José Luis Ballester (golfer)

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 nameJosé Luis Ballester Barrio
NicknameJosele
Born (2003-08-18) 18 August 2003 (age 21)
Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
Sporting nationality Spain
Career
CollegeArizona State University
StatusAmateur
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipCUT: 2023

Early life and family

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Ballester 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

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Ballester 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

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Source:[6]

Results in major championships

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Tournament 2023
Masters Tournament
PGA Championship
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT
  Did not play

"T" = tied

Team appearances

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Amateur

Source:[6]

References

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  1. ^ Gussoni, Andrea. "Josele Ballester, a new spanish Tiger Woods". Tennis World USA. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b Cooper, Matt (18 July 2023). "Open Championship diary day two: Matt Cooper reports from Royal Liverpool". Sporting Life. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. ^ "R&A Championships and International Matches 2018" (PDF). The R&A. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Gough wins British Boys, Irish parents thrilled". Irish Golf Desk. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  5. ^ "José Luis Ballester wins the Spanish Under 16 Championship". Mediterráneo Golf. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Jose Luis Ballester Barrio". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  7. ^ "El castellonense José Luis Ballester, campeón de la Copa del Rey de Golf 2020" (in Spanish). Castellon Plaza. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Men's Golf Roster: Josele Ballester". Sun Devil Athletics. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Team International Wins 2022 Palmer Cup". Arnold Palmer Cup. 20 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Jose Luis Ballester Crowned European Amateur Champion in Estonia". European Golf Association. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  11. ^ 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.
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