2026 PA Amateur Day 3 Recap

OAKMONT, Pa. – After three rounds at Oakmont Country Club in the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) 113^th Amateur Championship, only one player finished under par: The 1912 Club’s Josh Ryan, who finished at -1 (69-74-69—212) to win his third PAGA title.

Ryan, who previously won the 2022 George Dressler Memorial and 2020 R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship (and was runner-up at the 2026 Sigel), was tied for the lead at this year’s Amateur after a first round -2 (69) and equaled that score today on a windy Wednesday at Oakmont. He put together a strong start that saw him -3 after seven holes. He birdied holes No. 3, 4, and 7, along with 11 and 12, but rallied and parred the final two holes to clinch the championship.

“It feels pretty good,” said Ryan. “It’s been a minute since I’ve hoisted a trophy so it’s definitely nice to be back in the mix. It’s been nice to be home for the summer and playing PA stuff again. This place was special. It got harder throughout the week as the pins and the weather got more challenging. I didn’t look at the leaderboard all day so I had no idea until on the last hole my caddy said “Well done, champ.” and that was the first time I knew.”

“Today we had some really difficult conditions,” said Dave Sims, who caddied for Ryan in all three rounds this week. “I’d say Oakmont really showed its teeth but it was the best tournament round I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve been fortunate enough to be an Oakmont caddy for 27 years and caddy in US Amateurs and US Opens for the world’s greatest, and this was hands-down the best round of golf I’ve ever caddied for. Josh played great, it was a gutsy performance, and I’ll remember this one forever.”

“The first two rounds I kind of hit it everywhere and just had to manage,” said Ryan. “Dave and I had a very good plan of just hitting center greens. I got in trouble a lot the first two days and made pars where I could but today was different. My ball striking was really good and I hit it to an inch on 7 and a 3-wood to eight feet on 12. I just hit it in the right spots and maybe had one bad swing all day. It was really nice.”

Today’s win also comes with an exemption into the 126^th US Amateur, taking place August 10-16 at Merion Golf Club – which would have been more impressive had Ryan not already secured his spot last week at US Amateur Final Qualifying at Llanerch Country Club.

“I’ve never officially qualified,” said Ryan. “I got in as a second alternate two years ago but got injured the week of the Amateur, so I’m excited to play it and hopefully not be injured. Qualifiers are hard and not really my specialty so it’s really nice when you can get in. The USGA is really special and they treat you well. I’m looking forward to it and it’s funny that I qualified twice in two weeks.”

Ryan’s cheering section today also included his mother, who has been there supporting him throughout the years.

“Golf’s a journey,” said Ryan. “During Junior golf she was there all the time, then college golf we traveled a lot more and she couldn’t get out as much. This was her first event she’s come out to all summer so I was joking with her that she can’t leave me now. But it’s just special. It’s always the best feeling coming off the last hole, knowing you played well, and you can just hug your mom.”    

The 2026 PAGA Amateur runner-up was Kahkwa Club’s Breckin Taylor,  who finished at +2 (73-70-72—215) for the week. He was +2 after seven holes and bogeys on 1 and 7 but brought it back with birdies on 9 and 15.

In third place was Oakmont Country Club’s Carson Kittsley at +3 (69-72-75—216), who held at least a share of the lead after rounds 1 and 2 and started well in the final round with a -2 (34) at the turn after birdies on 5 and 8, but four bogeys and a double on the back nine ended his medalist hopes.

Rounding out the top five finishers were Andrew Friend (Oakmont Country Club) with a +4 (74-69-74—217) in fourth place and Austin Lemieux (Allegheny Country Club)’s +5 (75-70-73—218) in fifth place.

Next up on the PAGA schedule is the 67^th Senior Amateur Championship, scheduled for August 3-4 at Berkshire Country Club.

Complete results from this week’s Championship can be found here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12370414035559034451

The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Oakmont Country Club for the hospitality shown during this week’s Championship. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA.