Tag: McCormack Medal

Luke Clanton wins Mark H. McCormack Medal as world’s top amateur, eyes PGA Tour card

Clanton earns spots in two majors thanks to the achievement.

To say it has been the summer of Luke Clanton may be an understatement.

Five made cuts in six PGA Tour events, three of those being top-10 finishes, the first amateur to do so since Jack Nicklaus in 1961. A runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. Three collegiate wins dating to the spring.

On Wednesday, Clanton was awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the leading male in the 2024 World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“Winning the McCormack Medal is an honor I will cherish forever,” Clanton said in a release. “This award represents not just my efforts, but also the incredible family support I have. This will inspire me to keep pushing boundaries and to pursue my dreams with even greater determination. I’m proud to join the ranks of those who have achieved this distinction.”

Next summer, Clanton earned exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont and the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

The American rose to the top of the men’s ranking after a Round of 64 victory at the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club last week. Over the summer, Clanton became the first amateur to record consecutive top 10s on the PGA Tour since 1958. A week after finishing T-10 in the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic, the Florida State first-team All-American finished runner-up in the John Deere Classic. He most recently recorded a solo fifth place finish at the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.

Clanton also made his U.S. Open debut at Pinehurst and became the first amateur in championship history to record consecutive rounds in the 60s with back-to-back 69s in the second and third rounds. He would finish T-41.

Luke Clanton hugs his caddie after finishing No. 18 during Round 3 of Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club in Detroit on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

During this past collegiate season at Florida State University, Clanton finished fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship and fifth in the NCAA Stanford (Calif.) Regional, leading the Seminoles to the NCAA Championship, where they fell to Auburn in the championship final. Clanton shared runner-up honors with five other golfers in the NCAA Division I Championship at the Omni La Costa Resort’s North Course, one stroke behind winner Hiroshi Tai of Georgia Tech. Clanton went 2-1 in match play, losing to Auburn’s JM Butler in the championship match, 2 and 1.

Now, Clanton turns his sights toward earning a PGA Tour card, which he could do before finishing his junior year.

Thanks to PGA Tour University Accelerated, players earn points based on their accomplishments in college, amateur and professional golf, and they will earn PGA Tour membership if they amass at least 20 points by the end of their third year of NCAA eligibility. Clanton is at 14 points, and there’s a good chance he gets to 20 by next spring.

He gets points for every made cut and top 10 in PGA Tour events. Three points are also up for grabs for every major college golf postseason award. For majors, he gets points for competing in them, making the cut and placing top 20.

It’s likely Clanton will get a few more Tour starts, and he’s guaranteed spots in two major championships. Dominate the college level this season, win some awards, and Clanton could join Gordon Sargent as players to earn a Tour card and making the jump after the NCAA Championship next May.

Lottie Woad wins Mark H. McCormack medal as world’s top female amateur

Woad is the first female winner of the McCormack Medal from England.

Lottie Woad, who’s set to begin her third season at Florida State this fall after representing the GB&I team at the Curtis Cup, has been named winner of the Mark H. McCormack medal, the United States Golf Association and R&A announced Wednesday.

The McCormack medal is given to the leading female player in the 2024 World Amateur Golf Ranking. Ingrid Lindblad won the award last year.

Woad is the first female winner of the McCormack Medal from England. She also receives exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills and next year’s AIG Women’s Open.

“I’m really happy to have won the McCormack Medal,” said Woad. “It rounds off a successful year for me and I’m honored to be named alongside the previous recipients of the medal.

“It was always a goal of mine to reach number one and become the world’s leading amateur golfer. It’s taken a while to get there but it’s nice to see all the hard work pay off and achieve this milestone.”

Earlier this year, the 20-year-old became the first European golfer to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in dramatic fashion after going birdie-birdie over the final two holes to clip USC’s Bailey Shoemaker by one shot.

She has amassed three victories in her collegiate career, including last fall at the Annika Intercollegiate. Woad has also recorded three second-place finishes, including the 2024 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.

Gordon Sargent wins Mark H. McCormack Medal as world’s best male amateur golfer

Golf fans will get a few more chances to see the rising star next season on the game’s biggest stages.

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Golf fans will get a few more chances to see rising star Gordon Sargent next season on the game’s biggest stages.

The 20-year-old junior at Vanderbilt was announced as the winner of the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the leading male in the 2023 World Amateur Golf Ranking. The honor earns Sargent exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst and the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

“It’s really special to have won the McCormack Medal, especially when you see the names of the golfers who have won it before, and everything that comes along with it, including the major exemptions,” said Sargent in a statement. “This achievement definitely means a lot to me. It’s a goal that I’ve had set for a while, and it gives me a lot of confidence now that I’ve achieved it. I’m really honored to be receiving the medal.”

Sargent became the first amateur since Aaron Baddeley in 2000 to accept a special invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament, doing so last April. He then finished as the low amateur (T-39) at the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club in June. The native of Birmingham, Alabama, will represent the United States in both the Walker Cup next week and the World Amateur Team Championship in October.

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Ingrid Lindblad wins Mark H. McCormack medal as world’s top female amateur

Lindblad becomes the first golfer, male or female, from Sweden to win the McCormack Medal. 

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Ingrid Lindblad, who’s set to begin her fifth season at LSU this fall, has been named winner of the Mark H. McCormack medal, the United States Golf Association and R&A announced Wednesday.

The McCormack medal is given to the leading female player in the 2023 World Amateur Golf Ranking. Rose Zhang won the past three McCormack medals.

Lindblad receives exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania as well as the 2024 AIG Women’s Open at the Old Course at St. Andrews.  

“It’s an honor to receive this medal,” Lindblad said in a release. “Looking back at past recipients, it’s amazing to see what they have accomplished and to join them on this list. I am honored to have received this award and I believe it’s a receipt of all the hard work I’ve put into this game” 

Lindblad has had a stellar college career, winning 11 times for LSU, including the 2022 SEC individual championship, as well as two SEC Player of the Year honors. In that time, she has earned 33 top-10 finishes and is a four-time All-SEC team selection. She was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2020. She’s a four-time Golfweek first-team All-American.

In addition, Lindblad has shined on the international stage. She won the 2021 European Ladies Amateur Championship and earned low-amateur honors at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open with a T-11 finish that included a first-round 65, setting the all-time amateur scoring record for the championship. She won the World Amateur Team Championship with Sweden in 2022, earned a runner-up finish at the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur and a runner-up finish at the 2023 European Ladies Amateur. She has competed in six major championships, making the cut in two.  

With the award, Lindblad becomes the first golfer, male or female, from Sweden to win the McCormack Medal. 

The R&A and the USGA co-award the McCormack Medal annually. It is named after Mark H. McCormack, who founded the sports marketing company IMG and was a great supporter of amateur golf. 

Keita Nakajima makes amateur golf history as first male two-time winner of the Mark H. McCormack Medal

Nakajima has held the No. 1 amateur ranking for a record 83 weeks.

Keita Nakajima has made amateur golf history.

The 22-year-old from Japan is the first male player to be awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal twice as the world’s top men’s amateur golfer and has held the No. 1 ranking for a record 83 weeks. Nakajima and 2020 winner Takumi Kanaya are the only Japanese players to be awarded the medal.

“It is a great honor to receive the McCormack Medal again,” said Nakajima via a release. “The excitement I felt when I saw the medal in Dubai last year is still fresh in my memory. Seeing it again in Paris (at the World Amateur Team Championship) will be really wonderful.

“I appreciate the opportunities I have been given thanks to the medal. I hope I have created a pathway for not only Japanese players but all Asia-Pacific players to pursue the dream they have.”

Established in 2007, the McCormack Medal winner receives exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Open and 2023 British Open.

“On behalf of the USGA, I would like to extend our congratulations to Keita for earning the prestigious McCormack Medal,” said John Bodenhamer, chief championships officer for the USGA. “He is creating history with his second award and has played unbelievable golf over the past two years. Nakajima has an impeccable record on a worldwide level and all of us at the USGA look forward to watching him excel as his career continues.”

Previous recipients

2021 – Keita Nakajima (JPN)

2020 – Takumi Kanaya (JPN)

2019 – Cole Hammer (USA)

2018 – Braden Thornberry (USA)

2017 – Joaquin Niemann (CHI)

2016 – Maverick McNealy (USA)

2015 – Jon Rahm (ESP)

2014 – Oliver Schniederjans (USA)

2013 – Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)

2012 – Chris Williams (USA)

2011 – Patrick Cantlay (USA)

2010 – Peter Uihlein (USA)

2009 – Nick Taylor (CAN)

2008 – Danny Lee (NZL)

2007 – Colt Knost (USA)

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Stanford’s Rose Zhang wins Mark H. McCormack medal as world’s best female amateur golfer for third consecutive year

Rose Zhang’s decorated amateur career reached another milestone on Wednesday.

What do Rose Zhang, Leona Maguire and Lydia Ko have in common? The trio are all three-time Mark H. McCormack Medal winners.

Zhang, a rising sophomore at Stanford, won the McCormack Medal as the world’s best female amateur golfer for the third consecutive year, it was announced Wednesday. The award is given annually by the USGA and R&A to the top-ranked female player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Zhang has spent 101 consecutive week at No. 1 and is approaching Ko (130 weeks) and Maguire (135 weeks) on the all-time list.

“My amateur career continues to be incredibly rewarding and humbling,” said Zhang. “To be named the McCormack Medal recipient for the third time is a testament to the work I’ve put in and the support of those around me. This caps an incredible year and motivates me even further for the season ahead.”

As a freshman last year at Stanford, Zhang won the NCAA individual title by three shots and was named the winner of the 2022 ANNIKA Award, given annually to the player of the year in women’s college golf.

“Rose continues to do things in the amateur game we haven’t seen in quite some time,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s Chief Championships Officer. “Her talent on the course is unmatched, but more importantly, the role model she is for the younger generation and the way she represents the game is admirable and inspiring. All of us at the USGA congratulate her on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing what’s next for her.”

“Rose has performed to a an extremely high level over the last three years and consistently demonstrated just how talented she is as a golfer. I congratulate Rose on the remarkable achievement of winning the McCormack Medal for the third consecutive year,” added the R&A’s Chief Technology Officer, Professor Steve Otto. “She has made a substantial contribution to amateur golf around the world and thoroughly deserves this recognition. We look forward to seeing her success continue.”

Previous recipients

2022 – Rose Zhang (USA)

2021 – Rose Zhang (USA)

2020 – Rose Zhang (USA)

2019 – Andrea Lee (USA)

2018 – Jennifer Kupcho (USA)

2017 – Leona Maguire (IRE)

2016 – Leona Maguire (IRE)

2015 – Leona Maguire (IRE)

2014- Minjee Lee (AUS),

2013 – Lydia Ko (NZL)

2012 – Lydia Ko (NZL)

2011 – Lydia Ko (NZL)

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Rose Zhang wins AIG Women’s British Open’s Smyth Salver for low amateur, says future pro plans are up in the air

“I feel like I have so many options that I can go either way.”

Rose Zhang joins an impressive list of players who have won the Smyth Salver for low amateur at the AIG Women’s British Open. Former winners include major champions Michelle Wie West (2005), Anna Nordqvist (2008), Danielle Kang (2011), Lydia Ko (2012, 2013) and Georgia Hall (2013).

England’s Hall, of course, went on to win the British Open title as a young professional five years later.

Zhang, 19, was the only amateur who made the cut at Muirfield, finishing 1 over for the championship. The world’s top-ranked amateur missed the cut last year at Carnoustie in her only other British Open appearance. Last year’s conditions, she said, came as a bit of a shock to her.

“You really can’t falter at all on this golf course,” said Zhang. “Not on links golf, anyway. It was just that mindset of really hitting shot after shot and staying determined and just going for it.”

Rose Zhang of United States plays her tee shot on the 12th hole during Day Three of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield on August 06, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Zhang has all but officially locked up the McCormack Medal for a third time with second-ranked Ingrid Lindblad missing the cut. Neither are in the field for next week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay, the final week of competition before the cutoff.

After 10 days at home, Zhang heads back to Europe to represent the U.S. at the World Amateur Team Championship in Paris. From there, she heads straight to Pebble Beach for Stanford’s first college event of the season.

When asked about her plans for turning professional, Zhang, who won the individual NCAA title last spring and helped the Cardinal win the team championship, said it’s all up in the air.

“I feel like I have so many options that I can go either way,” she said. “But I think for now, I’m going to go back for my sophomore year and just enjoy another great year with my teammates.”

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