José Luis Ballester (golfer)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ballester and the second or maternal family name is Barrio.
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

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.

Early life and family

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

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

Source:[6]

Results in major championships

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

"T" = tied

Team appearances

Amateur

Source:[6]

References

  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.