Junior star Gianna Clemente returns to Mizuho at a crossroads – college or pro?

USA Today

06-05-2025

Junior star Gianna Clemente returns to Mizuho at a crossroads – college or pro?
It's tough to beat Gianna Clemente's competitive schedule over the past month. From Augusta National to the first LPGA major of the season, to Nelly Korda's junior event and now, defending her title at this week's AJGA Mizuho Americas Open alongside the best tour players in the world.
These days there are plenty of opportunities for young players to get a taste of life at the top. As Clemente prepares to compete in Jersey City, the ShopRite LPGA Classic announced for a second consecutive year, the 17-year-old has received a sponsor exemption into one of the longest-running events on tour. Earlier this year, she flew to Thailand to compete in the LPGA's Asia swing, finishing 30th in the no-cut event.
Clemente, the 2024 AJGA Rolex Player of the Year, currently finds herself at a crossroads: go to college or turn pro.
'I'm just still trying to figure out my pros and cons list and what it means for me,' Clemente said ahead of playing at Augusta National last month. 'It's been a very long process for me.'
Clemente, who didn't want to rush the decision, has visited three schools and reports she loved them all.
'It's been a roller coaster ride,' added her father Patrick. 'I've seen her jump back and forth probably six to eight times in the last 18 months.'
In 2022, Clemente made headlines when she Monday-qualified for three consecutive LPGA events at the age of 14. The next year, she signed with WME Sports for Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) representation.
Clemente has been ahead of schedule for quite some time. At age 11, she became the third-youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Women's Amateur.
To date, she has competed in eight LPGA events.
At the recent Chevron Championship, Clemente was the only amateur to make the cut, and she made quite the impression on major champion Sophia Popov, who played alongside her the first two rounds.
"I'm actually thoroughly impressed with her game, said Popov. "I told her, I said she has some of the best short game I've ever seen. She made up-and-down from spots that I would be happy to get out of there with a bogey.
"I was just impressed with her game and just how she carries herself. She's very confident, and she knows what her abilities are. I just thought that was very cool, and at the same time she's just a very nice person and we had some good chats on the course. I lived in Naples for seven years, which is close to where she's from. I heard from all the members around that there was this up-and-coming young girl, so it was nice for me to play with her and actually get a front-row seat to her game.'
Clemente noted it's rare for her to talk much inside the ropes, but she enjoyed learning more about Popov's journey, particularly as a new mom.
At this week's Mizuho Americas Open, Clemente will share the interview stage Wednesday alongside top-ranked Korda, who won the event last year. The 24 AJGA players in the field at Liberty National will compete in their own Stableford format but have the chance to compete alongside the pros in the final round. Last year, Clemente played with a white-hot Korda and Hannah Green on Sunday.
On Tuesday at the Mizuho, the event's inaugural winners, Rose Zhang and Yana Wilson, took part in a joint press conference. Wilson, who skipped college and turned professional last fall, won her first Epson Tour title last weekend near her home in Las Vegas. The 18-year-old, Mizuho's newest ambassador, is playing this week on a sponsor exemption.
The prodigious Zhang shocked many when she chose college golf after compiling such a remarkable amateur record. The two-time NCAA champion is still working on her Stanford degree while competing on the LPGA.
'The mentorship program is getting stronger and stronger every year,' said tournament host Michelle Wie West, who skipped college golf but pursued a degree at Stanford while on the LPGA.
'I saw (Wilson) at the clubhouse earlier and her dad was really sweet. He was like, this tournament changed her path, and that feels really amazing to hear, you know, to have that effect on someone.'
Winning the Mizuho means bonus time alongside Wie West. Clemente recently threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium with the retired LPGA star to help promote the event. Currently No. 23 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the 2024 Mizuho marked her latest victory.
Clemente's ties to Liberty National actually extend beyond this week. A little more than 18 months ago, she began getting lessons from Jorge Parada, the club's director of instruction. Together they've worked on increasing clubhead speed, adding 15 to 20 yards off the tee.
'I was working really hard in the gym,' she said, 'doing everything that I could so that I wasn't super far behind everybody else.'
In January, Clemente was named to the first U.S. Elite Amateur Program roster, graduating from the national junior team. She comes into the Mizuho fresh off a share of third at Korda's event at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, not too far from her Estero, Florida, home. The 2026 graduate switched to online school way back in elementary school and enjoys a hectic schedule.
'I love playing tournaments,' she said. 'I love traveling. I would much rather be traveling and a bit sleep-deprived than be home and bored.'
It's an attitude that bodes well for tour life – whenever it comes.