Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Luke Clanton is the top amateur in this week’s Sony Open field.
But for now, Tyler Loree is a lowly amateur.
The 17-year-old Loree, who is from Kula, Hawaii, made his PGA Tour debut after winning the Hawaii State Golf Association Amateur Qualifier, which is separate from Monday’s regular qualifier and open only to top Hawaii amateurs. He shot a 5-under 67 on Nov. 18 to win by four shots at Waialae Country Club, returning Thursday to open the Sony Open with another 67, though this time 3-under as Waialae plays a par 70 for Tour pros .
Loree is three times back from a six-man field for first, which includes Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge and Eric Cole.
“Honestly, I was more nervous about the qualifier,” said Loree, whose six birdies on Thursday included four in a row starting on 7. “Coming here, it’s a great opportunity. I am so grateful to be a part of this tournament. … I don’t try to focus on results. I’m just trying to put good shots together.”
(Clanton, by the way, shot 1 under as he aims for another top-5 finish, which this time would come with a PGA Tour card he could activate this summer.)
A senior at Seabury Hall High in Maui, Loree has won two straight Maui Interscholastic League individual championships and added an HHSAA state individual title last year. He is ranked No. 86 in the AJGA National Junior Rankings and signed last November to play college golf at UCLA beginning this fall.
“He really caught my eye with his relentless work ethic,” Bruins coach Armen Kirakossian said when Loree signed. “He is constantly working to be better. He asks good questions and you can really see that he is always trying to improve his game. He wants to maximize his game, and we think those are the types of guys who play well and succeed in this sport. Golf is a tough game with so many ups and downs, and Tyler is a young man who really perseveres through those things.”
Kirakossian was supposed to fly to Hawaii to watch Loree compete, but due to the fires in the Los Angeles area, Kirakossian stayed with his family at home, where he is currently under an evacuation alert.
The Sony Open has already seen success from high school students. In 2007, 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa, at the time, became the youngest player in 50 years to make the PGA Tour. He would eventually tie for 20th place. Kyle Suppa was also 16 when he made the Sony cut in 2015, though he would miss the 54-hole cut at T-76. And of course, Michelle Wie, at age 14, almost made it at the 2004 Sony, firing a second-round 68 and missing the weekend by one shot.
Loree doesn’t get ahead of herself.
“I mean, who knows what could happen tomorrow,” Loree said. “I’m just trying 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 see how it goes. Just have fun tomorrow and count them at the end.”
