In Chaska, Minnesota, Illinois senior Jackson Buchanan advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National with a decisive 4-and-3 victory over Jacob Modleski, taking only 15 holes and never trailing in the match. Buchanan will now face Iowa senior Noah Kent in the semifinals, as the two Americans will be joined by Spaniards Jose Luis Ballester and Luis Masaveu, who also won their quarterfinal matches.

Buchanan’s journey to the semifinals included wins over top-ranked players like Preston Summerhays and Luke Clanton, with his latest win over Modleski in the quarterfinals feeling relatively easy despite the strong wind conditions. Kent, who defeated Ethan Fang 3-and-2, never trailed in his match and will now face Buchanan in the next round.

The Spanish players, Ballester and Masaveu, also secured their spots in the semifinals with strong performances in their quarterfinal matches. Ballester, ranked 10th in the world amateur ranking, overcame Bobby Massa to advance, while Masaveu staged a comeback against Brendan Valdes to earn his spot in the next round.

The semifinal matches will have significant stakes, with the winners earning invitations to the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the British Open. The competition is heating up as the players gear up for the next rounds at the prestigious U.S. Amateur championship.

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