The Layton High graduate and future Utah Tech golfer won both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches Friday at the Salt Lake Country Club to advance to Saturday’s 36-hole championship match.

Liechty defeated Rutgers University golfer Martín León 2 & 1 in the semifinal match. The two players tied on their first hole, then Liechty won three of the next six holes to take a 3-up lead through seven against León, the 2021 Utah Men’s State Amateur champion.

Liechty won the 13th hole, sandwiched between León winning holes 10 and 16. They tied the 17th hole. Liechty played the 17-hole match 1-under-par, while León was 1-over.

Earlier Friday morning, Liechty won his quarterfinal match against BYU golfer Elijah Turner 3 & 2.

Liechty won holes 8-9 to go 1-up and only built the lead from there, winning holes 11, 14 and 16 to end the match.

From a stroke-play perspective, Liechty was 1-under-par through 16 holes while Turner was 3-over.

Liechty has now defeated three current or future college golfers in his tournament run, with the two on Friday along with Thursday’s 23-hole win in the round of 16 against BYU signee Peter Kim.

Liechty will face Cal golfer Simon Kwon, a Skyline High alumnus, in Saturday’s 36-hole final, which tees off at 7:30 a.m.

Kwon defeated accomplished amateur golfer Dan Horner, the 2008 Men’s State Amateur champion, 5 & 3 in the other semifinal Thursday.

Connect with reporter Patrick Carr via email at pcarr@standard.net, Twitter @patrickcarr_ and Instagram @standardexaminersports.