DALLAS -- Hamilton Coleman made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 35th hole to hold on for a 2-and-1 victory Saturday over Minh Nguyen of Vietnam in the U.S. Junior Amateur.

The victory sends the 17-year-old Coleman, from Augusta, Georgia, to the U.S. Open next year at Shinnecock Hills.

Coleman, who plans to play college golf at Georgia, never trailed in the 36-hole match at Trinity Forest. But it nearly went the distance because of the relentless play of Nguyen, who has committed to play at Oregon State.

Coleman went 5 up through 12 holes in the morning 18 holes, only for Nguyen to win three of the next four holes. Coleman took a 3-up lead into the afternoon and was 4 up with 11 holes to play when Nguyen again rallied.

"I knew I couldn't ease my way into winning. I had to keep hitting qual

See Full Page