Corey Conners signs with PING to begin pro career at RBC Heritage
After maintaining his amateur status to play in last week's Masters Tournament, Corey Conners turned pro and made his professional debut at Hilton Head Island for the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage this week.
He shot rounds of 77 and 70 to miss the cut at Harbor Town Golf Links.
Conners, who sat atop the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com rankings for a large chunk of the 2014/2015 season, finished his amateur career with a "low-amateur" showing at Augusta National, though his 36-hole total of 149 was not good enough to make the cut. Because of this, the coveted Silver Cup was not handed out in 2015.
But his second-round 69 was the only under-par round shot by any of the seven amateurs in the field, and gave him a nice confidence boost going into his first professional event as a pro, which is earned via sponsor's exemption.
Conners signed with PING earlier this week, a multi-year deal that requires him to wear a PING hat, carry a PING staff bag, and play at least 11 PING clubs.
“Competing at Augusta, then turning pro and now signing with Ping, it’s been an incredibly rewarding and memorable time for me,” Conners said. “Making my professional debut on the PGA Tour is a huge honor, and I am looking forward to the challenge and playing the Ping equipment that I trust. I’m really happy to be affiliated with such a respected brand that’s known for its quality and innovation.”
Conners is a former Kent State University golfer, where he was a two-time All-American. He earned his place in the 2015 Masters thanks to a runner-up finish to Gunn Yang at Atlanta Athletic Club in last August's U.S. Amateur, and posted other notable finishes in 2014 like winning the Jones Cup, being medalist at the Argentine Amateur, and winning the Lake Macquarie Amateur in Australia.