Lucas Politano delivered one of the most dominant performances in Vermont Amateur Championship history, pulling away from the field during Thursday’s 36-hole finale to claim the 120th Vermont Amateur Championship at Ekwanok Country Club.
Politano entered the final day with a one-shot lead after rounds of 70 and 66. He maintained his advantage through the morning with a third-round 71 before putting the championship out of reach in the afternoon. His final-round 65 (-5) was the lowest round of the championship and featured six birdies on holes 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15, with his lone bogey coming on the 17th hole. The stellar closing round propelled him to an 8-under-par total of 272 and a commanding 12-shot victory.
Alex Leonard, who was leading after the opening round and began Thursday just one shot behind Politano, finished runner-up at 4-over par after rounds of 73 and 74.
Walker Allen made one of the biggest moves of the championship during the final day. After making the cut at 8-over through 36 holes, Allen posted rounds of 69 and 68 to climb into a tie for third at 5-over alongside Austin Giroux.
Luke Russell, Garren Poirier, and Evan Russell finished tied for fifth at 8-over, while William Mallia claimed eighth at 10-over. Mathew Smith and Troy Goliber rounded out the top 10, tying for ninth at 12-over.
In the McCullough Cup team competition, Burlington Country Club captured the title with a 36-hole team total of 22-over par (582). The winning team consisted of Alex Leonard, Michael Walsh, Bryan Smith, Evan Forrest, and Cameron Saia, finishing eight strokes ahead of host Ekwanok Country Club (+30). Vermont National Country Club (+35) claimed third, while Rutland Country Club finished fourth at 36-over par.
Politano’s victory marks his second Vermont Amateur Championship title, adding the 2026 championship to the crown he won in 2024. His closing 65 showcased the complete game that has made him one of Vermont’s premier amateur golfers, as he pulled away from the field over the final 18 holes to earn one of the largest margins of victory in championship history.
With the victory, Politano earns the title of Vermont Amateur Champion and secures an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship.