4 days ago
Mason Howell Edges Out Jon Daly II, Punches Ticket to US Amateur Semifinals
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The Friday afternoon quarterfinal at the 125th US Amateur Championship was like a tug-of-war between Jon Daly II, the son of a two-time major champion, and Mason Howell, an 18-year-old from south Georgia at The Olympic Club.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Amateur Mason Howell of the United States watches his shot from the ninth teeduring the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club on August 15,...
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Amateur Mason Howell of the United States watches his shot from the ninth teeduring the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club on August 15, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Image Credits: Getty Images) More
From the opening tee shot on the Lake Course, the match was tense. Howell struck first, shooting a par on the opening hole. But for Daly II, it came with a bogey. The 22-year-old bounced back with four birdies on holes Nos. 4, 7, 8 and 11 to match the level.
But on the 14th, Howell drained a clutch birdie putt after Daly missed his own, giving the Georgian a 1-up lead. Both players parred the next three holes, setting up a dramatic finish on the 18th.
All said, Howell punched his ticket to Saturday's semifinal against Oklahoma State's Eric Lee.
"I feel good. ... (It) sucks to come up short," John Daly's son told USGA afterwards on Friday. "(Howell) played a great round. A couple things didn't go my way. ... It's been an awesome week. The support was awesome. Just blessed to be here."
The 22-year-old's run to the quarterfinals capped a stellar summer. He won the Southern Amateur, placed third at the Northeast Amateur, and climbed 314 spots to No. 121 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
His performance at The Olympic Club marked the deepest US Amateur run by a Razorback since David Lingmerth in 2009.
But Friday belonged to Howell.
🚨✅🇺🇸 #WATCH — High school
student Mason Howell defeats John Daly II 1 UP to advance to the semi finals at the U.S. Amateur — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 16, 2025
"(Daly II's) family has so much legacy, I understand it," Howell expressed after his win on Friday. He added, "I'm just a boy from south Georgia. ... I hope a lot of people got their eyes opened to my golf game (Friday)."
The Georgia boy, who qualified for the US Open earlier this year with back-to-back rounds of 63 in the Atlanta sectional, has been quietly building momentum.
His win over Daly II followed victories against top-ranked Virginia senior Ben James and Illinois junior Max Herendeen.
Now, with just two wins separating him from a US Amateur title and a likely Masters invitation, Howell is no longer flying under the radar. He's walking straight into the spotlight.
The semifinals were set to begin at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, with Howell versus Lee and Niall Shiels Donegan versus Jackson Herrington rounding out the final four.
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