Georgia teenager Mason Howell wins US Amateur to become youngest champion since 2009
This was the first US Amateur final featuring two teenagers since Matt Fitzpatrick bested Oliver Goss in 2013 at The Country Club and Howell showed the composure of a much more experienced golfer by repeatedly making clutch putts while Herrington made repeated mistakes.
Howell won 11 holes, eight of them with pars. He also responded after all four holes he lost, winning the following hole each time.
Howell burst onto the scene when he qualified for the US Open this year with rounds of 63-63 from the Atlanta sectional. He failed to make the cut at Oakmont but used that experience this week at The Olympic Club.
He was one of 17 players to advance from a 20-man playoff to make the match play portion of the tournament, where he won all six matches.
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THE MOOSE IS LOOSE 🫎
Mason Howell wins the U.S. Amateur Championship!
— USGA (@USGA)
Howell won five of six holes on the front nine of the opening 18 holes — including an eagle at No. 7 — to take a 4 up lead. He increased the lead to 5 up with a birdie on the par-5 16th hole as his steady putting helped keep Herrington at bay.
Herrington closed the first 18 with a birdie on the par-5 18th to get back within four. But he then bogeyed the first three holes after the lunch break to fall 6 down and never really threatened the rest of the way.
Howell now gets ready for his senior year of high school before he is set to start college at the University of Georgia in 2026.
The 19-year-old Herrington is about to start his sophomore season in college at Tennessee.
This is the fourth US Amateur to be held at The Olympic Club. Charles Coe (1958), Nathaniel Crosby (1981), and Colt Knost (2007) won the others.
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