GLENCOE, Illinois – Inexperience has not been a problem at the 123rd Western Amateur.

Four first-time Sweet 16 qualifiers will make their semifinal debuts at Skokie Country Club on Saturday, punching their tickets after two thrilling rounds of match play on Friday. Ethan Fang, of Plano, Texas, will face Jacob Modleski, of Noblesville, Indiana, in the first semifinal match at 8 a.m. Zack Swanwick, of Napier, New Zealand, will face Jase Summy, of Keller, Texas, in the second match at 8:12 a.m.

Live coverage of the semifinals will stream from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Coverage will resume at 1 p.m. CT for the entire final match.

Resources: Full Results

Fang and Swanwick, who shared stroke-play medalist honors, became the first co-medalists to reach the semifinals since Bob Byman and Randy Simmons in 1975.

Currently ranked No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Fang delivered a statement win in the quarterfinals, taking down No. 2 Ben James 3 and 1 in a match that drew a sizable gallery. The Oklahoma State standout seized the lead with a birdie on the first hole and never lost control against the First Team All-American from Virginia.

“It’s been a long week but a lot of fun,” Fang said. “I’m going to rest up, get some food, and prepare for another 36 holes tomorrow.”

Fresh off his victory at The Amateur Championship in England in June, Fang is aiming to become just the fourth player ever to win both The Amateur and Western Amateur titles – and the first to accomplish the double in the same year.

He'll have to get past Notre Dame junior Modleski, the reigning ACC Champion. Ranked No. 18 in WAGR, Modleski parred the final hole to edge Illinois’ Max Herendeen 2 up in the Round of 16, then dispatched Mississippi State’s Garrett Endicott 3 up in the quarterfinals.

Modleski credited his uncle, who is caddying for him, with helping him maintain focus throughout a demanding week.

“He’s a very knowledgeable golfer, so he’s been great to have with me,” Modleski said. “He’s really helped me stay oriented – reminding me to eat, drink and stay sharp during these long days.”

A runner-up at the 2023 Western Junior at Midlothian Country Club on the south side of Chicago, Modleski is hoping to make a championship breakthrough this week.

“It’s cool to see that experience translate,” he said. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Swanwick, a sophomore at Florida who is ranked No. 93 in WAGR, went the distance in both of his matches on Friday. After knocking off Virginia’s Bryan Lee in the Round of 16, he outlasted Northwestern’s Cameron Adam (WAGR No. 25) 1 up with a clutch bogey save on the 18th, sending the crowd into a roar.

“It was a relief to be honest,” Swanwick said. “I wasn’t expecting to play all 36 today, but making that putt on 18 was a big relief.”

Swanwick will square off against No. 9 Summy, the Oklahoma Sooner who showed resilience of his own. Summy never led in his morning match against Texas standout Tommy Morrison (WAGR No. 6) until making a par at the 18th. He followed that with a 2 and 1 win over Arizona’s Taishi Moto in the afternoon session.

“I was really good mentally,” Summy said. “I stayed in it and fought to the end.”

After missing the cut at last year’s championship, Summy is embracing the moment.

“It’s been a long couple of days. The growth has been amazing,” he said. “I’m excited to see how deep I can go.”

First played at Glen View Club in 1899, the Western Amateur is the world’s third-oldest amateur championship, behind only the British Amateur (1885) and the U.S. Amateur (1895). It regularly attracts the top players from across the country and around the world, with past champions like Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

Attendance and parking at the Western Amateur are free.

Round of 16 Results
Friday, Aug. 1
Ethan Fang, Plano, Texas, def. Hugo Le Goff, Melun, France, 5 and 4
Benjamin James, Milford, Conn., def. Eric Lee, Fullerton, Calif., 4 and 2
Garrett Endicott, San Antonio, Texas, def. Anh Minh Nguyen, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1 up
Jacob Modleski, Noblesville, Ind., def. Max Herendeen, Bellevue, Wash., 2 up
Zack Swanwick, Napier, New Zealand, def. Bryan Lee, Fairfax, Va., 1 up
Cameron Adam, Edinburgh, Scotland, def. William Sides, Tulsa, Okla., 19 holes
Jase Summy, Keller, Texas, def. Tommy Morrison, Dallas, Texas, 1 up
Taishi Moto, Yokohama City, Japan, def. Stewart Hagestad, West Palm Beach, Fla., 3 and 2

Quarterfinal Results
Friday, Aug. 1
Fang def. James, 3 and 1
Modleski def. Endicott, 3 and 2
Swanwick def. Adam, 1 up
Summy def. Moto, 2 and 1

Semifinals
Saturday, Aug. 2
Fang vs. Modleski, 8 a.m.
Swanwick vs. Summy, 8:12 a.m.

Final
Saturday, Aug. 2
Scheduled for 1 p.m.