Luke Clanton performed phenomenally, ending tied for tenth finally week’s Rocket Mortgage Traditional in Detroit. The Florida State golfer is again on the PGA Tour for the second consecutive occasion as he’s within the area for the John Deere Traditional.
Heading into the ultimate day of play, Clanton sat two strokes off the lead. Many felt he may be a part of Nick Dunlap and grow to be 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 towards PGA Tour gamers, the rising junior isn’t apprehensive about skilled golf simply but.
“I need to win a nationwide championship with the workforce,” Clanton stated forward of the John Deere Traditional.
“That’s been my primary aim in faculty, and we got here fairly shut this 12 months. All of us again house are very pushed this 12 months to do it. Once more, I believe no matter occurs occurs. I’m nonetheless 20 years previous. 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 saved the momentum getting in Detroit with a 14-under complete rating. His driver was his finest membership, as he was No. 2 in strokes gained off the tee on the Rocket Mortgage Traditional.
Clanton is a rising junior at Florida State College and helped the Seminoles get to the nationwide title match towards Auburn. He fell 2 & 1 in his ultimate match to J.M. Butler.
Nonetheless, the 20-year-old had one of the spectacular spring runs. He received three consecutive occasions, was runner-up within the NCAA Particular person match, recorded 10 prime 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 received 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.”
Although he may have received over six figures final week, the teenager is set to complete college. Clanton is aware of that skilled golf can be there when he accomplishes the targets he set for himself in faculty.
“I’d say I’m most likely fairly near the place I wished to be,” Clanton stated. “I’d say I believe I had fairly huge targets rising up, lots of expectations for what I wished to do. There’s one factor I would like. I believe that’s fairly apparent after all. I believe we’re simply going to see what occurs within the subsequent couple of weeks.”
That aim isn’t a PGA Tour victory however a person and workforce nationwide championship with Florida State.
For the primary two rounds of the John Deere Traditional, 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 teenager’s subsequent match would be the ISCO Championship in Nicholasville, Kentucky, from July 11 to 14. Clanton obtained a sponsor’s exemption. It’s the reverse area 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 Taking part in By way of. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can too comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
