Luke Clanton performed phenomenally, ending tied for tenth finally week’s Rocket Mortgage Basic in Detroit. The Florida State golfer is again on the PGA Tour for the second consecutive occasion as he’s within the subject for the John Deere Basic.
Heading into the ultimate day of play, Clanton sat two strokes off the lead. Many felt he might be a part of Nick Dunlap and turn into the second beginner golfer in six months to win a PGA Tour occasion. As a substitute, he shot an even-par 72 on Sunday.
Regardless of that degree of success in opposition to PGA Tour gamers, the rising junior will not be apprehensive about skilled golf simply but.
“I wish to win a nationwide championship with the crew,” Clanton stated forward of the John Deere Basic.
“That’s been my primary aim in faculty, and we got here fairly shut this yr. All of us again residence are very pushed this yr to do it. Once more, I feel no matter occurs occurs. I’m nonetheless 20 years outdated. I’m nonetheless studying the ropes as a lot as I can. I’m going to do what I do.”
Clanton completed because the second-lowest beginner to Neal Shipley at Pinehurst within the U.S. Open and stored the momentum moving into Detroit with a 14-under complete rating. His driver was his greatest membership, as he was No. 2 in strokes gained off the tee on the Rocket Mortgage Basic.
Clanton is a rising junior at Florida State College and helped the Seminoles get to the nationwide title match in opposition to Auburn. He fell 2 & 1 in his last match to J.M. Butler.
Nevertheless, the 20-year-old had some of the spectacular spring runs. He gained three consecutive occasions, was runner-up within the NCAA Particular person event, recorded 10 high 1s in 14 begins, and completed with the bottom single-season common in FSU historical past at 69.33.
He likes to maintain it easy on the golf course. No matter what he has gained in his younger profession, it’s all about golf.
“I’m out right here to play the very best I can. Easy as that,” he stated. “If I put 4 days collectively and it will get me extra accelerated factors, superior. Primary aim is to play pretty much as good as I can.”
Despite the fact that he might have gained over six figures final week, the teen is decided to complete college. Clanton is aware of that skilled golf shall be there when he accomplishes the objectives he set for himself in faculty.
“I’d say I’m in all probability fairly near the place I wished to be,” Clanton stated. “I’d say I feel I had fairly huge objectives rising up, quite a lot of expectations for what I wished to do. There’s one factor I need. I feel that’s fairly apparent in fact. I feel we’re simply going to see what occurs within the subsequent couple of weeks.”
That aim will not be a PGA Tour victory however a person and crew nationwide championship with Florida State.
For the primary two rounds of the John Deere Basic, Clanton is paired with Pierceson Coody and Joe Highsmith. They tee off at 2:44 p.m. ET on Thursday and at 9:24 a.m. ET on Friday.
The teen’s subsequent event would be the ISCO Championship in Nicholasville, Kentucky, from July 11 to 14. Clanton obtained a sponsor’s exemption. It’s the reverse subject occasion to the Genesis Scottish Open. He can even play within the 3M Open on an exemption on the finish of July.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
