How ‘shorter’ drives gave us junior amateur winner of competitive advantage

Search for Hamilton Coleman in the world amateur golf rankings, and you have to do some scrolling. You would find him a way behind No. 26 Luke Colton and last year the American junior amateur second, Tyler Watts (no. 42).

You will find Coleman completely on the list at number 625. But that is the beauty of Golf, that doesn’t matter once you have delivered it.

In fact, ‘behind’ his opponents may have worked in favor of Coleman during the 77th game of the US Junior Amateur Championship in Trinity Forest outside Dallas, Texas. The 17-year-old Georgia committed vast Isaiah Igo in a 25-hole marathon in the round of 64, then he drove Watts, 52 MINH NGUYEN, an incoming first -year student at Oregon State University, defeated 2 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1. Coleman was 5 to 12 holes and finally closed Nguyen with a 10-foot Birdie Putt on the 35th Hole to claim the title on Saturday.

The key to Coleman’s US Junior Blitzing? A bit shorter of the tee are his opponents. That can work to your advantage in Match Play if your approach game enables you to set up the heat on your opponent. Coleman’s did it.

“I know that I have not had the best season in this, but I know that my game can be stacked on that quality of golfers if I just keep getting shots of high quality and put pressure,” Coleman said after his victory. “And I mean, it also helps that I get a little shorter than most because I first make the most shots, so I am just able to exert that pressure and then just make quality shots.”

The victory gives Coleman a place in the US Open 2026 on Shinnecock Hills and a place in next month’s US amateur championship in the Olympic club. He will also play in Merion in 2026 and can defend his American junior title at Saucon Valley Golf Club next year.

Hamilton, who officially becomes a Georgia Bulldog when he arrives on campus in 2026, participates in a prestigious list of American junior amateur champions with Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Min Woo and Nick Dunlap.

“It is really cool to see only the names that are also on that trophy,” said Coleman. “Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods, all the great players of the game came through this tournament. Just to be at that level with them is a great feeling.”

Although he is no. 625 in WAGR ranking, Coleman’s victory is not out of nowhere.

Last August he defeated Blades Brown, who is now sharpening it as a professional, to win the Junior Players championship on TPC Sawgrass. He was also selected as a member of the East team for the Wyndham Cup, the Ryder Cup style event of the American Junior Golf Association. He qualified for last year’s American junior, but had to retire during his first round match against Miles Russell because of a back injury.

This year, healthy and confident, Coleman did what many believed he was capable of.

The 25-hole competition victory at IGO-De Longest American Junior AM match in 23 years-GAF Him Momentum and Trust to start the championship. He then showed a great determination in his match against Watts and knew a shortage of three holes with seven to play to win 2 and 1.

He took a big lead early in the final on Nguyen, but had to be stuck when the talented player from Vietnam cut through his lead all day.

When Coleman was on his 10-foot Birdie attempt on the 35th hole, his lead, who was four with 11 holes to play, was one and he had not won a hole since the 25th hole.

“When I went to that hot start, I knew I couldn’t just relieve myself to win,” said Coleman. “I knew that I had to keep beating quality shots. I played well, but he kept making puts. It was a bit tight there, but I never lost confidence. I told my Caddy that I was nervous but never was afraid.”

And now Hamilton Coleman is an American junior amateur champion forever.