Alec Ross posted four sub-80 rounds to win his only major title, two strokes ahead of runner-up Gilbert Nicholls.

[1][2] After the first 36 holes on Thursday, Ross owned a one-shot lead over Jack Hobens,[3] who recorded the first hole-in-one in U.S. Open history in the second round.

Hobens led Nicholls by one after the third round on Friday morning, but an 85 in the afternoon dropped him to fourth place.

Ross' older brother Donald, the famed golf course architect, finished tenth.

[1][2] Defending champion Alex Smith opted to play in the Open Championship in England, held on the same two days at Hoylake.