Latest news with #WatersoundInvitational
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Top-ranked amateur Luke Clanton inks apparel deal with Nike Golf
What a week it has been for Luke Clanton. The junior at Florida State, who is the top-amateur in the world, earned a spot in next week's Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour via a sponsor exemption. Then he won his fifth collegiate title at the Watersound Invitational. But perhaps his biggest news came Thursday. Clanton announced via his Instagram page he has inked a deal with Nike. Nike has pursued deals with other college golf stars in the past, like Vanderbilt senior Gordon Sargent and former USC standout Amari Avery. Clanton's signing will likely pay off quickly. He's a point away from earning his PGA Tour card via PGA Tour University Accelerated, which he could do with a made cut next weekend in his hometown event. Regardless of his result at the Cognizant, Clanton is a virtual lock to win the Hogan Award in May, which will give him three points and secure his status in the professional ranks. Since last summer, Clanton has made 11 PGA Tour stats with eight made cuts, three top-5 finishes and a pair of runners-up. Next week will be his fourth start of 2025, and he made the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open and placed T-15. He missed he cut at the Sony Open and WM Phoenix Open. For Nike, it's a brilliant signing of one of the game's young stars. Clanton is 93rd in the Official World Golf Ranking while still an amateur. For Clanton, he's now a part of Team Swoosh, which has had plenty of success in the professional golf ranks. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda and Brooks Koepka are among Nike Golf's current athletes. Now Clanton joins them as he gears up for the start of his professional career.
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ahead of next PGA Tour start, Luke Clanton wins first college event of spring season
Ahead of next PGA Tour start, Luke Clanton wins first college event of spring season There's a reason Luke Clanton is the best amateur (and one of the best players) in the world. The junior at Florida State was stellar Tuesday during a 36-hole day at the Watersound Invitational, shooting 11 under with three eagles to come from behind and win his first college start of the fall. It's the fifth win of his college career, coming by three shots over Alabama's Jonathan Griz and Jones Free. After opening in 1-over 73 at Shark's Tooth Golf Course in Panama City Beach, Florida, Clanton shot 6-under 66 and 5-under 67 on Tuesday. The final round was moved to Tuesday afternoon due to anticipated weather on Wednesday, and Clanton made the most of his 36-hole day with 8 birdies and three eagles. He finished at 10 under for the week, his first college start of the spring after three appearances on the PGA Tour, making one cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Next week, Clanton will tee it up at the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. The hometown kid needs one point in PGA Tour University Accelerated to reach 20 points, which would earn him a PGA Tour card, and he can accept membership after the NCAA Championship in May. Regardless of his result at the Cognizant Classic, Clanton, who's ranked 93rd in the Official World Golf Ranking as an amateur, is virtually guaranteed to win the Ben Hogan Award, which would give him three points and secure the card. As a team, Florida State dominated in the final round, shooting 15-under 273 to come from behind and beat Alabama by nine shots. Michael Mays and Tyler Weaver tied for sixth at 5 under, and Weaver matched Clanton with a 5-under 67 in the final round. UCLA (13 under) and Georgia Tech (12 under) finished third and fourth, respectively. After shooting the second-worst round of his college career Monday, Gordon Sargent, a senior at Vanderbilt who earned his PGA Tour card via Accelerated in Oct. 2023, bounced back with consecutive rounds of 1-under 71 on Tuesday.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clanton leads Florida State to victory at Watersound
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – FSU's Luke Clanton proved why he's the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world, shooting -10 to lead the Seminoles to victory at the Watersound Invitational. After shooting +1 in the opening round, Clanton shot -6 and -5 in the second and third rounds, finishing three strokes ahead of the second-place individual golfer. Florida State finished at -26 to par, with Tyler Waver and Michael Mays both shooting -5 through three rounds. Alabama finished in second place a -17 to par. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ahead of next PGA Tour start, Luke Clanton wins first college event of spring season
There's a reason Luke Clanton is the best amateur (and one of the best players) in the world. The junior at Florida State was stellar Tuesday during a 36-hole day at the Watersound Invitational, shooting 11 under with three eagles to come from behind and win his first college start of the fall. It's the fifth win of his college career, coming by three shots over Alabama's Jonathan Griz and Jones Free. After opening in 1-over 73 at Shark's Tooth Golf Course in Panama City Beach, Florida, Clanton shot 6-under 66 and 5-under 67 on Tuesday. The final round was moved to Tuesday afternoon due to anticipated weather on Wednesday, and Clanton made the most of his 36-hole day with 8 birdies and three eagles. Career win number 5 🙌Luke Clanton is the winner of the Watersound Invitational 🏆 — PGA TOUR University (@PGATOURU) February 18, 2025 He finished at 10 under for the week, his first college start of the spring after three appearances on the PGA Tour, making one cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Next week, Clanton will tee it up at the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. The hometown kid needs one point in PGA Tour University Accelerated to reach 20 points, which would earn him a PGA Tour card, and he can accept membership after the NCAA Championship in May. Regardless of his result at the Cognizant Classic, Clanton, who's ranked 93rd in the Official World Golf Ranking as an amateur, is virtually guaranteed to win the Ben Hogan Award, which would give him three points and secure the card. As a team, Florida State dominated in the final round, shooting 15-under 273 to come from behind and beat Alabama by nine shots. Michael Mays and Tyler Weaver tied for sixth at 5 under, and Weaver matched Clanton with a 5-under 67 in the final round. UCLA (13 under) and Georgia Tech (12 under) finished third and fourth, respectively. After shooting the second-worst round of his college career Monday, Gordon Sargent, a senior at Vanderbilt who earned his PGA Tour card via Accelerated in Oct. 2023, bounced back with consecutive rounds of 1-under 71 on Tuesday. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Luke Clanton gets win in first college start of spring semester
USA Today
18-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Gordon Sargent did this for the first time in his Vanderbilt career at Watersound Invitational
Gordon Sargent did this for the first time in his Vanderbilt career at Watersound Invitational Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Youngstown State's college golf practice facility WATTS Here's an inside look at Youngstown State's Watson and Tressel Training Site. Gordon Sargent did something he never has Monday at the Watersound Invitational. The senior at Vanderbilt is ranked sixth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and after the NCAA Championship in May he will be a PGA Tour member thanks to earning his card via PGA Tour University Accelerated in the fall of 2023. However, his final year as a Commodore has been a struggle, and Monday was unfamiliar territory for him. Sargent was in the five spot in Vanderbilt's lineup in the tournament at Shark's Tooth Golf Course in Panama City Beach, Florida, an event the Commodores have won the past two years. During his Vandy career, Sargent has never been the No. 5 bag, which is usually saved for the last player to qualify for a spot. Where a player is at in the lineup doesn't really matter, though the top spots are usually where the best players or qualifiers are slotted. Any of the five scores can count each day in a lineup. For the 2022 NCAA individual champion, it's an unfamiliar spot during what's likely the most uncomfortable time of his career. A former No. 1 amateur, Sargent hasn't finished in the top 10 for the Commodores as a senior. He has more rounds of 75 or higher (4) than rounds in the 60s (3). His first start this spring was T-63 at the Southwestern Invitational, where he opened with rounds of 79 and 78. Sargent finished T-2 at the Watersound last year, but after his opening nine holes Monday, he was 7 over and beating only one golfer in the field. He signed for a 9-over 81 on Monday, the second-worst round of his college career As a freshman, he shot 83 at The Prestige at PGA West. He has been one of college golf's best for three years and he's talented enough to break out of whatever slump he's going through, but seeing him as the five bag is a strange sight for those who follow college golf closely.
