Neal Shipley Has Priceless Reaction to Making U.S. Am Final, Punching Masters Ticket

Shipley clinched his spot in the U.S. Amateur championship match against Nick Dunlap in epic fashion.

There was a lot on the line for the four U.S. Amateur semifinalists on Saturday afternoon at Cherry Hills Country Club. 

Not only would the two winners of the semifinal matches move on to the pressure-packed 36-hole championship match on Sunday, but they would each receive coveted invitations to both the 2024 Masters and U.S. Open at Pinehurst.

So when Neal Shipley hit his approach shot on the 17th hole to tap-in range—all but solidifying his 2 and 1 victory over Auburn’s John Marshall Butler—the 22-year-old could not contain his emotion. 

The long-haired Ohio State University graduate student high-fived his caddie and erupted into a series of celebratory cries, wading his way through the sea of spectators closing in on the fairway. 

THE SHOT! THE SPIN! THE SHIP! 🛳️@OhioStateMGOLF's Neal Shipley has punched his ticket to the #USAmateur championship match! pic.twitter.com/O9rX9VHn5X

— USGA (@USGA) August 19, 2023

Shipley, who was at one point three down to his opponent, staged an epic comeback on the back nine, winning five of the final seven holes in the match. 

It all culminated with the approach on 17, which landed more than 30 feet beyond the pin and spun back to less than two feet for birdie. 

The other semifinal match had its fair share of drama as well, with the former U.S. Junior Amateur champion Nick Dunlap taking down Tallahassee, Fla. native Parker Bell 3 and 2. 

Dunlap lost the fifth hole to go 1 down to Bell early. But the University of Alabama sophomore quickly gained momentum when he won consecutive holes on Nos. 8 and 9 en route to the victory.

“I'm a fighter,” Dunlap said. “I don't give up, no matter what the situation is, no matter what's thrown at me. I see it as a challenge.”

On Sunday Dunlap will have the chance to join Tiger Woods as the only player to win both the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Amateur. 

But regardless of the outcome in Colorado on Sunday, both amateurs will go home knowing that tee times at Augusta National and Pinehurst are officially on the horizon.