GREENSBORO, N.C. — Amateur Luke Clanton signed scorecards for three different rounds on Sunday at the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship en route to finishing fifth and recording his third top-10 finish of the summer. In doing so, he joined Jack Nicklaus as the only amateurs since 1961 to notch three top-10s in a Tour season.
Clanton began the day waking up at 4:50 a.m. ET to play three holes when play resumed at 6:50 a.m and complete his second round and make the cut. When play was suspended on Saturday due to darkness, he was on the cut line at 4 under. He made two pars and a birdie at No. 9, his last hole, to sign for 67 at Sedgefield Country Club.
“It’s probably the most stressful three holes I played in a while,” he said.
Clanton relaxed and went on a roll in the third round, making a pair of eagles and shooting 8-under 62, his third score of 63 or better, the most on Tour since he made his debut at the U.S. Open in June.
Clanton had a share of the lead as he played the 11th hole, his second hole of his final round, when Matt Kuchar made bogey at 14 in his third round.
A dart for a round of 62 🎯
20-year-old amateur Luke Clanton closes out his career-low third round in style @WyndhamChamp. pic.twitter.com/RP06FwQo29
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 11, 2024
Clanton was bidding to become the second amateur to win this season on Tour. Nick Dunlap won the American Express earlier this season, the first amateur to do so since Phil Mickelson in 1991. But Clanton, who said he was exhausted by the end of his 39-hole endurance test, posted a final-round 69 after bogeys on his last two holes.
“It’s just that confidence builder knowing I can compete out here and it’s awesome,” he said.
Asked if his success against the pros this week might change his mind about turning pro, he reiterated that he wanted to win a national championship with his teammates after losing in the match-play final this season to Auburn.
“It’s pretty plain and simple. I keep saying it over and over, and I will say it because it’s been pretty hard to lose the way we did,” he said. “I’ve got that in the back of my mind for a while.”
With another top-10 finish, Clanton earned his 13th point in PGA Tour U so it’s just a matter of time before he clinches a Tour card while at FSU. But first, he’s scheduled to compete in the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National in Edina, Minnesota, 1,162 miles away.
Asked about how he’s was going to handle all this golf, he said, “It’s going to be pretty brutal, no doubt, but again, like I signed up to do this. It’s cool to be busy, I’m excited to be out here. To play 36 on the PGA Tour, never complain.”
After the tournament the rising 20-year-old junior at Florida State dubbed the U.S. Amateur his favorite championship and added, “These pro events are no joke for sure, but as an amateur you want to win the U.S. Am. Going to try to get some rest and go out and play tomorrow.”
The stroke-play portion of the U.S. Amateur begins on Monday, and Clanton has a 3:09 p.m. ET tee time. Speaking Sunday, Clanton said he would be flying later that night.
“I’m actually taking a private airline to Minnesota, which is very nice,” he said. “It’s pretty expensive, but whatever.”
