Neal Shipley is in rare company.
The 23-year-old former Ohio State golfer won low amateur honors in the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. One of three amateurs to make the cut, Shipley was paired with fellow amateur Luke Clanton in the final round, and Shipley topped Clanton by two shots Sunday to finish at 6 over for the week.
Shipley is just the ninth player in history to win low amateur honors at the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year. He’s the first to do so since Viktor Hovland in 2019.
But he’s not the only former Ohio State golfer to accomplish the feat. The other guy is pretty well known. His name is Jack Nicklaus.
“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 now.”
Shipley shot 2-over 72 in the final round while famously using Arby’s curly fries clubhead covers. He got into the field thanks to his runner-up finish in the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills outside of Denver.
He shot 70-73-71-72 in his first U.S. Open start, and he has indicated he’ll likely make his pro debut in Canada this week at a PGA Tour Americas event. The Beachlands Victoria Open has a purse of $225,000.
Here’s a look at the nine golfers who have finished as low amateur at the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year.
Billy Joe Patton
Patton was the first to do so in 1954.
Harvie Ward
Ward became the second to do it in 1955, a year later.
Ken Venturi
Venturi was the third to accomplish the feat in 1956, three straight years of it happening.
Jack Nicklaus
Nicklaus’ greatness was predicted early, as he was the fourth to accomplish the feat in 1960.
Sam Randolph
Randolph accomplished the feat in 1986.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson is no surprise. He won a Tour event the same year, 1991, in which he swept low amateur honors.
Matt Kuchar
Another player who has had a successful career, Kuchar became the seventh to do it in 1998.
Viktor Hovland
Twenty-one years later, Hovland became the eighth. And it again predicted success to come for the 2023 FedEx Cup champion.
Neal Shipley
Shipley joined the exclusive club in 2024.
