F-4: Winner of 2024 U.S. Amateur

Last August, Ballester, a rising senior and All-American at Arizona State University, became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur, and joined idol and 2021 U.S. Open champion Jon Ram as a USGA champion. Ballester defeated Floridian Noah Kent in the 36-hole final at Hazeltine National Golf Club, in Chaska, Minn. This came a year after he won the 2023 European Amateur, which earned him a spot in the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. He also won the 2020 Spanish Amateur. Prior to enrolling at Arizona State, he advanced to the final match of The R&A Boys Amateur, losing to Conor Gough in the final. His parents were both outstanding athletes in other endeavors. His mother, Sonia Barrio won a gold medal for Spain in field hockey at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, while his father, Jose, was an Olympic-caliber swimmer. Ballester is coached by Sergio Garcia's father, Victor, and considers the Masters champion to be a mentor. Garcia texted Ballester during his U.S. Amateur run. Registered 3.5 points out of a possible 4 during the International side's 2022 Palmer Cup victory. In February, he finished tied for 17th in the PGA Tour's Mexico Open. Ballester also grew up with 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion and Kansas State senior Carla Bernat Escuder.