Golf

FGCU celebrates the new Buckingham Golf Learning Center, giving PGA students hands-on training space and marking a major step forward in the university’s growing golf program.

Gianna Clemente’s dream has arrived. Even though she is a month away from her 18th birthday and three months away from graduating high school, she will reach her goal of becoming a pro golfer March 5 when she tees off in the Atlantic Beach Classic on Florida’s east coast.

An eagle on No. 2 propelled FGCU Eagle Lousiane Gauthier to fourth place individually at the NCAA Women's Golf Lubbock Regional Tuesday in Lubbock, Texas, qualifying the junior for the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California, May 16-21.

17-year-old Gianna Clemente throwing out first pitch at the April 14 Yankee game highlights a busy year

Southwest Florida is living up to its reputation as one of the golf capitals of the United States.The region is hosting three U.S. Golf Association qualifiers, one in April and two in May. Crown Colony in south Fort Myers is hosting the senior men’s 18-hole qualifier April 25 and the men’s 18-hole U.S. Open qualifier May 8. Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples is hosting the women’s 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier May 13.The senior men’s open and the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens are three of the most prestigious events in golf.The Florida State Golf Association selects the qualifier sites.

Estero’s Gianna Clemente, at the age when most teens are getting their driver’s licenses, took a trip down memory lane during her speech accepting the 2024 Rolex Junior Player of the Year Award earlier this month in San Antonio, Texas.

School might be over, but Estero golfer Gianna Clemente won’t be sitting on the beach working on her tan this summer.The 16-year-old, who starts her junior school year at the end of summer, will have a full schedule of tournaments that will rack up frequent flier miles.

Sixteen-year-old Gianna Clemente held on after leading going into Sunday’s final round. She shot 149, winning by two points over last year’s winner Yana Wilson.

Estero’s Gianna Clemente will get plenty of television time today during the Mizuho Americas Open that will air on the Golf Channel.The 16-year-old is leading the amateur portion of the tournament being played at the Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey.Clemente will tee off with the number one player in the world, Nelly Korda, who is leading the professional part of the tournament, and Australian Hannah Green, who is in second place.