Mt. Lebanon's Neal Shipley wins duel for top amateur honors at U.S. Open

Mt. Lebanon native Neal Shipley’s last day as an amateur golfer was one he’ll never forget.

Shipley beat Florida State junior Luke Clanton in dramatic fashion in the final round of the U.S. Open on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2 to claim low amateur honors. Shipley shot a 2-over-par 72 to finish at plus-6 for the tournament, two strokes better than Clanton.

Shipley, a Central Catholic graduate, became the first player to win low amateur honors at The Masters and U.S. Open in the same year since Viktor Hovland in 2019. He is the first Ohio State grad to be top amateur at the U.S. Open since Jack Nicklaus in 1960.

“I’ve got some big shoes to fill because the guys who have done it before have obviously gone on to have some great careers,” Shipley said. “But, for me, I think it just really solidifies my amateur career as I turn pro next week, and I’m just really happy with the career that I’ve had as an amateur and the legacy hopefully that I’ll leave.”

Shipley has already secured his card for the developmental PGA Tour Americas and could make his pro debut as soon as The Beachlands Victoria Open in Canada this week. He also hopes to play some PGA Tour events on sponsor exemptions, which is certainly a possibility given his everyman popularity.

Shipley was originally scheduled to play in the West Penn Amateur at Chartiers Country Club on Monday and Tuesday but was forced to withdraw because he’s not flying back from North Carolina until Monday and won’t be able to make his tee time.

“It’s been wild,” Shipley said. “It’s been something that maybe three, four years ago, I didn’t think was possible, and to accomplish all this has just been phenomenal. Just the stuff of dreams, really, as an amateur to do everything I’ve done. I think I’ve checked all the boxes.”

The competition for low amateur honors at Pinehurst essentially turned into match play Sunday afternoon. Shipley and Clanton both started the final round at plus-4 and were paired together.

They were tied at 6-over at the turn and were never more than a stroke apart until Shipley went ahead by two at the pivotal par-4 16th. Shipley hit his 210-yard approach shot to 5 feet and drained the putt for birdie while Clanton made bogey.

Shipley bogeyed No. 17 to let Clanton back within a stoke but hit his 136-yard approach to 30 feet on No. 18 and two-putted for par.

Clanton, meanwhile, hit a miraculous 125-yard approach shot out of the pine straw to about 5 feet then proceeded to three-putt for bogey.