José Luis Ballester Barrio (born 18 August 2003) is a Spanish amateur golfer. He won the 2020 Spanish Amateur, 2023 European Amateur and 2024 U.S. Amateur.
| José Luis Ballester | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | José Luis Ballester Barrio |
| Nickname | Josele |
| Born | 18 August 2003 Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 13 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  Spain |
| Career | |
| College | Arizona State University |
| Status | Amateur |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | DNP |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
| U.S. Open | DNP |
| The Open Championship | CUT: 2023 |
Early life and family
editBallester was born in Castellón and is known as Josele. His parents are José Luis Ballester, an Olympic swimmer, and Sonia Barrio, a field hockey player who won gold at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[1] Ballester is coached by Sergio García's father and considers Sergio to be a mentor, and uses Joaquín Niemann's mental coach.[2]
Amateur career
editBallester had a successful junior career and lost the final of the 2018 Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club to Conor Gough, 3 and 1.[3][4] In 2019, he won the Spanish U-16 Championship and played for Spain in the European Young Masters, where he won silver at Kunětická Hora in the Czech Republic.[5] He was runner-up at the 2019 Junior Orange Bowl International and the 2020 Desert Amateur in the United States.[6]
Ballester won the 2020 Spanish Amateur at Real Club Sevilla Golf, beating Jannik De Bruyn of Germany, 3 and 1, in the final.[7]
In 2021, Ballester enrolled at Arizona State University and started playing college golf with the Arizona State Sun Devils men's golf team, where he earned All-American honors in each of his first two seasons.[8] He has trained with Sun Devils alumni Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson.[2]
At the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup in Switzerland, he replaced Eugenio Chacarra who turned professional before the event. Ballester won 3.5 of 4 possible points as the international team beat the Americans 33–27.[9]
In 2023, he won the European Amateur by 2 strokes at Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia, which earned him invitation to the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.[10]
He won the 2024 U.S. Amateur, 2 up, against Noah Kent at Hazeltine National Golf Club to capture the Havemeyer Trophy.[11]
Amateur wins
edit- 2018 Campeonato Sub18 Comunidad Valenciana, Campeonato Absoluto de las Comunidad Valenciana
- 2019 Campeonato de Castellon, Campeonato de Espana Sub-16
- 2020 Spanish Amateur (Copa S.M. el Rey), Copa Match Play Comunidad Valenciana
- 2023 European Amateur, European Amateur Team Championship (individual medalist)
- 2024 U.S. Amateur
Source:[6]
Results in major championships
edit| Tournament | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | |
| PGA Championship | |
| U.S. Open | |
| The Open Championship | CUT |
"T" = tied
Team appearances
editAmateur
- European Young Masters (representing Spain): 2019
- European Boys' Team Championship (representing Spain): 2019, 2021
- European Amateur Team Championship (representing Spain): 2022, 2023 (winners), 2024
- Arnold Palmer Cup (representing the International team): 2022 (winners), 2023, 2024
- Eisenhower Trophy (representing Spain): 2023
Source:[6]
References
edit- ^ Gussoni, Andrea. "Josele Ballester, a new spanish Tiger Woods". Tennis World USA. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ a b Cooper, Matt (18 July 2023). "Open Championship diary day two: Matt Cooper reports from Royal Liverpool". Sporting Life. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "R&A Championships and International Matches 2018" (PDF). The R&A. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Gough wins British Boys, Irish parents thrilled". Irish Golf Desk. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "José Luis Ballester wins the Spanish Under 16 Championship". Mediterráneo Golf. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Jose Luis Ballester Barrio". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "El castellonense José Luis Ballester, campeón de la Copa del Rey de Golf 2020" (in Spanish). Castellon Plaza. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Men's Golf Roster: Josele Ballester". Sun Devil Athletics. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Team International Wins 2022 Palmer Cup". Arnold Palmer Cup. 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Jose Luis Ballester Crowned European Amateur Champion in Estonia". European Golf Association. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Jourdan, Cameron (18 August 2024). "Vamos! Josele Ballester wins 2024 U.S. Amateur, makes history as first Spaniard to win championship". Golfweek. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
External links
edit- José Luis Ballester at the European Tour official site
- José Luis Ballester at the Official World Golf Ranking official site