Gutschewski Wins US Junior Am 4 and 3 Over Watts

Trevor Gutschewski Wins US Junior Amateur 4 and 3 Over Tyler Watts Over 33 Holes on Oakland Hills Country Club’s Famed South Course.

The US Junior Amateur is a grueling competition. To be crowned champion, a player must get through two rounds of stroke play, win five rounds of match play, then come out on top in a 36 hole match on the final day.

In all, he played 124 holes in six days. That’s the most by a champion in the 36 hole era, which began in 2005.

“It’s an insanely long week,” Gutschewski said. “I got here Saturday morning; it’s Saturday again, right? Yeah, so I mean, there is so much golf. You’re playing so many good guys. You’re playing 36 holes a day. You’re grinding out every single match. Like my first match went 23 holes or something. Like that mentally and physically really, really, really takes a toll on you. You just got to keep your recovery up and then try and keep your body and mind right going through the week.”

Runner-up Tyler Watts concurred with the notion of exhaustion: “I think my body really, really caught up to me on the last 18, which I know it sounds like an excuse, but for the most part played really good this week. Just didn’t have my best stuff this last 18 holes.”

Entering the final day, Watts had played 81 holes and trailed for just six of those. Gutschewski had played 91 and was losing for just three.

Gutschewski, 17, comes from a golf family. He is the son of PGA TOUR player Scott Gutschewski. His older brother plays at Iowa State and shared medalist honors at the 2002 US Amateur.

The Omaha, Nebraska native is a Florida commit.

With his win, Gutschewski receives a gold medal and exemption into the 2025 US Open (if he remains an amateur) and 2025 US Amateur. His name will join the likes of Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth engraved on the trophy.

Runner-up Tyler Watts received a silver medal and a three-year exemption into the US Junior Amateur.

For what it’s worth, your friendly neighborhood Golf Blogger was at the tournament all week, logging in 105, 190 steps. I followed two rounds on Friday and all 33 holes on Saturday, for more than 20,000 steps each of those days.

I’m exhausted. I can’t imagine how the players feel. But then again, they’re also 40 plus years younger than I am.

I’ll have more on the US Amateur later. For now, I’m headed to bed.