Before they turned pro: Neal Shipley
4/19/2025 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
The low amateur in the 2024 U.S. Open and 2024 Masters and Full Swing star won the LECOM Suncoast Classic
Former Ohio State standout Neal Shipley is officially a winner on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Shipley won the LECOM SunCoast Classic in a five-hole playoff over Seungtaek Lee after finishing 18-under with rounds of 64-68-70-64. In the final round, he shot a 7-under 64 with birdies on holes No. 7 through 12 and jumping eleven spots up the leaderboard.
He won on the fifth playoff hole with a long birdie putt.
Let it out, Ship! 🗣️
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 19, 2025
Neal Shipley birdies the 5th playoff hole from DEEP to win the LECOM Suncoast Classic 🏆 pic.twitter.com/eGdnB0GrEG
In 2024, he finished No. 20 in the 2024 Fortinet Cup standings on PGA TOUR Americas off the strength of three top-10s in five starts, highlighted by a runner-up finish to 2024 Fortinet Cup champion Johnny Keefer.
Shipley made national headlines after finishing runner-up in the 2023 U.S. Amateur and earning low amateur honors at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst and the 2024 Masters Tournament.
In the final round at the Masters, Shipley played with 15-time major winner Tiger Woods. He was also featured on the third season of Full Swing on Netflix.
Shipley played three seasons at James Madison University from 2019 to 2022 and his remaining two seasons of eligibility at Ohio State University from 2022 to 2024. He claimed his lone collegiate victory at the prestigious 2024 Southwestern Invitational.
After his graduate season in Columbus, Shipley turned professional. His first event as a professional was the Beachlands Victoria Open on the 2024 PGA Tour Americas, where he finished T9.
In his first three events on the PGA Tour after turning pro, Shipley had a top-20 finish at the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic, a missed cut at the John Deere Classic, and a T6 at the ISCO Championship.
Amateur wins
2018 Bridgestone Golf Tournament of Champions
2020 The Fox Puss Invitational
2021 The Fox Puss Invitational
2022 Pennsylvania Amateur Championship
2024 Southwestern Invitational
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