If these amateurs could’ve collected prize money, their 2024 winnings would have totaled $4,263,930.
The amateurs shone bright this year.
A total of 15 amateurs made 22 cuts on the PGA Tour in 2024.
Luke Clanton of Florida State led the way, having turned the trick at seven different events, including a tie for second in the season-ending RSM Classic.
Neal Shipley made two cuts, both at majors: the Masters and the U.S. Open.
Nick Dunlap, of course, one-upped all the ams in 2024 as he’s the one with a victory, at the American Express back in January. He’s on the very short list of just eight golfers to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur. He later won the Barracuda Championship for his first victory as a professional.
Would-be winnings
Ams don’t get paid if they make the cut or win, of course, but if these guys did pocket the money from the finishing positions they posted, they would have taken home $4,263,930.
Dunlap’s payday at the AmEx would’ve been worth $1.512 million. Clanton’s tie for second at the John Deere would’ve been good for $712,000. His tie for second at the RSM would’ve meant $676,400. If he could’ve cashed in on all seven finishes, he’d have won $2,022,713. He would have been the 84th player to surpass $2 million on the PGA Tour’s 2024 season money list.
Neal Shipley continues to make waves in the PGA #GoBucks
What a ride the past few months have been for former Ohio State golfer Neal Shipley. Shipley played in both the Masters and the U.S. Open and was the low amateur in both events. Impressive to say the least.
The former Buckeye is now a professional, playing on the PGA Tour America which represents about 28,000 PGA teaching professionals at 10,000 golf facilities around the country. The PGA Tour on the other hand represents tour players exclusively.
After performing well at his first PGA Tour America event, Shipley was invited to play at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit this past weekend on a sponsor’s exemption. And the young man did not disappoint in his first PGA event coming in tied for 20th place overall.
Shipley earned $113,068 for his first PGA tournament as a professional. Not a bad payday for a week’s worth of work. Shipley does not yet have his PGA Tour card, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him earn that soon as he seems to be skyrocketing through the ranks.
— Ohio State Mens Golf (@OhioStateMGOLF) July 1, 2024
Shipley joined the Buckeye golf team as a grad transfer in 2022. In the 2023-24 season with OSU, Shipley averaged his best scores ever with a 71.35 which earned him PING All-American honors, PING Midwest All-Region honors, as well as a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection.
Big things are certainly ahead for the former Ohio State golfer.
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Shipley joins some of the biggest names in the history of professional golf. #GoBucks
It has been one whale of a season beyond the college game for Ohio State men’s golfer, Neal Shipley. After finishing as the low amateur at the Master’s earlier this year, he doubled down and accomplished the same feat this weekend at the U.S. Open.
Shipley was one of three amateurs to make the cut at Pinehurst No. 2, and finished the championship at +6, two shots ahead of Florida State’s Luke Clanton who started the day tied with Shipley.
The graduate student becomes just the tenth amateur golfer to win low amateur at both the Master’s and U.S. Open in the same year, joining another former Buckeye, Jack Nicklaus. You may have heard of him.
Neal Shipley is the low amateur in a major for the second time this year!
Shipley has clearly shown that he belongs with the big boys of the sport. Hopefully, the type of finishes we’ve seen from him at these PGA majors translate into a long and distinguished professional golf career.
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Neal Shipley is making a name for himself #GoBucks
If you’re a fan of golf and haven’t made yourself familiar with the name Neal Shipley, you might want to. The Ohio State grad student just made the cut for the U.S. Open as an amateur.
Shipley joined the Buckeye golf team as a grad transfer in 2022 and he has seemingly turned a corner playing the best golf of his young career. In the 2023-24 season with OSU, Shipley averaged his best scores ever with a 71.35 which earned him PING All-American honors, PING Midwest All-Region honors, as well as a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection.
You may recall, he played in The Master’s tournament in early April making the cut and winning the Low Amateur Award. Shipley was paired with Tiger Woods on the final day where he shot a 73 to Wood’s 77.
Now Shipley has qualified to move on in the U.S. Open being played at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Just making the cut is impressive in and of itself. If you haven’t been keeping up, a quick search on the internet will give you an idea of just how hard this course is playing.
Pressure comes in all kinds of ways in @usopengolf . @NealShipley1 righted his ship mid-round and parred in to finish 3-over, 2 shots under cut line as sun was setting. @OhioStateMGOLF star made cut in @TheMasters where he was low AM and now U.S. Open. That's, uh, pretty good. pic.twitter.com/ogBk0NYzsi
Shipley sits at three over par heading into the weekend, eight strokes off the lead. He’s tied with names like Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth, and is leading Scottie Scheffler who is currently the best player in the world.
Who knows how the weekend will play out, but it looks like Neal Shipley has found his groove in the golf world and is ready for people to take notice.
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It might be one of the coolest pieces of golf gear at Pinehurst No. 2 this week.
There are clubhead covers and then there’s this thing that Neal Shipley has at the 2024 U.S. Open.
While we’re not sure if it’s a part of an NIL deal for the 2023 U.S. Amateur runner-up or just a funny thing to have, it is perhaps the coolest piece of golf gear at Pinehurst No. 2 this week: an Arby’s curly fries clubhead cover.
Shipley was the low Amateur at Augusta National and got to play Sunday’s final round there with Tiger Woods.
He was later asked about what he learned about himself that week.
“Just knowing that my game can compete out here and I don’t need to do anything special to make cuts,” Shipley said. “When I was just kind of doing my thing and not doing anything special, that was good enough to make the cut and compete out here and beat a lot of players.”
His first-round, even-par 70 to start his week confirmed his game does compete, even on challenging layouts.
“I think my game really comes out when the golf course is really difficult,” he said Thursday. “I can separate myself from the field because I drive the golf ball so well. When you’re playing some golf courses in college golf, it’s like a wedge contest or putting contest. When you come out to majors, it’s not like that at all. Feel like my game is really suited for these tough, tough conditions.”
Shipley did have a double bogey on the 18th hole and two other bogeys on his card but he also had four birdies. He’s one of 16 amateurs in the field this week, but indicated he’ll likely make his pro debut in Canada next week on the PGA Tour Americas.
Here’s what you missed from the last week of college golf.
The spring season is officially here.
College golf kicked back into swing this week with the first few tournaments of the spring slate. February is the month when the schedule really picks up, however, though some teams didn’t take long to stand out and make a statement after the winter break.
There were numerous school records broken at the National Invitational Tournament, including one by the host team. The 2023 U.S. Amateur runner-up also got a win and helped his team to victory, and the defending national champs had a stellar showing as well.
Here’s what you missed from the last week of college golf.
Here’s who will represent the United States at St. Andrews.
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — The roster for the United States Walker Cup team is set.
Following the conclusion of the 123rd U.S. Amateur on Sunday, the United States Golf Association’s International Team Selection working group and coach Mike McCoy announced the final selections to represent the American team in the 49th Walker Cup at the Old Course at St. Andrews from Sept. 2-3.
The Walker Cup is a 10-man amateur team competition between the U.S. and Great Britain and Ireland. The Old Course has hosted eight previous Walker Cups, more than any other venue, most recently in 1975, when the USA defeated GB&I, 15½-8½.
Rising Stanford senior Michael Thorbjornsen, second in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, would’ve represented the United States but withdrew from the competition, as well as the U.S. Amateur, because of a back injury.
Meet the 10 members of the 2023 United States Walker Cup team.
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — The date was June 10, 2014. Jeff Curl was on the range practicing at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama, when some heavy rains blew through. Curl, then on the now-named Korn Ferry Tour, was hitting balls and getting practice in. Next to him was a 10-year-old Nick Dunlap.
It didn’t matter how heavy the rain was, Dunlap stuck next to Curl, mimicking the professional. Dunlap striped shots in the rain over and over again.
Curl stepped back, took a photo and posted it on social media. The caption said, “Practicing on this soggy day with future tour star Nick Dunlap. #KidIsLegit.”
Nearly a decade later, Curl’s prediction seems well on its way to being true.
Dunlap capped an incredible summer Sunday, winning the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club. He defeated Neal Shipley, 4 and 3, in the 36-hole final. The duo was tied after the 18-hole mark, but Dunlap was relentless during the second 18 holes and lights out with his putter.
“I truly believe by the time he’s 25, he’ll be the No. 1 player in the world,” Curl said on the 15th green after Dunlap clinched his match. “He’s got it.”
@greystonegcc Practicing on this soggy day with future tour star Nick Dunlap. #KidIsLegit http://t.co/kDzKYAETvv
With the victory, Dunlap is the second male amateur to win the U.S. Junior, which he captured two years ago, and the U.S. Amateur. The other is Tiger Woods.
Coming into the week, the 19-year-old rising sophomore at Alabama was one of the favorites. He had been the best male amateur in golf this summer, with his counterpart Shipley being the second best. Dunlap had captured the Northeast Amateur and the North & South Amateur.
However, his U.S. Amateur campaign got off to a rough start. He was 5 over after seven holes at stroke-play co-host Colorado Golf Club in a stretch that included playing the wrong ball on the third hole and four putting on the fifth.
But Curl, who was on the bag for his U.S. Junior win, as well, wrote something down in his yardage book. “This can be an AMAZING story if you let go and LET IT HAPPEN!!!”
“I was honestly just trying to give myself a chance with nine holes to play to try to make the cut,” Dunlap said.
Dunlap, who was ninth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, fought back and ended shooting up even-par the rest of the day. He finished T-38 after stroke play and got the 41st seed in match play.
His opening matchup? World No. 1 Gordon Sargent.
He dispatched his future Walker Cup teammate and then beat Denver native Connor Jones 4 and 2. He needed 19 holes in his quarterfinal to advance against incoming Auburn freshman Jackson Koivun, overcoming a cold putter. Then in the semifinals and championship match, that same putter took over.
“I’m stoked with how I played,” Dunlap said. “I executed exactly what I was trying to do.”
Nick Dunlap reacts to making his putt on hole 28 during the final match of the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
Dunlap was 1 up thru 17 holes in the morning wave before Shipley hit one tight on the 18th and made birdie. Shipley, a 22-year-old graduate student from Ohio State, became a fan favorite during the weeks thanks to his long hair and interactions with the crowd.
Dunlap received cheers, but when Shipley did something well, the crowd of nearly 4,000 roared.
“I just never thought that would happen ever,” Shipley said. “This is going to be a special place because of that.”
Dunlap said the turning point came on the par-4 ninth, the 27th hole, when he made a long birdie putt when Shipley was in tight. He said that stopped Shipley trying to gain back momentum and kept him at arm’s length.
Even late in the round as Dunlap led 4-up with six to play, Shipley threw a shot to 5 feet on the par-4 13th, bringing the electric crowd to its feet with thunderous applause. Dunlap was long and in the rough and took two shots to get out, conceding the hole.
Both players found the fairway with their tee shots on the par-4 14th, but Shipley pulled his approach to a front left pin and was nearly in the water. With an open green, Dunlap’s approach also went left but not as far. Shipley had to hack at it ball, and it skirted across the green.
With a chance to close the door, Dunlap left his first chip short but then used a Texas wedge to get a conceded bogey. Shipley had a chance to match but missed a 4-footer, the victim of a cold putter during the afternoon round.
Nick Dunlap and his caddie Jeff Curl embrace after winning the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
Then on 15, the closing par 3, Dunlap two putted for par and Shipley missed his birdie chance, ending the match.
“The nerves, I couldn’t feel my hands, I couldn’t feel my legs,” Dunlap said. “Couldn’t feel anything.”
Dunlap’s Alabama teammates flew in early Sunday morning and were there for a majority of the championship match. Coach Jay Seawell was there since Saturday and had a celebratory milkshake after the small ceremony on the 15th green.
“I’m just so proud of him,” said Seawell, who Saturday said Dunlap was as talented as any player he had coached. “All I told him was thank you, there’s a lot of people you’ve allowed to come alongside of you.”
Dunlap’s parents also arrived Saturday, so there were plenty of photos and hugs following his win.
Even with his poor start, Dunlap found a way to get into match play. Then he slowly and methodically took apart each opponent, creeping closer to the championship match.
After Sunday, Dunlap’s record in match play dating to July 2021 is 30-2. It was the first time in four appearances he made match play at the U.S. Amateur.
“I just learned that I could do it,” Dunlap said. “I always thought I could, but when you’re 5 over thru seven, your mind is spinning, you can’t see straight and all you see is red.
“I just learned that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it.”
The best amateur in the world won the best amateur championship in the world. And he made history doing so.
The first name the champ looked for on the Havemeyer Trophy when he got it? Tiger Woods. A name Dunlap is paired with in the annals of the sport forever.
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — Nick Dunlap and Neal Shipley have been the two best amateur golfers this summer.
Dunlap finished second in the Elite Amateur Series standings with two wins at the Northeast Amateur and the North & South Amateur. Shipley finished fourth, with two runner-up finishes and a T-3 in the Elite Amateur Series. He also had another runner-up at the Dogwood Invitational.
That’s why it’s no surprise they’re the final two golfers standing in the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club.
The duo each locked up 2024 Masters and 2024 U.S. Open invites next summer, but the first thing on their minds heading to Sunday will be hoisting the Havemeyer Trophy in the Mile High City.
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — Neal Shipley is having a helluva summer.
He has runner-up finishes at the Dogwood Invitational, the Sunnehanna Amateur and the Trans-Mississippi Amateur. He also tied for third at the Pacific Coast Amateur. Now, the graduate student at Ohio State is a semifinalist in the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club.
On Friday, Shipley dispatched Andi Xu 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals. His luscious, flowing hair has become a fun talking point for fans and makes him plenty noticeable on the course, but his game is doing most of the talking.
“You’ve got to beat so many good players, and I’ve had a lot of really tough matches,” Shipley said. “This one is pretty special because I started out kind of slow and had to claw back. Got up, and then he got me, and then just kind of won those two near the end.”
Buckeyes’ assistant coach Jimmy Beck has looped for Shipley this week, and they’ve been a formidable duo. However, Shipley has to find a new caddie for the weekend.
“Jimmy is awesome,” Shipley said. “Unfortunately, he has to go to his baby shower tomorrow.”
“Just so happens one of my really good friends who caddied for Austin Greaser at the Oakmont (U.S.) Am (2021), he happens to be at Beaver Creek, and I’m going to make him drive down for that.”
That good friend is Carter Pitcairn, a rising sophomore at Wisconsin. And yes, Pitcairn has plenty of experience in the U.S. Amateur as a caddie.
In 2021, he helped Greaser, now a grad student at North Carolina, to the championship match at Oakmont Country Club. This week, Greaser reached the Round of 32.
“I have a lot of trust in him,” Shipley said. “At the end of the day, I’m swinging the club, so it’s not a big deal.”
Beaver Creek is about two hours west of Cherry Hills in the Rocky Mountains. Instead of hanging out at the mountain resort, Pitcaird will be trying to help Shipley earn a berth in the championship match.
Shipley will take on Auburn senior John Marshall Butler at 2:15 p.m. ET in the semifinals.
… and s/o to our guy 
this week
