Lucas Politano left no doubt at Ekwanok Country Club.
The Rutgers rising sophomore closed the 2026 Vermont Amateur Championship with a 5-under 65 on Thursday, rolling to a 12-stroke victory at the historic Manchester venue and locking up a place in next month’s U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club.
Politano finished the 72-hole event at 8-under 272, posting rounds of 70-66-71-65 on the par-70 course. He was the only player in the field to end the week under par, with Alex Leonard of Burlington Country Club taking second at 4-over 284.
The title was effectively his after the second round. Politano opened with a 70 and trailed by one, then answered with a 4-under 66 to grab the lead and never let it go.
He took a three-shot edge into the final round and widened it fast, beating Leonard by nine shots over the last 18 holes alone. His 65 and 66 were the two lowest rounds of the week at Ekwanok.
By winning the Vermont Amateur, Politano earned a full exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur, scheduled for Aug. 10-16 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., with Philadelphia Country Club sharing stroke-play duties. Merion’s East Course will host the championship for the first time since 2005, and the field is limited to 312 players.
Walker Allen of Neshobe Golf Club and Austin Giroux of Newport Country Club tied for third at 5-over 285. Defending champion Michael Walsh finished 20th at 19-over 299. Forty players made it through the 36-hole cut, which landed at 13-over 153.
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