Five Amateurs Advance to Weekend at 2026 U.S. Open

Five amateurs advanced to the weekend rounds at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Ryder Cowan, 17-year-old Miles Russell, Jackson Koivun, Eric Lee and Marek Fleming each posted scores that kept them in the field after 36 holes. The five represent the most amateurs to make the cut at the event since 2015.

Round-by-round results Cowan, making his first major appearance, stood one over par through eight holes of his third round and trailed leader Wyndham Clark by seven shots. Russell and Koivun each finished the third round at four over par, as did Fleming.

Lee ended his third round at eight over par and sat twelve over for the tournament. Russell and Koivun played together on Saturday. Both players recorded birdies and pars on the front nine while drawing noticeable gallery attention. Koivun, the top-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, had missed the cut by one stroke in last year’s U.S. Open.

Context from past events A coach who competed as an amateur in 2007 recalled a Walker Cup team that included several players who later won major championships and reached the world number-one ranking. The coach said he believes the current group could follow a similar path.

Russell, still in high school, said golfers must focus on the present because performance can change quickly. Koivun stated he prefers to take the tournament one day at a time.