Sunday, July 7, 2024
What would have been the odds that if there were two Gators and two Seminoles playing in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, followed by the John Deere Classic, that the only one left standing for both weekends would be a Seminole junior, and he would be a major factor in both.
That's how it has transpired over the last two weeks: Gators Tyson Alexander and Camilo Villegas and Seminole Daniel Berger sitting on the sidelines after all three missed both cuts, while amateur Luke Clanton was a possibility at the Rocket Mortgage only to fall into a tie for 10th with a Sunday 72, but still very much alive at the John Deere today at 16 under par, five strokes behind leader Davis Thompson and in a tie for sixth.
Clanton shot 69-68-65-72 in Detroit, and the 72 finale left him at 14 under, still just four strokes behind winner Cam Davis, and three behind runner-up Davis Thompson. If he had already turned pro, Clanton would have cashed a check for more than $200,000.
Looking for his first PGA Tour victory, Thompson has continued his stellar play at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois this week (63-67-62, 21 under) and leads Eric Cole (62-65-64) and Aaron Rai by two strokes with 18 holes to play. His runner-up finish behind Davis was worth $616,400.
Clanton (63-67-67) is 16 under, and tied for sixth. No word yet if the 20-year-old will remain in Tallahassee or turn pro and stop throwing away all that cash. He might let us in on it late this afternoon.
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