CHICAGO — The nation's top junior added another milestone to his remarkable résumé Thursday, becoming the second-youngest player in the Sweet 16 era to earn medalist honors in the 124th Western Amateur presented by Inspire11.

Russell, the No. 5-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), posted the third-lowest medalist score since the championship went to 72 holes of stroke-play qualifying in 1955, finishing at 21-under 263 after rounds of 67-67-64-65. He beat Auburn's Josiah Gilbert, of Millbrook, Alabama, by one shot. Gilbert finished at 20-under 264 after rounds of 65-69-66-64.

Resources: Stroke-Play Standings | Photos | Starting Times

The duo will lead the way to match play, which starts Friday and will be available on ESPN+. Coverage will be available to ESPN+ subscribers via the ESPN app, ESPN.com and connected TV devices starting at 10 a.m. CT on Friday. Coverage of the quarterfinal round will begin at 3 p.m. CT on Friday.

Russell, the Jacksonville Beach, Florida, native, was flawless during Thursday's 36-hole stroke-play finale, playing both rounds bogey-free while recording 13 birdies – seven in the third round and six in the fourth. He arrived in Chicago on Saturday after a runner-up finish in the U.S. Junior Amateur in Pennsylvania.

"It's just the first half," Russell said. "Still got a lot of golf left, and looking to keep up the good play. Last week at the U.S. Junior Am, that was a really long week. I kind of have a feel now of what it's going to be like at the end of it, so just trying to rest and chill out."

At 17 years, 8 months and 29 days, Russell became the second-youngest player to capture the Cameron Eddy Trophy. He’s just four days older C.T. Pan was when he earned medalist honors at Conway Farms Golf Club in 2009.

"I'm pretty exhausted," Russell said. "I spent a lot of time in the rough last week, and that just kind of eats you up. With tournament golf, just the grind and focus you have to have, then you come here and play 36 holes in one day, you just have to grind it out, and that's part of it."

Gilbert, 21, also went bogey-free over the final 36 holes to make his first Sweet 16 in his third Western Amateur appearance. The two-time NCAA team champion closed with a 7-under 64 to carry plenty of momentum into match play.

"Stroke play is definitely a portion that a lot of us take pride in this week," Gilbert said. "It's four rounds and a grueling week, so it's fun to be able to play well and ride that momentum."

Gilbert’s history in the SEC and national championship matches should serve him well as the Western Amateur flips to match play.

"I've been blessed to experience a lot of match play in my time at college, so just lean on that experience and look to grow from it," Gilbert said.

The drama at Beverly Country Club continued into the evening as a 4-for-3 playoff decided the final Sweet 16 qualifiers.

Surviving the three-hole playoff were No. 139 Will Hartman (Vanderbilt), No. 78 Baylor Larrabee (UCLA) and No. 72 Boston Bracken (Arizona State).

No. 124 Kayun Mudadana, of Sydney, Australia, finished alone in third at 18-under after posting a pair of 67s Thursday. Tied for fourth at 16-under were No. 66 Jaden Dumdumaya (USC) and No. 33 Jay Leng (Stanford).

Four players shared sixth at 14-under: No. 3 Tyler Watts (Tennessee commit); No. 109 Michael Riebe (Vanderbilt); No. 24 Carson Bertagnole (North Carolina); and No. 80 Logan Reilly (Auburn), who held the 36-hole lead entering Thursday.

Watts, the highest-ranked amateur in the field, entered the day at 5-under and posted rounds of 65 and 68 to earn his first Sweet 16 appearance in three Western Amateur starts.

Tied for 10th at 13-under were No. 13 Daniel Bennett (Texas); No. 27 Max Herendeen (Illinois); No. 21 Zackary Swanwick (Florida), a 2025 semifinalist; and No. 62 Dean Greyserman (Stanford).

As the top seed, Russell will lead a loaded match-play field beginning at 8 a.m. Friday at The Beverly Country Club.

"It's a fantastic layout and it's fun to play," Russell said. "It's a good test to see where my game is at. I'm playing solid, and it's good to see."

First held at Glen View Club in 1899, the Western Amateur is the third-oldest amateur golf championship in the world – trailing only the British Amateur (1885) and the U.S. Amateur (1895). It consistently draws elite amateur talent from around the globe, with past champions including legends like Charles “Chick” Evans, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Attendance and parking at the Western Amateur are free.

Match Play Bracket
Round of 16
Friday, July 31
8:00 a.m. – Miles Russell, Jacksonville Beach, Florida vs. Boston Bracken, Saint George, Utah
8:12 a.m. – Tyler Watts, Huntsville, Alabama vs. Carson Bertagnole, Pinehurst, North Carolina
8:24 a.m. – Jaden Dumdumaya, Benicia, California vs. Max Herendeen, Champaign, Illinois
8:36 a.m. – Jay Leng, San Diego, California vs. Dean Greyserman, Boca Raton, Florida
8:48 a.m. – Josiah Gilbert, Millbrook, Alabama vs. Baylor Larrabee, Ferndale, Washington
9:00 a.m. – Logan Reilly, Lovettsville, Virginia vs. Daniel Bennett, Pretoria, South Africa
9:12 a.m. – Kayun Mudadana, Sydney, Australia vs. Will Hartman, Marvin, North Carolina
9:24 a.m. – Michael Riebe, Encinitas, California vs. Zackary Swanwick, Napier, New Zealand