Everyone loves an underdog story and that’s exactly what golf fans got for the first two rounds of the 2024 U.S. Amateur. In what’s essentially the biggest college golf tournament on the planet, a 39-year-old with a day job earned medalist honors at Hazeltine to the surprise of everyone—including himself.

“That’s crazy. It’s unbelievable,” Ellis said of his feat after Tuesday’s second round. “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.”

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That’s an amazingly honest quote from a man who has a pretty darned good golf resume, including winning the 2024 Florida State Amateur to get into this tournament. But arriving as the No. 783 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking makes him a real Cinderella story—especially as a guy with two young kids who probably love, well, Cinderella.

In fact, Ellis became the first mid-amateur (over 25) to earn medalist honors at this event since 27-year-old Neil Raymond in 2013. And adding to his folk legend status is the fact that he had to buy golf balls and a golf glove from the Hazeltine pro shop this week.

“They looked at me like I was crazy,” Ellis 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?”

Fair point, Jimmy. To be sure, there are a lot of college studs from Gordon Sargent to Luke Clanton who are swimming in free gear. And Ellis put the situation even more bluntly when he talked to Golf Channel.

“I don’t get free sh–.”

Classic. Well, Jimmy, keep this up for a few more days and that will definitely change.

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This article was originally published on golfdigest.com