Gavin Tiernan’s dream run at the 130th Amateur Championship went the distance but it ended in heartbreak after American Ethan Fang rolled in a birdie putt on the 36th to win hole and match.
The 19-year-old Dubliner representing County Louth Golf Club held a narrow 1UP lead after the opening 18 holes, as both players showed little signs of the nerves they were surely feeling on the biggest stage of their careers. Tiernan never trailed in the opening round, but never lead by more than one hole and after conceding an eagle putt on the 14th found himself back all-square.
The 16th hole had been kind to Tiernan all week and another superb tee shot set up a birdie and a win on the par-3 and he took that advantage into the second 18 holes.
It didn’t last long once play resumed and, for the first time all week, Tiernan began to show some nerves, bogeying three of his first five holes and Fang found himself 1UP for the first time in the match.
Falling behind seemed to resettle Tiernan’s focus, and an excellent approach to the par-5 seventh was enough to get back on level terms and they’d each win one of the next six holes, but Fang held his nerve over a short birdie putt on the 14th to hit the front again and then pulled two clear thanks to a clutch 10-footer after Tiernan found the fairway bunker on 15.
Two down with three to play, Tiernan came back off the ropes swinging, holing a lengthy birdie putt on 16 (again) to halve the deficit, then followed with another birdie on 17 to get back on level terms.
A huge moment at The 130th Amateur Championship Final.
Gavin Tiernan sinks a huge putt to win the hole ⛳️
You won’t want to miss this 👉 https://t.co/CgbuZul6da pic.twitter.com/u3X53VTmwK
— The R&A (@RandA) June 21, 2025
After both players found the 18th fairway, Fang, playing first, cranked up the pressure by sticking his approach to five feet, and Tiernan couldn’t match it, leaving himself 40 feet across the green. His gave his birdie try a great run, shaving the edge of the hole as he half-raised his putter in expectation that quickly turned to dismay.
This put it all in Fang’s hands, and the world number seven-ranked amateur made no mistake, becoming the first American in 20 years to win the Amateur Championship and the 20-year-old is now destined for the Open Championship at Portrush, the Masters next April and the US Open next June.
The moment Ethan Fang made history at The 130th Amateur Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/CqDuzUtByD
— The R&A (@RandA) June 21, 2025
“It still doesn’t feel real, but I’m sure it will and I’ll celebrate with my team,” Fang said.
“I was hitting it good all day and I knew that if I stayed in it some putts would drop. He [Tiernan] hit two really good shots [on 16 and 17] and with it all tied on the last anything could happen, but I knew if I just birdied I could get the job done.”
He added: “I’m glad I can take a second to think about everything I’ve done this week and just enjoy it.
“It’s a pretty big trophy. and playing the Masters and The Open Championship, that’s gonna be pretty sweet.”
Tiernan can hold his head extremely high for the way he battled in the face of adversity, as he had all week, but was full of praise for the shot Fang hit on the last.
“I’m tired,” he admitted. “Obviously I’m disappointed. He just hit a fantastic shot into 18.
“I made a couple of silly mistakes on the back nine, and that really cost me. I had to make up for it with birdies on 16 and 17 – and then he hit an amazing shot in [on 18]. Great birdie, fair play to him.”
Having played 175 holes throughout the week, having come through Pre-Qualifying to gain his spot at the Championship, Tiernan added: “I was pumped up so I wasn’t really feeling the tiredness too much.
“But I’ll definitely sleep tonight.”
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