U.S JUNIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

July 28, 2022

Luke Clanton

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Quick Quotes

Q. You had to work hard for this one. How did you do it?

LUKE CLANTON: I didn't get a lead until hole 11. Won three in a row, 9, 10, 11. He was playing super solid. I really couldn't win a lot out there. It was good. He was playing well. He made a lot of putts, I missed a lot of putts. All in all, he won 12 after hitting it to like three feet on that par-3, and he missed it, and I missed my four-footer. So it was like kind of a swing of emotions. All in all, just played really solid golf coming in and he made a few mistakes.

Q. Tell me about how you closed it out because you had birdies at 16 and 17.

LUKE CLANTON: Yeah, so 16, I hit it to like three feet, so I hit it really good. I hit it down the middle, 2-iron, green-side and chipped it to about three feet, and he made a hiccup going long, so I kind of had it and just tapped in the three-footer.

17 was pretty funny. I hit -- the second shot I knew he pulled a little left off the green, so kind of knew if I just got on the green I would win. But I hit it and it was right at it. I club twirled it and it went to about two feet. I kind of knew it was going to be done. He didn't give it to me, but he had a chance and he just missed it. I was pretty happy.

Q. You said you had some respect for you, especially the way he came out of the gate. What was he doing so well?

LUKE CLANTON: He matched my energy to a T. It was awesome. I have major respect for him. He is going to do some great things in college for sure. I'd love to tell him that in person. I don't know where he is now.

It was cool. I've never seen anyone kind of match my energy before out there. Coming in he just made a few mistakes. I wish it would have gone to 18 to be honest. It was too good of a match not to.

Q. You were in this position before. Is it even better the second time around?

LUKE CLANTON: Yeah, it's good. I'm not worried about it. Still got to take it one shot at a time no matter who I'm playing. Same thing for me; I've been playing well this summer, so I know my game is there. I know everything is there. I putted well today, hit it well, so whatever happens happens.

Q. Having gone through this all before, does that make you confident?

LUKE CLANTON: Yeah, it makes me know what to do kind of for nights and realize it's going to be long days and not short ones. Hopefully tomorrow I just get up early and get my thing done and go to the next one.