​MIDWAY — The annual Utah Men’s State Amateur is billed as a young man’s tournament, a theme organizers clearly hoped would resonate with competitors, but 38-year-old Cameron Crawford seemed to hear a different message this week at Soldier Hollow. A former Utah Tech golfer dating back to when the school was Dixie State College, Crawford won both of his Friday matches—one that stretched five extra holes—in the quarterfinals and semifinals, despite being the oldest player left in what is billed as the longest continuously held golf tournament in the world.
Crawford’s two victories on Friday came in markedly different styles, both memorable. In the quarterfinals, he outlasted BYU sophomore Jackson Mauss with a par on the 23rd hole. Then in the semifinals, he defeated Utah State’s Noah Moody with an eagle on the par-4 18th, the 347-yard downhill finishing hole. Moody tied the contest with a birdie on the 17th, but Crawford drove the green on the final hole and rolled in a 10-foot eagle putt to seal the win.
On the other side of the draw stands the defending champion, Bowen Mauss, a Draper native and former Corner Canyon High standout who is also a sophomore at Arizona State. Bowen is the younger brother of Jackson Mauss, who came up short by two wins in an attempt to orchestrate the first-ever brothers’ showdown in a State Am final. Bowen Mauss claimed the 127th State Amateur title last year at Logan Country Club and moved forward Friday by defeating two fellow collegians to reach the championship match.
The 36-hole final between Bowen Mauss and Cameron Crawford is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, with play to take place entirely on Soldier Hollow’s Gold Course.
Bowen Mauss, seeking to defend his title, spoke with resolve after advancing by a decisive 3-and-2 margin over Lehi’s KJ Ofahengaue, who is transitioning from Utah Tech to Utah Valley. “Returning to defend my title is definitely something I wanted to do,” Mauss said. “I have no reason not to play in this. It is one of the best events of the year, and I want to win it as much as I can.” He wrapped up the semifinal by closing out Ofahengaue on the 16th hole with a par after Ofahengaue’s approach found trouble on the week’s closing par-3 hole, and Ofahengaue conceded the match.
Mauss’s quarterfinal triumph over Layton’s David Liechty—who is moving from Utah Tech to BYU—took 19 holes and echoed last year’s semifinal thriller at Logan CC in its intensity. Liechty led by two holes on the front nine, the first time Mauss had trailed all week, but Mauss rallied with a birdie on 11 to square the match. Liechty briefly took the lead again on the par-3 14th after Mauss missed a 6-foot par opportunity, and he held that advantage through the 17th. Mauss made a clutch putt on No. 17 to stay alive and force the deciding hole.
As if the weekend’s drama weren’t enough, the tournament’s pacing and the unexpected late surges from seasoned players like Crawford underscore the enduring appeal of the State Amateur. With the championship set to determine if Bowen Mauss can defend his crown or whether Crawford will pull off a surprising title defense of his own, the final at Soldier Hollow promises high drama, a test of nerves, and a reminder that experience can rival youthful energy on golf’s toughest stages.