News

Utah Golfers’ U.S. Amateur Runs Come to an End at Merion

The run for players with Utah ties at the 126th U.S. Amateur came to an end Thursday at Merion Golf Club, but not before incoming BYU freshman Drake Harvey added another chapter to his summer and Arizona State rising sophomore Bowen Mauss advanced deep into the national championship.

Harvey advanced to the Round of 16 before falling 1 down to Michael Lugiano, while Mauss, the back-to-back Utah State Amateur champion, was eliminated in the Round of 32 by Jack Whaley, 2 and 1.

Harvey’s week included one of Thursday morning’s more notable wins. The Las Vegas native defeated three-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad, 2 and 1, to become the ninth BYU golfer ever to reach the U.S. Amateur’s Round of 16.

Drake Harvey watches his tee shot at the fifth hole during the round of 16 of the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Ishika Samant/USGA)

According to BYU Athletics, Harvey’s run was the deepest by a Cougar since Devon Purser reached the same round in 2012. BYU’s U.S. Amateur history includes John Fought’s 1977 championship. Fought, now a renowned golf course architect, went on to earn PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors in 1979.

Harvey took control early against Hagestad, winning Nos. 2 and 4 with birdies and No. 6 with a par to build a 3-up advantage. Another birdie at No. 12 pushed the margin to 4 up. Hagestad won Nos. 15 and 16, but a halve at the 17th sent Harvey into the afternoon.

There, Lugiano gave Harvey everything he could handle.

Harvey fell 1 down at the opening hole before responding with wins at Nos. 3 and 6. Lugiano squared the match at No. 9, and neither player could create much separation on Merion’s back nine.

Harvey won No. 11, Lugiano answered at No. 12 and then moved 1 up with a win at the 14th. Harvey squared the match again at No. 16, setting up a finish that came down to the final two holes.

At No. 17, Lugiano’s par left the BYU freshman 1 down. They halved the 18th, sending Lugiano into Friday’s quarterfinals and ending Harvey’s first U.S. Amateur appearance in the Round of 16..

Earlier in the week, Harvey tied Merion’s competitive course record with an opening-round 64 and finished stroke-play qualifying at 4-under par.

Mauss, meanwhile, reached the Round of 32 after defeating Virgilio Paz, 1 up, in Wednesday’s opening match. The Arizona State golfer advanced through 36-hole stroke-play qualifying with rounds of 68-73 for a 1-over 141. His run ended Thursday morning when Whaley closed out their Round of 32 match, 2 and 1.

Bowen Mauss watches his tee shot at the sixth hole during the round of 32 of the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Ishika Samant/USGA)

Mauss entered the championship ranked No. 201 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after producing three top-10 finishes during his freshman season at Arizona State. His summer included something even more familiar to Utah golf followers: a second consecutive Utah State Amateur title in July at Soldier Hollow Golf Course.

With Harvey and Mauss eliminated, the U.S. Amateur moves into Friday’s quarterfinal matches. Saturday’s semifinals are scheduled for noon and 12:20 p.m., with Sunday’s 36-hole championship match beginning at 7 a.m.

Players with Utah Ties:
Drake Harvey lost in Round of 16
Bowen Mauss lost in Round of 32
Kihei Akina lost in Round of 64
Tyson Shelley lost in Round of 64
Sergio Jimenez lost in Round 64
Boston Bracken lost in Round of 64
Gabriel Palacios failed to make match play
Steele Dewald failed to make match play

Click here for the scoring website from the U.S. Amateur.

2026 U.S. Amateur recap written by Fairways Media publisher Randy Dodson. Photos courtesy of the USGA as credited. Information for this story was compiled from USGA championship coverage and press releases, BYU Athletics and Arizona State Athletics.