American Matt Moloney advances to British Amateur final, will face 33-year-old mid-am

Matt Moloney has a chance to do something that hasn't been accomplished in 50 years come Saturday.The rising junior at Georgia advanced to the final of the 2026 British Amateur at Royal Liverpool, knocking out Phil Mickelson Award winner Kihei Akina in the quarterfinals before topping Germany's Emil Riegger in the semifinals. If Moloney were to take home the title, it would be the first time in half a century that Americans have won consecutive British Ams, with Oklahoma State's Ethan Fang taking the title last year at Royal St.

George's. “It's hard not to think about (winning)," Moloney said. "But like I said, I'm going to try my best because there is a lot of golf left to execute.”

Moloney will face Stuart Grehan, the 33-year-old mid-amateur who was on the GB&I Walker Cup team last year at Cypress Point. Grehan topped Richard Teder of Estonia 2 and 1 to join Moloney in the championship match.The winner Saturday gets three exemptions into majors: the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the 2027 Masters and the 2027 U.

S. Open at Pebble Beach, provided they remain an amateur. The loser doesn't get quite the prize: a spot in final qualifying and the Last Chance Qualifier for the Open.

If Moloney were to win, there's a chance he could be selected for the U.S. Walker Cup team for this fall, too.

Regardless of result, Grehan has made his case to be the mid-am representative for GB&I yet again this year.But come Saturday, Moloney and Grehan will be battling for one of the oldest amateur championships in the world."I'm playing really well," Grehan said.

"Hitting the ball great. Very comfortable. I enjoy all the people out there, the crowds.

Hopefully a few more of them tomorrow. I really enjoyed the match today, and this is what you play for, isn't it? I'm buzzing for tomorrow.”

Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).Th