Tennessee’s Herrington Advances To Finals Of U.S. Amateur

  • Saturday, August 16, 2025
  • Paul Payne

The boisterous gallery at The Olympic Club learned a valuable lesson on Saturday – never doubt the heart and grit of a Tennessee farm boy.

With the largest crowd of the week cheering on their local hero Niall Shiels Donegan in the 125th U.S. Amateur semifinals on a day when fog enveloped the Lake Course, Jackson Herrington was essentially competing in a road game not usually found in golf outside of The Ryder Cup.

Little did the vocal fans of Shiels Donegan realize that their fervor only served as fuel for Herrington, a rising sophomore at Tennessee. Overlooked by the media for most of the week, the underdog role ignited his “me-against-the-world” determination that manifested itself in a clutch four-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to claim a 1 up victory, earning him a spot in Sunday’s 36-hole championship match.

“I think I kind of fed off of it,” the 19-year-old Herrington said. “I don't think those people knew, but it's kind of fun for me because I know nobody out there and none of them were cheering for me to win. So, when I hit a good shot or made a putt, I don't hear anything. I loved it. I wanted to hear that crowd quiet.”

Maybe Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel should consult with Herrington on how to properly handle a hostile road environment.

Herrington is seeking to become the fourth Tennessean to claim the Havemeyer Trophy awarded to the champion, joining past winners Hillman Robbins (1957), David Gossett (1999) and Steven Fox (2012). Three other natives of the Volunteer State - Danny Green (1989), Luke List (2004) and Casey Whittenburg (2003) – finished runner-up in the U.S. Amateur.

After Shiels Donegan overcame a 2 down deficit with wins at 16 and 17, the golfers headed to the 340-yard par-4 closing hole with the match all-square. Herrington, as he had done all week, split the fairway with a 5-iron, then pulled the string on a gap wedge to four feet on his approach.

Shiels Donegan left his downhill birdie try inches short, leaving Herrington with a slippery left-to-right slider for the win. The “Fridge” remained cool under pressure, finding the center of the cup that was punctuated by an animated fist-pump.

“My heart rate was probably around 180 on that last putt,” Herrington said. “I had to calm myself down because I knew what was on the line. When he left his putt short, I looked at my caddie, Collins (Banks) and said, ‘If this goes down. I'm giving the biggest fist pump of my life.’ It’s not easy playing a four-footer four inches outside the hole when you’ve got that to advance, but I trusted it, and it was awesome to see it drop.”

Shiels Donegan, a Scottish native who grew up outside of San Francisco in nearby Mill Valley, gave his supporters plenty to cheer about early in the match. The North Carolina transfer took a 2 up lead after Herrington bogeyed the first two holes.

But the Dickson native responded with a birdie on the 223-yard par-3 third to cut the deficit in half.

“I got off to a weird start and didn’t hit all that bad of shots on the first two holes,” Herrington said. “But after that birdie, I turned to my caddie and said, ‘Here I come.’ I’ve been saying that to him all week.”

And come he did.

Herrington evened the match with a par at six, then drove the green on the 325-yard par 4 seventh, making a two-putt birdie to take a 1 up lead and quiet the crowd.

Shiels Donegan pulled even with a par at No. 9, only to have Herrington win the next two holes to grab a 2 up advantage, claiming 10 with a par and doubling his lead at 11 with a birdie.

The competitors halved the next four holes with pars, and Herrington maintained his 2 up lead heading to 16. Herrington’s drive found the deep rough that led to a bogey on 16, then Shiels Donegan converted a clutch birdie on 17 to bring him all-square.

That merely set the stage for Herrington’s heroics on 18, giving the U.S. Amateur an SEC showdown in the championship match. Mason Howell, an 18-year-old high school senior from Thomasville, Ga. who is a Georgia commit, took down Eric Lee of Fullerton, Calif. in the other semifinal by a 3 & 2 score. The 36-hole match will commence at 10:15 a.m. PDT, with Golf Channel providing live coverage from 4-7 PDT.

Having eliminated unheralded Jimmy Abdo, the tournament’s feel-good story out of Division III Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, in Friday’s quarterfinals and handling local favorite Shiels Donegan and his massive following on Saturday, Herrington has relished his relative obscurity.

“I’ve gotten used to it,” Herrington said. “I kind of like being in that situation, not being looked at. I like to fly under the radar, which I think I do best. I try to let my golf do the talking.”

By advancing to Sunday’s final, Herrington earned an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Open and a likely invite to next year’s Masters Tournament.

“I don't think it's fully sunk in yet that I've accomplished that,” Herrington said. “But I think it's because I’ve still got work to do. My ultimate goal is to be holding that trophy. It would be the biggest accomplishment of my career. I'm just out here living a dream and it’s been an unbelievable week, but I'll be a little happier with that trophy in my hand tomorrow.”

With his parents, Greg and Nikki Herrington, by his side the entire week, Herrington is grateful for their support and influence. He developed a solid work ethic in helping out at the family’s farm in Dickson, the Farm on Hummingbird Hill, which produces eggs, honey, flowers and other produce.

“None of this would be possible without them,” Herrington said. “I’m definitely grateful for all they’ve done. I was nervous on the first tee, but I think they were even more nervous.”

There will undoubtedly be watch parties in Dickson, Knoxville and across the state on Sunday following Herrington’s efforts as he hopes to become Tennessee’s fourth U.S. Amateur champion.

“I’ve talked to my high school coach and all my buddies on my high school team,” Herrington said. “They're texting me videos of that winning putt today, and (Tennessee teammate and U.S. Amateur entrant) Lance Simpson called me with the whole team standing there when I was getting ready to do an NBC interview.

“I would love to bring the trophy back to Dickson, and then take it to Knoxville to celebrate with the boys. I’ve got two places that are cheering me on, and I couldn't be happier about it.”

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com

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