Illinois golfer Jackson Buchanan never grabs lead in a 2-up semifinal loss to Noah Kent in 2024 United States Amateur Championship.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 17, 2024

Jackson Buchanan’s run in the 2024 United States Amateur Championship is over.

The senior-to-be top player on the Illinois men’s golf team never could get an advantage in a tight semifinal match that ended with a 2-up victory for University of Iowa sophomore-to-be Noah Kent.

After Kent won the No. 5 and 6 holes to get a 2-up lead, the Naples, Fla. native hung on to survive despite Buchanan’s entire week of comeback efforts at the Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn.

Friday’s 4&3 victory in the quarterfinal round was the first time Buchanan had a match not reach the 18th hole after surviving a 36-hole marathon that saw him execute a pair of come-from-behind match victories.

Buchanan had a frustrating day that started with two bogeys on the first three holes and was 4-over-par on the first nine holes that saw the Dacula, Ga. native be 2-down at the turn.

Buchanan attempted another dramatic back-nine comeback however after winning the 14th hole and 17th hole to bring the match to a 1-down deficit.

“Just sad to be honest,” Buchanan told the USGA.com pool reporter. “It sucks, but I didn't bring it today. You can't expect to win if you don't bring it…and he did his job. It's easy to give up in this game, and I didn't. I'll take that with me when I leave.”

If Kent can win his 36-hole championship match tomorrow, he will be the first Hawkeye to ever win this championship – and just the second to claim a USGA title (Gene Elliott, 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur).

“I started crying before the [Golf Channel] interview,” said Kent. “It means the world. I've had a couple of buddies play in majors and to see my name and be in Augusta in April and be at Oakmont, you can't really even put it into words.”

A lot of the NBC/Golf Channel broadcast on Saturday afternoon was centered around the very loud and partisan Iowa faithful cheering on Kent in nearby Minnesota but ex-Illinois player Tommy Kuhl was part of Buchanan’s gallery on Saturday along with current teammate Max Herendeen, who remained on property after missing the cut for match play earlier in the week. Illinois head coach Mike Small was on the course after arriving in Minnesota early Saturday morning. Buchanan’s semifinal finish meant he was the first Illini under Small’s guidance to make it to the Final Four of the U.S. Amateur. Small has qualified for three U.S. Opens (1994, 1998, 2007) and 10 PGA Championships, including 2009 at Hazeltine.