How did Jake Bauer win the 2026 State Amateur? With an all-time comeback

SEEKONK, MA – If given a choice, Jake Bauer would have traveled a different road. 

Friday felt like nothing but potholes and lane closures until the afternoon conclusion at Ledgemont Country Club. It was far from an uneventful ride. 

The destination was something he’s chased for nearly a decade – a second crown at the 121st Amateur Championship – one that came thanks to a sensational rally past Tyler Cooke. 

Bauer’s three straight birdies to start what proved to be his final five holes of the week allowed him to catch and pass Cooke. A sizeable morning deficit was gone in the 36-hole match play title round, and Bauer was suddenly on his way to a 2 and 1 triumph. 

“For any golfers out there – cash games, junior golfers – don’t do it,” Bauer said. “It’s not fun. But if you do pull through, it’s a really, really cool story to say you did it.” 

Cooke was 6 up after the opening morning nine and looked at times like he would cruise to his first championship. Bauer started applying pressure with an immaculate second nine holes and continued to push until finally breaking through. His curling uphill birdie putt at the par-3 15th – the 33rd hole of the match – found the cup to give Bauer a lead he never relinquished. 

“I don’t even know what just happened on the last six or seven holes,” Bauer said. “You sort of just black out. I’m speechless.” 

Bauer added a par at the 16th to go 2 up and only needed to halve either of the remaining two holes with Cooke to get the job done. Each made bogey at the uphill par-4 17th, with Bauer lagging his par putt to within inches. Cooke conceded the final stroke, and Bauer was able to take a deep breath while hugging his father and caddie, Jim. 

“My dad was really good,” Bauer said. “He doesn’t really get too technical with me. He’s a very calm soul to have on the bag.” 

Bauer needed every bit of that even temperament to survive the early stages. Cooke collected seven birdies through his first 23 holes, the last coming at the par-4 fifth. That gave him a 3-up lead, and he was able to remain in front until Bauer buried clutch putts at the par-4 13th, the par-4 14th and the 187-yard downhill tester. 

“[The birdie putt] definitely had some speed,” Bauer said. “I think if that didn’t go in we would have probably been on 18 or in extra holes.” 

Bauer carded five bogeys on his opening nine before a solid birdie at the par-4 10th gave him a first taste of momentum. He racked up seven pars and another birdie at the par-4 18th before entering the lunch break just 2 down. It was a similar charge to the one Bauer made in the quarterfinals, as he won five of the last six holes to edge Jason Kalin, 1 up. 

“I performed really well this whole week in stroke play and other matches,” Bauer said. “I said if I just stick to that same game plan I will end up on top.” 

Cooke battled his way into the match play bracket after an opening 76 in Monday’s steady rain. He rebounded with a 73 under more precipitation Tuesday and immediately produced an upset by knocking out No. 4 seed Sam Powell. Cooke has been a steady winner since an All-State career at Toll Gate and college tenure at Connecticut, including a record five titles at the Four-Ball Championship with brother-in-law Bobby Leopold. 

Bauer had just graduated from Johnson & Wales when he won for the first time here, an impressive victory over Matt Broome. He fell in last year’s final to Mike Calef, surrendering a late lead in a 1 up loss at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington. Bauer wasted no time booking a third appearance in the title match and did so with some extra support – his wife, McKenna, was in the gallery less than a month after they exchanged vows in June. 

“We didn’t even know each other back in 2018,” Bauer said. “For her to experience this – I don’t even know what emotions she was going through. I’m really happy to share it with her.” 

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25