MIDWAY -- There's no immaturity in the kid, at least not any that can be revealed on the golf course.

The anonymously attributed line of the week about Tony Finau, who won the Utah State Amateur on Sunday: "The only thing that's 16 about that kid is the size of his shoes."

It's the ultimate compliment to a golfer who plays and acts beyond his years, one who was able to withstand the experience of two-time champion Daniel Summerhays by defeating him 3-and-2 in a two-round showdown at Soldier Hollow Golf Course.

Finau won with drives that constantly outdistanced his six-years-older opponent, and an uncanny knack for creating easy second putts out of treacherously long first ones on greens that were slicker than they'd been all week. For 34 holes Finau's psyche was unflappable, especially after he overcome an early deficit.

"It feels awesome," said Finau, 16, who will be a junior at West High. "I played great. I feel like a worthy champion."

No arguments from Summerhays, a BYU junior-to-be golfer who was gracious in defeat after he couldn't overcome various tweaks in his game that eliminated precious chances for a late rally.

"I was disappointed with how I played," he said. "But I was happy with the effort. I feel like I thought every shot out. It was just a little bit off."

A two-hole lead, built after the first five holes, wasn't nearly enough. Summerhays thought it might not be. Finau gained a hole back on No. 6 of the morning session, trailed by 1 at the turn, tied the score on No. 10 and ended the opening round of 18 3-up after capturing the last two holes.

Finau never let Summerhays within 2-up in the afternoon's 18 holes.

"He doesn't act like a 16-year-old," Summerhays said.

And, as he told the gallery during the trophy presentation, "Man, he hits it far."

Summerhays never let machismo get the best of him. He was constantly being blasted off the tee, but he rarely pulled out his 1-wood, as he valued accuracy over distance. It was his mantra for five days. He said it didn't affect him against Finau.

What hurt most was the inability to take advantage of the one stretch of play when Finau looked young. The teen bogeyed Nos. 13-15 in the afternoon round, just after taking his most dominant lead, 4-up. A sudden rally, and who knowsfi Maybe Finau unravels. All Summerhays could do was gain ground on 15, with a valuable par that ultimately came too late.

Finau ended the match on No. 16 with a 50-foot birdie putt that fell barely short. Summerhays couldn't do better with a chance from twice as far. Both were conceded, and they ended with a hug.

It was No. 12, a par-5, where both players agreed the match took its most significant turn. It was exemplary of the entire day. Finau crushes his driver to the fairway, while Summerhays hit into the rough. Summerhays barely misses a 10-foot birdie. Finau lags a long eagle attempt perfectly, settling for an easy birdie, and the hole.

Both players hung around the No. 12 green the longest, resetting their bearings as rain started and Finau increased his margin. That storm blew in around 2 p.m., and it lasted the next 90 minutes. It was strong enough that a delay would've been justified, though neither player wanted it, since lightning wasn't present.

Finau said his hands slipped on a few shots on later holes. Summerhays, who won State Am championship in 2000-01 and was the last repeat State Am winner, made his mark around the same age Finau is now.

Summerhays' savvy couldn't overcome a shaky putter, one that let him down after a sterling week.

Rain changed the green speeds, and reduced the level of play after the most critical hole. Each bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14.

"The greens were really fast, especially in the morning," Summerhays said. "It was a fine line getting that perfect speed or having the ball go six feet past."

Summerhays, though, may get some extra congratulations from the BYU contingent. Finau can't be recruited in person yet, but it's no secret he is high on the Cougars' wish list. His Cougar opponent Sunday made a good impression.

Forming a relationship with Summerhays over eight hours, Finau told the crowd afterward, "I hope I'll be a Cougar."

It put a smile on Summerhays' face. He understood what that would mean to his school's future. The moment also made him think of his own past.

Oh, to be young.

"When I was a 16-year-old, I won this by beating a Cougar," Summerhays said of a win against Billy Harvey six summers ago. "I guess history repeated itself."

Jason Franchuk can be reached at jfranchuk@heraldextra.com.

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This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B1.