F-5: Winner of 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur

The former Illinois State University basketball player will make his first U.S. Open start by virtue of claiming the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship last fall at Troon Country Club, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The long-hitting Holtz defeated Jeg Coughlin III in the 36-hole final, punctuating the title with an 8-foot eagle on the par-4 16th hole. This was the reinstated amateur's first-ever start in a USGA championship. Holtz was a back-up guard for Illinois State (2005-09) before briefly trying his hand at professional golf, playing a variety of mini-tour events. A real estate agent in the Bloomington, Ill., area, Holtz regained his amateur status in 2024.