Latest news with #GiannaClemente
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Junior star Gianna Clemente returns to Mizuho at a crossroads – college or pro?
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.
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Gianna Clemente earns low amateur honors at Chevron Championship, only am to make cut
Gianna Clemente earns low amateur honors at Chevron Championship, only am to make cut Gianna Clemente was the only one of the eight amateurs in the field at the 2025 Chevron Championship to make the cut. That feat earned her low amateur honors at the first LPGA major of 2025. She opened 71-70 and was 3 under through 36 holes but a third-round 80 knocked her down the leaderboard. During Sunday's final round at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, Clemente battled back from three bogeys in her first five holes with three birdies over her next six. That got her to even par on the final day but then after three straight pars, she ran into big trouble at the par-4 15th hole with a quadruple bogey 8. A bogey on the next hole pushed her to 5 over on the day and 10 over for the week. She would sign for a 5-over 77 and finish 10 over for the week. Still, it was a wonderful learning experience for the golfer ranked second American Junior Golf Association junior rankings and 24th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. LIVE UPDATES: 2025 Chevron Championship Chevron Championship final round leaderboard, live updates of first LPGA major of 2025 How the amateurs did at 2025 Chevron Championship
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Valley native makes third straight cut at Augusta National
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WKBN) – Warren native Gianna Clemente made the cut for a third consecutive year at the Augusta National Women's Amateur on Thursday. The 17-year-old shot an even par 72 in Round 2 to keep her at 2-under overall and tied for 17th. Previously, Clemente finished T5 last year at Augusta and T14 during her first appearance in 2023. So far in 2025, she has three top-seven finishes after being named the 2024 AJGA Girls Player of the Year in November. The 2025 Tournament continues on Saturday, April 5 after a closed practice on Friday for the 32 golfers that advanced to the Final Round. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
This Florida phenom can't wait for another crack at the Augusta National Women's Amateur
This Florida phenom can't wait for another crack at the Augusta National Women's Amateur Show Caption Hide Caption Masters: What is Amen Corner? Augusta National is the home of the Masters Tournament and Amen Corner, considered hallowed grounds in the golf world. Ginny Beagan, Augusta Chronicle Gianna Clemente, the reigning AJGA Female Player of the Year, is competing in her third Augusta National Women's Amateur this week. Clemente finished fifth in last year's ANWA after entering the final round in second place. The 54-hole tournament begins Wednesday at Champions Retreat Golf Club, with the top 30 players advancing to the final round at Augusta National on Saturday. Clemente said she focused on improving her distance in preparation for the tournament. Gianna Clemente's played in plenty of premier tournaments in her stellar junior and amateur golf career. So it'd be understandable for the Estero resident to view this week's Augusta National Women's Amateur as just the next one on the schedule. However, the 17-year-old phenom is just as thrilled to play in her third ANWA as she was for her first. 'Oh my gosh, I mean, I can't even explain it,' Clemente said. 'I remember going to Augusta National for the first time and playing my first practice around there in 2023 and I was just star struck. You know, it's just like something literally every golfer dreams of, right? 'To be able to go back, I think we're all just honored to be there. And they put on such a great event. They treat us so well, and it's just such an amazing experience for all of us. I'm so excited to go back.' Clemente, the reigning American Junior Golf Association's Female Player of the Year, entered the final round of last year's ANWA in second place, two shots behind England's Lottie Woad. She shot a 1-over 73 at Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament, to end up in fifth place. 'I think being in the final pairing, I mean, that was such an amazing day, even though I might not have played perfectly,' Clemente said. 'It was just such a great experience. I think it's so great that so many people come out there to support us. And you know, there's cameras in your face and I personally love that kind of stuff.' Lottie Woad is No. 1 ranked amateur Woad, a junior at Florida State and currently the world's top-ranked amateur women's golfer, will be back to defend her ANWA title. All top-50 eligible players from the final 2024 World Amateur Golf Rankings will be among the 72 golfers in the field. Clemente, currently ranked No. 22, finished seventh at her last tournament, the Junior Invitational held March 19-22 at Sage Valley Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. Tough conditions at the course led to just two female players finishing the tournament under par. Following that event, Clemente said she gave herself a self-imposed break from the game to rest up for what can be a grueling week at the ANWA. When is the Augusta National Women's Amateur? The 54-hole stroke play tournament begins Wednesday with two competition rounds at Champions Retreat Golf Club. On Friday, the entire field will play a practice round at Augusta National. The top 30 players (and ties) after the first two rounds compete in the final at Augusta National on Saturday. 'I think Sage Valley is a really good preparation for Champions Retreat,' Clemente said. 'Sage can be really difficult at times and Champions can be a really tough course as well. I personally really like tough golf courses. I think, I think they're more fun to play, and it gives me a little bit of a challenge.' Clemente said she put in a lot of work on improving her distance and is starting to see those results in competition. One of the biggest reasons for her consistent success, however, is her ability to keep each performance, both good and bad, in the proper context. 'I think just staying patient is a really big thing for me,' Clemente said. 'I've been playing junior golf and amateur golf events for four or five years now, and I think it's important to have a vision of what the big picture looks like. I know that there's a lot of tournaments in my future, and even if one doesn't go exactly the way that I want it to, I know I still have next week and the week after that.'
