Neal Shipley followed up his low amateur performance at The Masters by doing it again at the U.S. Open.
The former Ohio State golfer outdueled Florida State’s Luke Clanton in Sunday’s final round at Pinehurst No. 2 to finish with the best score among amateurs in this year’s U.S. Open. While both players – who were paired together in the final round – entered the day at +4 for the tournament, Shipley finished the tournament with a 72-hole score of +6 while Clanton concluded with a 72-hole score of +8.
Both players were tied going into the par-4 16th hole, where Shipley gained separation by birdieing the hole while Clanton bogeyed.
Two clear with two to play! @OhioStateMGOLF product Neal Shipley has low amateur honors in his sights. pic.twitter.com/sB2iywnYxE
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024
Shipley bogeyed the par-3 17th hole, decreasing his advantage to one stroke, but he parred the 18th hole while Clanton bogeyed to secure low amateur honors by two strokes.
Neal Shipley is the low amateur in a major for the second time this year!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 16, 2024
He has earned low amateur honors at both @TheMasters and @USOpenGolf in 2024. pic.twitter.com/vSYV9bilBt
Shipley becomes the 10th golfer ever to earn low amateur honors at both the U.S. Open and The Masters in the same year. He joins elite company on that list, including fellow Ohio State alum Jack Nicklaus – the first to complete the double in 1960 – as well as current pros Viktor Hovland, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar, among others.
Neal Shipley has a chance to join some rarified air this weekend ... finishing low amateur at both the Masters & U.S. Open in the same year. I asked @JustinRayGolf for those who have done it before.
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) June 15, 2024
Hovland in '19
Kuchar '98
Mickelson '91
Sam Randolph '86
Nicklaus '60
The U.S. Open will be Shipley’s final tournament as an amateur. Shipley, who earned his spot in both The Masters and the U.S. Open by finishing as the runner-up at last year’s U.S. Amateur, is now set to begin his professional career alongside fellow Ohio State alumni Maxwell Moldovan and Caleb Ramirez on the North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas, which begins next week with the Victoria Open in Victoria, British Columbia.
