Luke Clanton has had one heck of a summer time. He has posted three top-10s on the PGA Tour, which features a runner-up end on the John Deere Traditional and a solo fifth eventually week’s Wyndham Championship. He additionally made the reduce on the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, narrowly lacking out on successful low-amateur honors to Neal Shipley.
However Clanton has had one match circled on his calendar for months: the U.S. Novice, which is happening at Hazeltine Golf Membership in Minnesota this week. He began off on the correct foot, posting a 3-under par rating for the stroke play portion—a 36-hole competitors that determines the ultimate match play bracket of 64 gamers.
He tied for nineteenth, simply securing a spot within the bracket.
Clanton, the 21-seed this week and the top-ranked newbie on this planet, defeated Dylan McDermott 4 & 3 within the first spherical of match play on Wednesday.
He then succumbed to Jackson Buchanan 1-up, a back-and-forth match that noticed Clanton maintain a 1-up lead with 4 holes to go. However Buchanan, who performs collegiately on the College of Illinois, received the fifteenth and sixteenth holes to grab the lead again. He held on for the victory with two closing pars on 17 and 18.
“I do know him fairly properly. It’s onerous to go towards certainly one of your good buddies out right here, however I advised him God’s on his facet. He’s doing nice with all the pieces. He’s tremendous devoted in direction of Christ,” Clanton mentioned of Buchanan after.
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“We’re each believers, so seeing him on the market and for him to try this—I imply, regardless of which approach it went—was an ideal match. It was loads of enjoyable.”
Going into the 2024-25 collegiate 12 months, Clanton and Buchanan shall be two of one of the best gamers within the nation. So, it was a troublesome draw for each gamers to sq. off this early within the championship, contemplating that they’ve the expertise to make it to the ultimate match.
“It’s the USA. Like what do you count on? You’re not going to get straightforward matches on a regular basis,” Clanton added.
“He’s an excellent buddy of mine. He performed rather well, and I don’t see him dropping a lot. So it’s going to be enjoyable to observe.”
Buchanan went on to face off towards 16-year-old Tyler Mawhinney, who defeated Paul Chang of China 2 & 1 on Thursday morning. The Spherical of 16 matches kicked off Thursday afternoon, simply minutes after the conclusion of the Spherical of 32.
Clanton, in the meantime, is able to head again to Florida State and assist his Seminoles vie for a Nationwide Championship. His workforce misplaced to Auburn within the finals final spring.
“I’m fairly pumped to return and play for FSU,” Clanton mentioned.
“So I’m excited to try this. I’m excited to go see all the blokes. It’s going to be enjoyable.”
It has already been a enjoyable few months for Clanton, regardless of his early exit from the U.S. Novice. Relaxation assured that one of the best is but to return for this proficient rising junior, although, particularly since he has already proved he can compete among the many world’s finest.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
