Luke Clanton is the leading amateur at this week’s Sony Open.
But right now, Tyler Loree is a weak amateur.
Loree, 17, from Kula, Hawaii, made his PGA Tour debut after winning the Hawaii State Golf Association’s amateur qualifier, which is different from the regular Monday qualifier and open only to the top Hawaiian amateurs. He shot a 5-under 67 on Nov. 18 to win by four at Waialae Country Club, where he returned on Thursday to open the Sony Open with another 67, though this time at 3-under as Waialae plays to a par 70 for tour professionals .
Loree is three shots behind in the first match, which features six players including Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge and Eric Cole.
“Honestly, I was more nervous before qualifying,” said Loree, whose six birdies on Thursday included four in a row starting on No. 7. “It’s a great opportunity to get here. I’m just grateful to be a part of this tournament. …I don’t really try to focus on results. I just try to take good photos.”
(Incidentally, Clanton shot 1 under looking to finish in the top five again, which this time will be secured by a PGA Tour card he can activate this summer).
Loree, a senior at Seabury Hall High on Maui, has won two straight Maui Interscholastic League individual championships and added an HHSAA individual state title last year. He is ranked No. 86 in the AJGA national junior rankings and signed last November to play college golf at the University of California, Los Angeles, starting this fall.
“He really caught my eye with his relentless work ethic,” Bruins coach Armen Kirakossian said when Loree signed. “He’s constantly working to be better. He asks good questions and you can really tell that he’s always trying to improve his game. He wants to maximize his game and we think he’s the type of player who plays well and does well in this sport. Golf is a tough game, full of ups and downs, and Tyler is a young man who can really get through those things.”
Kirakossian was scheduled to fly to Hawaii to watch Loree compete, but due to wildfires in the Los Angeles area, Kirakossian stayed home with his family, where he is currently under an evacuation warning.
High school students have achieved success in the Sony Open before. In 2007, then 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa became the youngest player in 50 years to qualify for the PGA Tour. Ultimately, he tied for 20th place. Kyle Suppa was also 16 years old when he made the cut for Sony in 2015, though he would miss the 54-hole T-76 Stadium appearance. And of course, 14-year-old Michelle Wie almost qualified for the Sony competition in 2004, shooting a second-round 68 to miss the weekend by one shot.
Loree doesn’t get ahead of herself.
“I mean, who knows what could happen tomorrow,” Loree said. “I just try to enjoy this moment as much as I can. … Maybe a little relief. I just know I can compete here. But we have another round tomorrow, so let’s see how it goes. Just have fun tomorrow and count them at the end.
