Tag: U.S. Junior Amateur 2021

U.S. Junior Amateur: Luke Clanton takes down the No. 1 seed, then a local Pinehurst favorite

Get to know the player who took down the two U.S. Junior Amateur favorites in the same day.

Welcome to the Luke Clanton show.

If you’re unfamiliar with the 17-year-old from Miami Lakes, Florida, let me hit you with some knowledge. He’s committed to Florida State, has won the Class 2A state title in two of the last three years and is off to a blistering start at this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur at The Country Club of North Carolina in the Village of Pinehurst.

“It was kind of funny because me and Ben were talking on the first tee and we kind of knew the whole day was going to be one-sided with the crowd,” explained Clanton.

Clanton took down top-seed Kelly Chinn in the morning Round of 32 on Thursday, 1 up, and then defeated Pinehurst local favorite Jackson Van Paris, 2 and 1, in the Round of 16.

U.S. Junior: Match results

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“But it was an unbelievable experience with everyone out here. I can’t even think – I was looking down an iron shot and I saw like a bunch of people surrounding the green, so that’s kind of cool,” he continued. “I just said, ‘one shot at a time,’ and I played really well today. I think I only had one bogey and five birdies. It was just kind of one of those days where I took it one shot at a time, and Jackson is a great opponent, great player, known him for a while. It was fun today, and I just played a little bit better today. That’s it.”

Already this year, Clanton has three top-5 finishes, including a T-2 at the Dustin Johnson Junior Worlds. Last year he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational Junior and posted three top-10 finishes.

“He’s a great player, and he’s definitely a guy that you go into the match knowing you have to play good to beat,” said Van Paris after the match. “He’s not going to lay over. He’s a great competitor. I have no doubt that he’ll continue playing well and keep it going for the rest of the week.”

Awaiting Clanton in the quarterfinals is Vanderbilt-bound Gordon Sargent, a two-time defending Alabama State Amateur champion and three-time Rolex Junior All-American.

For Clanton, he believes in himself just as much as Van Paris.

“My goal is to win,” he said.

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With his older sister on the bag, 12-year-old Davis Wotnosky becomes second-youngest competitor in U.S. Junior Amateur history

Wotnosky shot a 2-over 74 and is within striking distance of match play.

The Wotnosky name is starting to carry some weight in the amateur golf world.

Haeley is a rising senior at Virginia and has played in one U.S. Women’s Amateur and three U.S. Girls’ Junior championships. Grayson is entering his sophomore year for the Cavaliers.

And then there’s Davis. At 12 years, 6 months, 16 days old, he is now the second-youngest player to compete in U.S. Junior Amateur history. Wotnosky began the week at The Country Club of North Carolina with a 2-over 74 on the Dogwood Course with Haeley on the bag.

“It’s really fun. I’ve always been really good friends with my brother and sister,” Wotnosky said of his family support. “She keeps me loose and it’s always awesome to have another eye from someone who is a golfer and has played in tournaments.”

Wotnosky began the day on the par-4 10th with a bogey then settled in with a pair of pars followed by a pair of birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, his only two of the day.

2021 U.S. Junior
Davis Wotnosky hits from the woods on hole 15 during the first round of stroke play at the 2021 U.S. Junior at The Country Club of North in Village of Pinehurst, N.C. on Monday, July 19, 2021. (Chris Keane/USGA)

“On No. 13, I hit an OK tee shot to about 50 feet. I hit the putt way too hard and it hit the back of the hole and bounced up and went down. So, I got really lucky there,” explained Wotnosky. “On 14 it’s a tough hole. I hit it center of fairway and then hit it to 30 feet. I had it lip in and that is always nice to have.”

Playing about 90 minutes down the road from his Wake Forest, North Carolina, home, Wotnosky remarked special it is to make his Junior Amateur debut in North Carolina.

“I wanted to play in this event, especially here, for a long time,” said Wotnosky. “I was pretty nervous on the first tee. I usually do not get nervous. I certainly felt it there.

“It’s been fun. I know this golf course and I have played it a few times. And to have all the people I know here is great.”

The youngest to ever play the event is Matthew Pierce Jr., who competed in the Junior Am in 2001 at the age of 12 years, two months, 15 days. In 1996, Kevin Na was 12 years, 10 months and 13 days old. He’s now fourth on the list of youngest competitors in the event.

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