CHASKA, MINN. — While the U.S. Amateur is open to any amateur with an appropriate handicap, regardless of age, make no mistake: this is a junior and college man’s championship. Not since 2006, the last time Hazeltine National hosted the championship, has there been anyone advance to the final older than 22, including last year when Nick Dunlap beat Neal Shipley at Cherry Hills.

But with stroke-play complete in this year’s championship, all those young stars are looking up at 39-year-old oil and gas landman Jimmy Ellis of Atlantic Beach, Fla. On Tuesday, Ellis posted 10 birdies against one bogey to shoot a nine-under 61 at Chaska Town Course (stroke play co-host) to finish with a 10-under 132, earning him medalist honors.

Ellis’ 61 on Tuesday is the second-lowest 18-hole round in the history of the U.S. Amateur, bested only by Billy Horschel’s 60 at the same course in 2006.

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“That’s crazy. It’s unbelievable,” said Ellis about the feat. “I’m sure the other guys that had scores like that were much bigger names than me, who’s just a blind squirrel. I literally made everything today. I bet if we play this tournament 100 times, there is zero percent chance I would be the medalist.”

Ellis is the first mid-amateur (25 years and older) to medal at the U.S. Amateur since 27-year-old Neil Raymond in 2013 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. Ellis qualified for the U.S. Amateur after winning the 2024 Florida State Amateur in June, when he overcame a seven-shot deficit in the final round by shooting eight-under 64. This is the first year that the USGA awarded exemptions into the U.S. Amateur to winners of state amateurs.

Chris Keane

As that performance and his play so far this week would suggest, Ellis is no stranger to elite competition, even if his humility and self-deprecation indicate otherwise. He played college golf at Ohio University and in 2020 won the Pennsylvania Open at Oakmont Country Club, an extra special accomplishment considering Ellis is a Pittsburgh native.

After that win in 2020, he demonstrated the same likeable qualities on display this week in Minnesota, saying “I’m just an old guy with two kids. These young guys, they are way better than me and could probably beat me nine out of 10 times.”

As part his day job, Ellis buys mineral rights and royalties in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia. Since he works remotely, he and his wife, Alicia, and two children, 7-year-old Palmer and 4-year-old Lyla, moved to northeast Florida. The move has clearly sharpened his game, due in part to the fact that he often plays with 15-year-old phenom Miles Russell, who made his PGA Tour debut earlier this summer in Detroit.

As if the age, kids and job were not clear enough indication that Ellis is not your typical U.S. Amateur contender, consider that he had to buy balls and gloves in the pro shops at both courses this week.

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“They looked at me like I was crazy,” he said. “I’m using a Hazeltine glove because I don’t have any gloves. All these guys get free stuff. I’ve got to like buy some balls … What else are you supposed to do?”

In the age of NIL, equipment deals and free stuff galore in amateur golf, Ellis’ everyman shopping serves as a refreshing reminder that, despite the many differences between he and his younger competitors, good golf doesn’t know the difference.

Jimmy Ellis shakes hands with competitors and their caddies after finishing the second round of stroke play at Chaska Towne Course. His nine-under 61 was the second lowest score ever shot in U.S. Amateur history.

Chris Keane

In stroke play, Ellis finished one shot ahead of Ethan Evans, a rising Duke junior who shot 63 at Chaska Town Course on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, a 14-for-11 playoff among those who finished at even par will determine who will round out the top 64 who will make it to match play. Whoever is the last man in from that playoff with draw Ellis for the Round of 64 match.

“I’m old enough to be most of their dads, and yeah, they’re hitting it probably 40 yards past me,” Ellis said. “But I’m just going to play my game and see what happens.”

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com