Thomasville, Ga., teenager caps a dream week with one of the most dominant finals in recent memory, winning the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship.

Coming into the championship as the No. 362 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and the 63rd seed out of stroke play, Mason Howell was hardly on the short list of pre-tournament favorites. In fact, the 18-year-old had to survive a 20-for-17 playoff just to secure a place in match play. But by Sunday evening at The Olympic Club, the Thomasville, Ga., native was lifting the Havemeyer Trophy after a commanding 7&6 victory over 19-year-old Jackson Herrington of Dickson, Tenn.

At just 18 years, one month and three weeks old, Howell became the third-youngest U.S. Amateur champion in history, finishing ahead of Tiger Woods’ first title age mark. The win not only cements his name among the legends engraved on the Havemeyer but also guarantees him exemptions into the 2026 Masters, the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, and a likely invitation to the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He also earned an automatic place on the 2025 USA Walker Cup Team at Cypress Point.

The Final Match

Herrington briefly led after Howell bogeyed the first two holes of the morning 18, but it would be the only time the Tennessean was ahead. Howell steadied himself quickly, rattling off three straight pars to flip the match, then delivered the shot of the day on Olympic’s drivable par-4 seventh. His tee ball found the green, and he rolled in the eagle putt to surge ahead. By lunch, Howell was 4 up and in full command.

In the afternoon, Howell’s formula was simple: find fairways, hit the center of greens, and refuse to give anything away. Herrington, a rising sophomore at Tennessee, struggled to apply pressure, while Howell extended his lead with steady pars and another near-green drive on the short par-4 7th (the 25th hole of the match). By the 30th hole, Howell was dormie-6. When Herrington conceded Howell’s short birdie putt, the championship was over with six holes to spare.

A Meteoric Rise

For those who have followed Howell’s journey, the victory fits a pattern of precocious achievements. He first swung a club at age five, once dressed as Bobby Jones for Halloween, and by 14 had fired a 59 at Glen Arven Country Club, his home course. His junior career included wins at the Future Masters (13–14) in 2022 and the Billy Horschel Junior Championship in 2023. This spring, he captured the Georgia Independent Athletic Association state title while leading Brookwood School to yet another team championship.

His breakout moment on the national stage came earlier this summer at U.S. Open Final Qualifying. Howell authored one of the most remarkable performances in memory, posting back-to-back 63s—18 birdies, 18 pars—to become the youngest player in the Oakmont field. Although he missed the cut, the experience steeled him for the spotlight that awaited in San Francisco.

The Road at Olympic

As the 63rd seed, Howell’s margin for error was razor-thin. But match play revealed a tougher competitor than his résumé suggested. He battled through early matches before eliminating notable names, including John Daly II in the quarterfinals and Oklahoma State standout Eric Lee in the semifinals. Each win seemed to sharpen his confidence and polish his demeanor. By Sunday, Howell looked every bit the seasoned contender, not a teenager who had only just begun his senior year of high school—one he had to miss the first week of in order to play the championship.

What the Win Means

The Havemeyer Trophy is just the beginning. Beyond major exemptions and the Walker Cup nod, Howell’s victory adds to the storied legacy of Glen Arven Country Club, his home club, which has produced four U.S. Women’s Amateur champions and now its first U.S. Amateur. For the University of Georgia, where Howell has committed for 2026, it signals another cornerstone player in the Bulldogs’ long line of champions. His sister Megan already plays for the program, and his mother is a UGA alumna.

For Howell, though, the win is about proving himself on golf’s toughest amateur stage. From 362nd in the WAGR and the 63rd seed to U.S. Amateur champion, his journey this week epitomized why the event remains the crucible of amateur golf. The teenager who once idolized Bobby Jones now joins him on a championship roll call at Olympic Club—a fitting place for a new chapter of history.

At a Glance: Mason Howell

• Age: 18
• Hometown: Thomasville, Georgia
• WAGR: 362 (entering the U.S. Amateur)
• College: Committed to University of Georgia (2026)
• Major Appearances: 2025 U.S. Open (Oakmont)
• Career Highlights: 59 at Glen Arven CC; Winner of 2022 Future Masters (13–14), 2023 Billy Horschel Junior Championship, 2025 Georgia HS State Title
• Sponsors: Ping, Holderness & Bourne, FootJoy, Titleist

Final Score: Mason Howell def. Jackson Herrington, 7&6