Luke Clanton is the headline beginner on this week’s Sony Open discipline.
However for the second, Tyler Loree is low beginner.
The 17-year-old Loree, who’s from Kula, Hawaii, earned his PGA Tour debut after successful the Hawaii State Golf Affiliation’s beginner 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 professionals.
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 important alternative. I’m simply so grateful to be part of this match. … I’m not likely attempting to give attention to the outcomes. I’m simply attempting to stack good pictures.”
(Clanton, by the way in which, shot 1 underneath as he goals for an additional 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 received two straight Maui Interscholastic League particular person championships and final 12 months added a HHSAA state particular person title. He’s ranked No. 86 within the AJGA nationwide junior rankings and signed final November to play faculty 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 always 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 desires to maximise his recreation, and we really feel that these are the varieties of guys who play nicely 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 by 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 dwelling, the place he’s presently underneath an evacuation warning.
The Sony Open has seen high-schoolers have success earlier than. In 2007, 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa, on the time, turned the youngest participant in 50 years to make a PGA Tour minimize. He’d finally tie for twentieth. Kyle Suppa was additionally 16 when he made the Sony minimize in 2015, although he’d miss the 54-hole minimize at T-76. And naturally, Michelle Wie, at age 14, almost made the minimize 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. … Possibly somewhat little bit of reduction. It’s simply realizing 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 rely them on the finish.”
