CHASKA, Minn. — There is a likely scenario that the most important piece of equipment for the victor in Sunday’s championship match of the U.S. Amateur between Spanish star Jose Luis Ballester and Iowa sophomore Noah Kent will not be one of the player’s 14 clubs, but instead his glove.

That’s because both players at Hazeltine National have written on their gloves important reminders that have helped them play their best golf so far this week.

For Ballester, the world’s 10th-ranked amateur who turns 21 on Sunday, the first phrase is in all caps on the palm and reads in Spanish, “acqui y ahora,” which translates to “here and now.” Staying present is critical to Ballester’s success, he says, which he focused on during his semifinal match on Saturday when he began to think ahead to the perks of being a finalist.

“Sometimes, especially under pressure, we forget about the basics,” said Ballester, a three-time All-American at Arizona State. “Something in these big moments under pressure to think about is just staying in the moment.” Along with that reminder on the palm is the word “tempo,” which is something that Ballester focuses on especially as the pressure increases.

But that’s not all. On the other side of the glove are three “Rs,” which stand for “ritmo, rutina, respiración.” Rhythm, routine and breathing.

“It’s something we all learn from the psychologist for the Spanish team,” Ballester said. “It’s something that I have there as a reminder, when sometimes I’m feeling nervous, I just look at my glove and think about it.”

On Sunday, as Ballester looks to become the first Spanish player to win the U.S. Amateur, should he find himself struggling, he will have these reminders to help him feel present and calm. That was not an issue, however, during Saturday’s semifinal match, when Ballester played near-flawless golf in defeating fellow countryman Luis Masaveu.

“I did a couple times,” Ballester said of looking at the glove. “But I felt so confident and so calm that I felt like I didn’t even need to look at it.”

Ballester’s finals opponent, the 19-year-old Kent, will also have his glove to help him with more than just the connection to the club on Sunday. Written on Kent’s glove are three sets of initials, “NK,” “LS” and “JH,” which are his own, his girlfriend and Iowa dance team member, Livi Shafer, and John Harris, who won the 1993 U.S. Amateur and is a mentor to Kent.

Kent says he added his and Shafer’s initials to his glove shortly after they started dating to give him a sense of perspective that there are other important things in life besides golf. This week, to honor Harris, who is battling health issues, Kent added “JH.”

“Just something to remind me during the round, like it’s a lot bigger things out there than golf,” Kent said of the initials.

Presence for Ballester and perspective for Kent. Two mental keys for great golf that each will be able to channel with a quick glance to the left hand on Sunday during the final of the 124th U.S. Amateur.