José_Luis_Ballester_(golfer)

José Luis Ballester (golfer)

José Luis Ballester (golfer)

Spanish golfer

José Luis Ballester Barrio (born 18 August 2003) is a Spanish amateur golfer. He won the 2020 Spanish Amateur and the European Amateur and European Amateur Team Championship in 2023.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ballester and the second or maternal family name is Barrio.
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Early life and family

Ballester was born in Castellón and is known as Josele. His parents are José Luis Ballester, an Olympic swimmer, and Sonia Barrio, a field hockey player who won gold at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[1] Ballester is coached by Sergio García's father and considers Sergio to be a mentor, and uses Joaquín Niemann's mental coach.[2]

Amateur career

Ballester had a successful junior career and lost the final of the 2018 Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club to Conor Gough, 3 and 1.[3][4] In 2019, he won the Spanish U-16 Championship and played for Spain in the European Young Masters, where he won silver at Kunětická Hora in the Czech Republic.[5] He was runner-up at the 2019 Junior Orange Bowl International and the 2020 Desert Amateur in the United States.[6]

Ballester won the 2020 Spanish Amateur at Real Club Sevilla Golf, beating Jannik De Bruyn of Germany, 3 and 1, in the final.[7]

In 2021, Ballester enrolled at Arizona State University and started playing college golf with the Arizona State Sun Devils men's golf team, where he earned All-American honors in each of his first two seasons.[8] He has trained with Sun Devils alumni Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson.[2]

At the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup in Switzerland, he replaced Eugenio Chacarra who turned professional before the event. Ballester won 3.5 of 4 possible points as the international team beat the Americans 33–27.[9]

In 2023, he won the European Amateur by 2 strokes at Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia, which earned him invitation to the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.[10]

Amateur wins

Source:[6]

Results in major championships

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  Did not play

"T" = tied

Team appearances

Amateur

Source:[6]

References

  1. [1]
    Gussoni, Andrea. "Josele Ballester, a new spanish Tiger Woods". Tennis World USA. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  2. [2]
    Cooper, Matt (18 July 2023). "Open Championship diary day two: Matt Cooper reports from Royal Liverpool". Sporting Life. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. [3]
    "R&A Championships and International Matches 2018" (PDF). The R&A. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Gough wins British Boys, Irish parents thrilled". Irish Golf Desk. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  5. [5]
    "José Luis Ballester wins the Spanish Under 16 Championship". Mediterráneo Golf. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Jose Luis Ballester Barrio". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  7. [7]
    "El castellonense José Luis Ballester, campeón de la Copa del Rey de Golf 2020" (in Spanish). Castellon Plaza. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Men's Golf Roster: Josele Ballester". Sun Devil Athletics. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Team International Wins 2022 Palmer Cup". Arnold Palmer Cup. 20 July 2023.
  10. [10]
    "Jose Luis Ballester Crowned European Amateur Champion in Estonia". European Golf Association. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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