High School Golfer Competes in US Open Qualifiers

Mason Howell, a 17-year-old junior from Georgia, is gearing up for his final year of high school and already has some impressive achievements under his belt. Recently, he participated in the 2025 US Open at the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, showcasing his skills by shooting an incredible 18-under par in the second round.

Howell ranks among the country’s top junior golfers, holding the eighth position on the American Junior Golf Association’s leaderboard. His participation is quite significant, especially considering he qualified as the 496th amateur in the tournament.

“It was one of the greatest moments of my life,” Howell reflected after completing both rounds.

The event is commonly referred to as “The Longest Day of Golf,” where amateur competitors have to play two full rounds to secure a spot in the major tournament. This year’s US Open will be hosted at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.

Despite the challenges of the day, Howell managed to finish without any bogeys, impressively scoring 63 in both rounds, which earned him a coveted position in the US Open.

Interestingly, Howell’s journey was linked with Jackson Buchanan, a 22-year-old golfer from Illinois. However, the qualifying field wasn’t just filled with amateurs; there were seasoned players like Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, competing as well. Only the top five from the leaderboard will proceed to Oakmont, and Howell is definitely entering the tournament with a lot of momentum.

Howell hails from Thomasville, Georgia, and is a member of the Brookwood High School boys golf team, which recently secured its fourth state title in five years. Looking ahead, he has already committed to continuing his golfing career with the Georgia Bulldogs, even with another year of high school left before graduation.