SAN FRANCISCO — Georgia teenager Mason Howell concluded his productive summer before his junior year of high school by winning the US amateur championship at the Olympic Club on Sunday just two months after competing at his first US Open.
Howell, who turned 18 in June, took a big lead at Tennessee teenager Jackson Herrington in the opening 18 holes, winning the 36-hole Finals 7 and 6, surpassing Tiger Woods and becoming the third youngest American amateur champion to date. Byeong Hun An, who won in 2009 at the age of 17, was young, and Danny Lee, who won a month after his 18th birthday in 2008, was the only one.
“It’s all confused together,” Howell said of his feelings. “It’s been such a great week. It’s incredible to have my name next to these other names in this trophy. It’s unrealistic to be next to someone named Tiger.”
Howell won by par, halving the 30th hole and finished the most loppy final since Bryson Decanbaugh defeated Derekbirds 7 and 6 in 2015. He also won a spot in a Walker Cup match down the coast of Cypress Point in September.
“I always felt like I had it,” Howell said of his play this summer. “It’s self-belief. I knew it was in me. I just had to walk with confidence and I think it leads to good golf and staying positive.”
This was the first US amateur final to feature two teenagers since Matt Fitzpatrick won Oliver Goth in 2013.
Howell won 11 holes. He also responded after all four holes he lost, winning the next hole every time.
Howell went into the scene this year when he qualified for the US Open in the 63-63 round from the Atlanta section. He failed to make a cut at Oakmont, but used the experience this week at the Olympic Club.
He was one of 17 players who advanced from the 20-man playoffs to win the match portion of the tournament, winning all six games.
“To be honest, I knew how good he was for a long time,” said his father, Robert Howell. “He had an incredible breakout summer.”
Howell won five of the six holes on nine front nine of the opening 18 holes (including Eagle No. 7) took a four-hole lead. He increased his lead to five on the par 5 16th hole with a birdie as his steady putt kept Herrington at bay.
“That was one of the things we really wanted to start today was getting a lead through the nine,” Howell said. “We got off to such a good start. We wanted to step into the gas, but we didn’t want to do anything stupid. We hit a lot of the Greens’ centre and found it to have two putts that are good enough.”
Herrington returned within four after closing the first 18 with a birdie in par 5 18th place. However, he defeated the first three holes after lunch and didn’t really threaten the rest of the road.
“He played well, and I didn’t play great,” Herrington said. “The sad part is, I was like that, but I learned a lot about myself.”
Howell is ready for a junior high school student that began this week before starting college at the University of Georgia in 2026.
“At the end of the day, I have to sit in the classroom for the next eight hours,” Howell said. “I just absorbed this and really enjoyed this with my friends and family.”
Herrington, 19, is about to begin his sophomore season at a university in 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 others.
