Big Ten Golfer of the Year Jackson Buchanan of Illinois and NCAA Championship runner up Luke Clanton from Florida State received exemptions to compete in the John Deere Classic, according to a media release from the Classic on Monday. Both Buchanan and Clanton made it through sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open on June 3rd, which begins today at Pinehurst.
“We are thrilled to continue the John Deere Classic’s long standing tradition of identifying top young golfers and giving them the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Andrew Lehman. “With five wins between them this year, both Jackson and Luke have proven themselves to be exceptional players worthy of these highly coveted exemptions” (via 6 KWQC).
Since 2000, the John Deere Classic has given exemptions to players who are potential future major winners. Past recipients of exemptions include Lucas Glover, Zach Johnson, Jason Day, Wyndham Clark, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. Players who have received exemptions and won a tournament on the PGA TOUR include Charles Howell III, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney, Camilo Villegas, Nick Hardy and Viktor Hovland.
As a rising junior, Clanton made Seminole history by placing second in individual stroke play in the NCAA Championship and securing three consecutive tournament wins last season. SO far in his two years of college, the 20 year old has accrued six wins and 19 top-10 finishes and was named to the All-ACC team.
Meanwhile, Buchanan, 22, was recognized as the Big 10 Golfer of the Year after winning twice, one at the Purdue Fall Invitational and the other at the Duck Invitational. He has also finished runner-up at the Big 10 Championship and played in 13 events in Illinois, posting an impressive 70.90 stroke average. Buchanan has been named a third-team All-American by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
The 53rd edition of the John Deere Classic will take place from July 3rd to the 7th at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. The tournament has a $8 million purse with Sepp Straka as the defending champion. The tournament has also helped raise over $174 million for charity since its start in 1971 thanks to its Birdies for Charity, a non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices.
Photo Credit: Michael Cohen/Getty Images
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