October 29, 2024 • by Scoreboard / Photography: East Lake Cup
The number one and two players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) faced off in the semi-finals of the East Lake Cup today, with Luke Clanton of Florida State (No.1) and Jackson Koivun of Auburn (No.2) putting on a thrilling exhibition of match play golf in which they shared 13 birdies and an eagle.
Clanton came out on top by a margin of 3&2 but it was Auburn who had the last laugh, winning by 3-1 in a rematch of the 2024 National Championship match to book a place in the final against Georgia Tech, who defeated Ohio State 4-0 in the other semi-final.
The Clanton-Koivun encounter was undoubtedly the showpiece tie on the second day at East Lake Golf Club and the pair did not disappoint. ‘I think this one was definitely the biggest match I've had yet,’ said Clanton afterwards. ‘Me and Jackson have had one heck of a year and a half I guess you could say.
‘It’s been awesome competing against him, and to finally play against him in match play was awesome. I think match play goes either way, especially as the top two players in the world.’
The Seminole junior, who won three times last season and then put together a superb run of results on the PGA Tour over the summer, got out of the gate fastest with an eagle on the par-5 1st hole. A par on the 2nd then quickly put him two up.
Koivun, who had two wins and finished inside the top 10 in 12 of his 13 tournaments last season, hit back with a birdie on the 3rd to halve Clanton’s lead before both players birdied the 6th and 7th.
Clanton then went 2-up thru eight with a birdie on the 370-yard, par-4 8th hole to go five under par for his round.
Auburn’s Haskins, Ben Hogan and Outstanding Freshman Award winner hit back with his fifth birdie of his round on the par-4 10th, spinning his 120-yard approach shot back to around four feet before holing the putt to go one down.
Further birdies were traded on 12 and 13 before the 560-yard, par-5 14th was halved in birdie fours. With sub-par scores being scattered like confetti, Clanton headed to the 15th tee at one up.
A Koivun bogey on the 160-yard par-3 handed his opponent a clear advantage, one that Clanton rammed home with a clinching birdie — his sixth of the round — on the 16th.
After recording one runner-up and two top-5 finishes in his seven PGA Tour starts, this was what the Golf Channel commentators described as a ’statement victory’ for Clanton, although both players contributed to a rich spectacle.
‘I wanted Jackson right off the bat, no doubt,’ confirmed Clanton. ‘I think it's pretty obvious that we’re the best two players in the world and to kind of be able to put him in a tough spot with the last couple holes coming in was nice.
‘He’s, again, one hell of a player. He’s done amazing things in his career. He’s younger than me, which is kind of absurd. I haven't really played someone who’s younger than me like that, but it’s awesome to watch him play and how he’s doing. He's going to be really good in the future.’
Their best ball score over the 16 holes? Eleven under par.