cut at an event on the Korn Ferry Tour. a development pro circuit—when he was 15. Last year, he became the first two-time winner of the Junior Players Championship. He has committed to play college golf at Florida State and currently is No. 1 in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association Rankings.

On the scores themselves, the shape of his week was clear early. In the first round, Russell shot a 2-over 72. He followed with a 1-over 71 in the second round. Over those two days, he made three birdies, six bogeys, and scored par on the rest of the holes.

Only a handful make it through

There were 20 amateurs in this year’s field at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Only a handful advanced past the cut—an outcome that has become familiar at golf’s toughest major.

Last year, Justin Hastings was among the few amateurs who reached the weekend, finishing tied for 55th. As an amateur, he did not collect prize money that would have totaled more than $46,000.

This year, the amateurs who made the cut were:

Ryder Cowan (E)
Cowan didn’t just make it through the cut—he did it with momentum. tying for 11th with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Cowan is a 21-year-old from Edmond, Oklahoma, who competes collegiately at the University of Oklahoma. He is No. 15 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and led the Sooners to an NCAA regional title this past season. He is a two-time All-American and was a finalist for the Fred Haskins Award. given to the best male collegiate golfer in the United States.

His U.S. Open form matched that pedigree. Cowan is at even par after finishing his first round with a 2-under 68. His second round was more erratic, with four bogeys and two birdies during a round of 2-over 72.

Jackson Koivun (+3)
Koivun is a 21-year-old born in San Jose. California. and he has built a reputation as a college standout while playing for Auburn. He is a two-time winner of the Ben Hogan Award and Haskins Award. both given to the top college golfer. and a two-time SEC Player of the Year. As a freshman in 2024. he led Auburn to its first NCAA golf championship and helped lead the Tigers to another NCAA title this past season.

His next step is already scheduled. Koivun has accepted PGA Tour membership earned through PGA Tour University Accelerated and is set to make his pro debut July 1–July 5 at the 2026 John Deere Classic. In other words, this U.S. Open is capping an amateur run.

In this tournament, Koivun shot a 2-over 72 in the first round and a 1-over 71 in the second.

Marek Fleming (+4)
Fleming is a 20-year-old from Tomball, Texas, who just finished his sophomore year at the University of South Carolina. Before golf took over, he played baseball in high school and was a switch hitter who batted .402 as a sophomore and also pitched.

He’s not new to major amateur stages either. Fleming played in the 2025 U.S. Amateur and finished tied for 48th in stroke play with rounds of 75 (+2) and 68 (-2). He also played in the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Amateur.

At Shinnecock, Fleming kept things consistent with back-to-back rounds of 2-over 72.

Eric Lee (+4)
Lee is a 21-year-old from Fullerton, California. He reached the semifinals at the 2025 U.S. Amateur. He played his freshman year of college golf at the University of California at Berkeley before transferring to Oklahoma State. where this past season he was named honorable mention PING All-American for the second year in a row.

His physical development has tracked his game. As a college freshman, he was “built like a golf iron” at 5-10 and 135 pounds. Over the past three years, he has started to fill out, and he has continued to play impressive golf.

In the U.S. Open, Lee started with an opening round of 4-over 74 before coming back in the second round with an even-par 70.

Russell’s breakthrough and the weekend survivors together sketch the same story: amateurs can make it through. but only if they keep their performance steady when the course stops forgiving. At Shinnecock Hills. that steady nerve separated a small group from the rest—and turned a difficult major cutline into a milestone for a new generation.

U.S. Open 2026 Miles Russell amateur golf Shinnecock Hills Ryder Cowan Jackson Koivun Marek Fleming Eric Lee Dustin Johnson PGA Tour University Accelerated