GREENSBORO, N.C. — Amateur Luke Clanton had to wake up early and play three holes on Sunday morning to 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.
“Sleeping was not great because I knew I had three more holes that are pretty tough,” he said. “It’s probably the most stressful three holes I played in a while.”
Clanton relaxed and went on a roll, shooting 8-under 62, his third round 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. Doc Brown would say the space-time continuum has been out of whack all week at the Wyndham.
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 is 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.
Clanton, a 20-year-old junior at Florida State, is scheduled to compete in the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National in Edina, Minnesota, 1,162 miles away. The stroke-play portion of the championship begins on Monday. Speaking between rounds, Clanton said he has a plan to get there if the Wyndham finishes on Sunday.
“I’m actually taking a private airline to Minnesota, which is very nice,” he said. “It’s pretty expensive, but whatever.”
Clanton could potential complete three rounds in one day and is going to have to play potentially 39 holes and then hop a flight. Asked about how he’s going to do it, 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. I’m still an amateur, 20-year-old, so I’m going to enjoy it.”