Ethan Fang and Gavin Tiernan produced an epic final day at The Amateur Championship, with Fang birdieing the 36th hole to claim a 1-up victory over the Irishman.
The pair had been involved in a close battle throughout the day, with Tiernan taking a 1-up lead into the afternoon session after a close contest in the morning.
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Never moving more than 1-up, Tiernan saw his advantage disappear at the 19th hole, with Fang parring to get back to all-square.
From there, the duo halved the next three holes, with Fang moving ahead for the first time in the match at the par 4 fifth, the 23rd hole of a marathon final.
From there, Fang never found himself down in the match, regularly moving 1-up and back to all-square as the day wore on. However, it was at the 14th and 15th where the Amateur World No.7 made his move.
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Birdieing the 14th (32nd), he then parred the 15th (33rd) which, thanks to Tiernan, meant he moved 2-up with three remaining, all but securing his first amateur victory.
Tiernan, though, is no quitter and, after rolling in a lengthy birdie putt at the 16th (34th), he then followed it with a 20-footer for birdie at the 17th (35th) to take the match down the last at all-square.
Driving off, both men found the fairway but, hitting first, Fang put his approach to five-feet and, with Tiernan under pressure, he pulled his wedge left and off the green.
Although he gave his putt a good go, it slid by the left side and, with that, Fang was able to convert for a 1-up victory, securing a spot at The Open Championship in three weeks, as well as next year's Masters and US Open.
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"I didn't really know what to expect this week, coming into it," stated Fang after his victory, which was the first by an American at The Amateur Championship in 18 years.
"Getting to play The Masters and an Open Championship is pretty sweet. I had signed up for a couple of amateur events but I think I'll have to cancel that and go play The Open."
Good afternoon and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of The Amateur Championship final, where we are in the midst of a tight battle at Royal St George's.
Ethan Fang and Gavin Tiernan are the finalists and, after the morning session was completed, it was Tiernan who held a slim 1-up advantage.
However, at the opening hole this afternoon, Fang parred to get back to all-square, where the score has remained ever since.
As of writing, the pair have just played the par 4 fourth hole (22nd of the day), with both making bogey as the match remains all-square through the mid-way point of the front nine.
ADVANTAGE FANG AT THE 23RD
Fang receives a big slice of luck on the par 4 fifth hole, with his tee shot striking a rake and coming up short of the bunker.
Tiernan, on the other hand, finds the fairway bunker and, with a tough lie, duffs his second shot about 60 yards up the fairway.
FANG MOVES AHEAD FOR THE FIRST TIME
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For the first time in 23 holes Fang leads Tiernan!
After Tiernan plays a decent pitch shot for his third, Fang just misses his birdie putt and is given the par. That leaves Tiernan needing to hole his 12-foot par putt to halve, but it misses on the right side.
Fang now leads 1-up in the final through 23 holes, as they head to the par 3 sixth.
ADVANTAGE FANG AGAIN
Is the momentum turning? After moving 1-up, Fang just misses the greenside bunker with his tee shot and finishes 20-feet from the flag.
Tiernan, meanwhile, pushes his tee shot and finds the greenside bunker. He will have a near-impossible up-and-down coming up, with his ball resting on the downslope of the sand.
HUGE PUTT FROM TIERNAN
Wow, what an up-and-down! I thought it was a near-impossible bunker shot, but Tiernan plays a gem from the sand that finishes eight-feet away from the flag.
Fang still has a chance to win the hole, but his birdie putt comes up short. He's in for par, which Tiernan matches minutes later via a right-to-left par putt that drops in the center of the cup.
Fang remains 1-up, but that is a big moment for Tiernan.
HUGE DRIVE FROM TIERNAN
Playing the par 5 seventh, Fang's tee shot takes an odd bounce left and finishes in the thick rough. Lie depending, but it could well be a chip out for the American.
Up next is Tiernan, and his drive finds the fairway and take a huge kick forward. He should be able to go for the green from there.
EAGLE PUTT FOR TIERNAN
Fang's ball looks to be sitting okay in the rough, but his backswing is slightly impeded and he can only chop it 50 yards ahead of him, with his ball remaining in the rough.
Sensing an opportunity, Tiernan plays a glorious iron to the heart of the green and sets himself up with a 20-footer for eagle.
BACK TO ALL-SQUARE
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Fang puts his third shot from the rough left off the green and, with a tight lie, his chip runs by the hole.
The American has seen enough and gives the hole to Tiernan, who had two putts from 20-feet for the victory.
We are back to all-square through 25 holes.
SHOUTS OF FORE
Tiernan is up first at the par 4 eighth and, with driver in hand, he blasts his tee shot left and into the rough.
Fang, who has driven the ball well today, then pulls his tee shot left and, with it striking a spectator, it rests in the first cut.
MORE SHOUTS OF FORE
Both men find their golf balls and, up first, is Fang, who manages to advance his ball to the front edge of the green, leaving a lengthy putt for birdie.
Tiernan, meanwhile, pushes his difficult approach right and finds the greenside bunker. It should be an easier up-and-down than the one we saw at the fifth, with his ball sitting nicely on the sand.
PROPER MATCHPLAY
Although he is on the green, Fang is up first and, with his lengthy birdie putt, the American races it well by, leaving himself 10-foot coming back.
Tiernan has a chance to put Fang under pressure and, with his bunker shot, he plays it to five-foot, all-but guaranteeing the half.
Fang needs to hole his par putt and, from mid-distance, he rolls it in the center of the cup for the four. Not to be outdone, Tiernan holes his putt for par, with both exchanging a fist-bump after that impressive display. Excellent sportsmanship there from both.
IMPRESSIVE FROM TIERNAN
A ball-striking clinic from Gavin Tiernan.He wins the 25th hole to go back to A/S in the Final of The 130th Amateur Championship⛳️Watch live on R&A TV here 👉 https://t.co/CgbuZulE2I pic.twitter.com/EiN1BVipDbJune 21, 2025
FANG FINDS THE GREEN
The par 4 ninth is a tough driving hole and, with his tee shot, Tiernan finds the bunker after hitting driver, which was an odd choice given that the sand traps were in play.
Fang, meanwhile, hits a fairway wood down the middle and puts his wedge past the flag. He has 30-foot for birdie, while Tiernan is just short of the green after splashing out.
ANOTHER SAVE FOR TIERNAN
This is a short game exhibition from Tiernan, who manages to get up-and-down from the edge of the green to keep the match all-square.
We have nine holes remaining and there's still nothing to separate these two players!
FANG FINDS ANOTHER FAIRWAY
Tiernan is still struggling off the tee and, at the par 4 10th, his tee shot is right and just rolls into the second cut. It looks to be sat up, so should be no problem for the Irishman.
Teeing off second, Fang plays a delightful left-to-right cut into the center of the fairway, leaving himself a short approach into the green. He has the advantage on the 10th.
POOR APPROACHES
Tiernan goes well long of the green at the par 4 10th and will have an interesting up-and-down coming up.
Hitting from the fairway, Fang loves the shot in the air, but it comes up short and spins away from the flag. He'll have an easier up-and-down coming up, but Tiernan has been a wizard with the wedges today.
FANG MOVES 1-UP WITH A SUPERB CHIP
Tiernan has a difficult pitch coming up and, striking the ball, it's inches away from being good, with it holding up in the fringe.
Fang steps up to play his chip and, from below the flag, his shot just rolls by the hole, leaving a gimme and a par.
Needing to hole his lengthy par putt, Tiernan's attempt isn't close, with a bogey dropping him 1-down of Fang with eight holes to go.
TIERNAN ON THE GREEN AT THE 11TH
Now 1-up, Fang has a chance to put the pressure on with his tee shot at the par 3 11th, but he pulls his iron and misses the green long and left.
There's a chance for Tiernan to fire back and, with an iron in hand, he finds the green, albeit well away from the flag.
BIG MISS FOR TIERNAN
Tiernan lags his long putt up to six-feet and, with Fang hitting a poor chip, he then follows it up with an equally poor putt.
It means Tiernan has a chance to strike straight back, but his putt misses on the left side and he remains 1-down with seven remaining.
BOTH GO FOR IT AT THE PAR 4 12TH
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The par 4 12th is playing straight downwind and, with driver in hand, Fang puts his tee shot into the greenside bunker, leaving himself an awkward stance for his second shot.
Tiernan pulls out the fairway wood and, striking it, he isn't pleased with the contact. The good news is that it isn't as bad as he thinks, with it just trickling off the green.
CLASS FROM FANG TO MOVE 1-UP
A near chip-in from Ethan Fang.He takes the lead in the 130th Amateur Championship Final at Royal St George's ⛳️Watch live here 👉https://t.co/CgbuZul6da pic.twitter.com/6h6FgHLMdsJune 21, 2025
TIERNAN WINS THE 12TH
The Irishman is up first and, with a wedge in hand, he plays another sublime chip that finishes five-feet away.
Fang has an awkward lie in the bunker and just gets it out, with his third shot then running well by the flag. Needing to hole his par putt to put pressure on, Fang's putt comes up short and he gives the holes to Tiernan.
We are back to all-square through 30 holes and no closer to finding a winner.
TIERNAN CLOSER AT THE 13TH
Both players find the fairway at the par 4 13th. First up is Fang and, with a wedge in hand, he finds the green but short of the flag, which has been a common theme throughout the final round.
Tiernan steps up and, going aggressive, his approach goes by the flag and finishes around 10-feet away. He has the advantage on the par 4.
CHANCE MISSED
Fang's birdie putt just slides by the right side and that leaves the door open for Tiernan to move ahead.
Striking his putt, it looks in all the way, but dives to the left and we're tied in fours. Five holes remain and it's still all-square.
BOTH FIND THE GREEN AT THE 14TH
Tiernan and Fang take irons off the tee for safety at the par 5 14th and, from distance, both players find their second shots finishing on the left side of the green.
It'll once again come down to the short game, with both the Irishman and American facing up-and-downs for birdie at Royal St George's.
FANG MOVES 1-UP
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For the third time this afternoon, Fang moves 1-up and leads.
Tiernan has been dynamite with the wedges but, with his eagle chip at the par 5 14th, he hits it poorly and leaves himself a long birdie putt.
Fang, who is on the green, hits a solid eagle putt from distance and, after Tiernan leaves his birdie attempt in the jaws of the hole, Fang steps up and knocks his birdie putt in to lead by one with four holes remaining.
FANG IN BETTER SHAPE AT THE 15TH
The American is in control and, after finding the fairway at the 15th, Fang puts his approach right down the flag. It's unlucky for Fang, as it catches the down slope and rolls through the back.
In terms of Tiernan, he is in the fairway bunker and, after hacking out, he is now playing his third from the fairway. Striking a wedge, it finishes on the back edge, some 20-feet from the flag.
Overall, it's advantage Fang, who could put some serious pressure on his opponent with a good chip.
IS THAT THE WINNING MOMENT?
Fang opts for the putter after his approach goes through the back and, with a delicate shot, he underreads it and comes up well short.
Tiernan has a chance to put Fang under serious pressure, but his putt comes up short and it's a bogey for the Irishman, who is visibly frustrated.
Facing a putt for par, Fang's attempt finds the middle of the hole and, for the first time today, we have a 2-up advantage! The Amateur World No.7 leads with three holes remaining.
TIERNAN GETS ONE BACK
What a putt from Tiernan! Playing the par 3 16th, both men put the ball into the center of the green and leave lengthy birdie putts.
Fang is up first and, making contact with the ball, it's right online but comes up inches short.
This is now a must-make for Tiernan and, from well over 30-foot, it's in the middle of the hole and gets the Irishman back within one!
Phenomenal from Tiernan, who isn't giving up here!
FAIRWAY DRIVES AT THE 17TH
Clearly pumped-up, Tiernan pounds his drive down the middle of the fairway at the 17th.
Not to be outdone, Fang follows him with another stunning tee shot. Impressive work from the American.
BIG MISTAKE FROM FANG
Wow... Fang is in the middle of the fairway and, with a wedge in his hand, the American goes over the back and is short-sided. He will have a difficult up-and-down coming up from a severe uphill slope.
Seeing his opponent go over the back, Tiernan fires his approach long of the flag but, importantly, it stays on the green.
TIERNAN BIRDIES AGAIN
The putter has ignited for Tiernan and he is now tied with Fang!
Fang puts his chip barely on the green and, faced with a 20-footer for birdie, Tiernan rolls it in for back-to-back birdies. We are all-square going down the last!
FAIRWAY FINDERS AT THE 18TH
There's been nothing to separate these two today and, with an iron in hand, Tiernan finds the fairway and puts Fang under pressure.
The American is up to the task, though, with a fairway wood finding the center of the fairway and leaving him slightly closer than the Irishman.
WHAT A FINAL
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/u3X53VTmwKJune 21, 2025
WHAT A SHOT FROM FANG
Huge moment for the American! After watching his opponent birdie the 34th and 35th holes, Fang plays a dazzler of an approach at the 36th hole that finishes around six-feet from the flag.
Tiernan is under pressure now and, with his back against the wall, he pulls his second left and it finishes off the edge of the green. Fang will, likely, have that putt for the victory.
The winning moment for Ethan Fang!pic.twitter.com/Caf8yJNlF4June 21, 2025
FANG BIRDIES FOR THE VICTORY
Tiernan is first up and, faced with a lengthy putt, his attempt just slides by the left side, finishing a few feet past the hole.
That putt leaves Fang with a six-footer for the victory and, striking the putt, it finds the center of the hole.
Fang becomes the first American to win The Amateur Championship in 18 years, with the victory giving Fang a spot in The Open Championship, The Masters and US Open. What a final day at Royal St George's.
