Sitting at the outdoor patio next to a course he’s played on countless occasions, Canon Claycomb finally felt at home for the summer.

The rising Greenwood sophomore hasn’t spent more than a week in the same spot this summer while traveling the country playing in tournaments through the American Junior Golf Association.

He wouldn’t have it any other way, but now Claycomb is home preparing for the biggest tournament of his life.

Consistent play on the AJGA circuit has the 15-year-old ready to see what happens against the region’s best golfers in the U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier Monday at Bowling Green Country Club. The top two golfers from the 36-hole qualifier will advance to the 117th U.S. Amateur Championship Aug. 14-20 in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Monday will be Claycomb’s first U.S. Amateur qualifying event after playing twice in a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier, the tournament through the United States Golf Association (USGA) for those younger than 18.

“Obviously, playing at Bowling Green Country Club 5,000 times in my life is going to help a little bit,” Claycomb said. “I’ve been all over the place this summer and it’s good to come home and do it here and see everybody. … My dad is going to be caddying for me. I’ve done similar things with U.S. Junior Am, but I haven’t ever done a U.S. Am qualifier, so I don’t know what to expect.”

Claycomb will compete against 81 others in Monday’s qualifier, which is one of 100 in the country taking place from July 3-24.

Besides Claycomb, other locals playing are Western Kentucky University’s Billy Tom Sargent, WKU golf alums Will Beard, Justin Perry and Chuck Durrant; South Warren High School alums Jared Brown (Eastern Kentucky University) and Dawson McDaniel (WKU); Current Spartan CM Mixon; Glasgow alum Chase Landrum (WKU) and Warren East grad Christian Tooley (Kentucky Wesleyan).

Claycomb’s last round at BGCC was a memorable one for him and his Gators teammates. They made a charge on Day 2 of the KHSAA boys’ state golf tournament and finished second as a team, while Claycomb tied for the runner-up spot individually.

He’s riding momentum from a consistent year of five top-five finishes in AGJA events. He currently ranks 18th on the AGJA boys’ rankings and is rated the second-best golfer in the country in the Class of 2020.

“I feel really good about Monday,” Claycomb said. “I have a lot of good memories here at Bowling Green Country Club, especially last year playing at state. So many nine-hole matches, I can’t even count. So many times I’ve looped it around here. The field is strong with good names. I’m confident and I’ve been playing well.”

Claycomb’s best stretch of golf came from April to May when he tied for second at the AJGA Junior All-Star in Braselton, Ga., fourth at the Scott Robertson Memorial in Roanoke, Va., and a third-place finish in the Thunderbird International on May 26 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Since joining the AGJA three years ago, he’s earned 10 top-five finishes.

In the last 30 days, he’s played in AJGA events in Greensboro, N.C., Ringoes, N.J., and most recently Napa Valley, Calif., where he helped the East Team – made up of top 10 boys’ and girls’ golfers east of the Mississippi River – defeat the West Team in the Wyndham Cup.

“This year is the most I’ve ever (traveled),” Claycomb said. “I was telling my mom the other day that I could live out of a suitcase my whole life. Golf, this summer especially, has provided special opportunities I might never get again. I hope I get them again, but life is short and you have to take advantage of what you have when you have it. I hope I get to travel like this every summer.”

As the Greenwood sophomore travels the country playing in AGJA tournaments, he’s embraced the leadership opportunities that have come his way. He recently got involved with Leadership Links, which helps AGJA members connect in community outreach. Claycomb is raising money for the Jack Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which provides access to health care and supports programs focused on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood illness.

Claycomb said the Leadership Links has provided moments to speak with potential donors at events. For every birdie he makes, 50 cents are donated to the foundation.

His recent success in AGJA is also helping his name spread to college coaches from Stanford and Vanderbilt. Monday’s U.S. Amateur qualifier is just another chance to attract attention to his game.

“It’s another good opportunity to put yourself out there and make a name for yourself,” Claycomb said. “It’s an opportunity you can’t pass up.”{&end}