Luke Clanton is the headline newbie on this week’s Sony Open subject.
However for the second, Tyler Loree is low newbie.
The 17-year-old Loree, who’s from Kula, Hawaii, earned his PGA Tour debut after profitable the Hawaii State Golf Affiliation’s newbie qualifier, which is completely different from the common Monday qualifier and open solely to prime Hawaiian amateurs. He fired 5-under 67 on Nov. 18 to win by 4 pictures at Waialae Nation Membership, the place he returned Thursday to open the Sony Open with one other 67, although this time a 3-under rating as Waialae performs as a par 70 for the Tour execs.
Loree is three pictures again of a six-player logjam for first, which incorporates Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge and Eric Cole.
“I used to be extra nervous for the qualifier truthfully,” mentioned Loree, whose six birdies on Thursday included 4 straight beginning at No. 7. “Getting right here, it’s an excellent alternative. I’m simply so grateful to be part of this match. … I’m probably not attempting to deal with the outcomes. I’m simply attempting to stack good pictures.”
(Clanton, by the best way, shot 1 beneath as he goals for one more top-5 end, which this time would include a PGA Tour card that he might activate this summer season.)
A senior at Seabury Corridor Excessive on Maui, Loree has gained two straight Maui Interscholastic League particular person championships and final yr added a HHSAA state particular person title. He’s ranked No. 86 within the AJGA nationwide junior rankings and signed final November to play school golf at UCLA starting this fall.
“He has actually caught my consideration along with his relentless work ethic,” mentioned Bruins coach Armen Kirakossian when Loree signed. “He’s continually working to get higher. He asks good questions, and you’ll actually see that he’s at all times attempting to enhance his recreation. He needs to maximise his recreation, and we really feel that these are the sorts of guys who play properly and make it on this sport. Golf is a tricky recreation with so many ups and downs, and Tyler is a younger man who actually perseveres via these issues.”
Kirakossian was scheduled to fly to Hawaii to observe Loree compete, however as a result of fires within the Los Angeles space, Kirakossian stayed along with his household again house, the place he’s at the moment beneath an evacuation warning.
The Sony Open has seen high-schoolers have success earlier than. In 2007, 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa, on the time, grew to become the youngest participant in 50 years to make a PGA Tour reduce. He’d ultimately tie for twentieth. Kyle Suppa was additionally 16 when he made the Sony reduce in 2015, although he’d miss the 54-hole reduce at T-76. And naturally, Michelle Wie, at age 14, almost made the reduce on the 2004 Sony, firing a second-round 68 and lacking the weekend by a single shot.
Loree isn’t getting forward of himself.
“I imply, who is aware of what can occur tomorrow,” Loree mentioned. “I’m simply attempting to benefit from the second as a lot as I can. … Perhaps a little bit little bit of reduction. It’s simply understanding I can compete out right here. However we’ve got one other spherical tomorrow, so see the way it goes. Simply have enjoyable tomorrow and depend them on the finish.”
