Neighbor News
Clayton Feagler, A Future PGA Star in the Making
SCPGA, AJGA, USGA, Toyota Tour Cup Series, PGA, Wade Wilson Golf, Trackman
Clayton Feagler (16) is becoming one of the Top junior golfers in California and is continuing to impress college coaches Nationwide. Clayton is a member of the SCPGA Junior Toyota Tour Cup Series Tour. It is conducted for elite players who have earned the right to play at the highest level of competitive play by qualifying for the Tour. Clayton has been a member of the Toyota Tour Cup for 3 years.
In November of 2014, Clayton decided it was time to show the world of golf what and who he is. He entered the Toyota Tour Cup Series at Talega, a two day event held on November 15th and 16th. The field was comprised of 60 boys from all over Southern California. Clayton’s first round started with a pair of bogies, but he quickly settled in finishing the round with 7 birdies and a total score of 69. The next day, Clayton went Birdie, Birdie, Birdie on the first 3 holes to help secure the win, shooting 72, even par and winning the two day tournament by 3 shots.
The following week, November 22nd and 23rd, Clayton teed it up at the Toyota Tour Cup Series Morongo at Tukwet Canyon, Champions course. The field was comprised of 90 top players from all over California. Clayton sprinted out of the gate shooting a bogey free round, 34 front 9 and 33 back nine to record a day one total of 67, 5 under and lead by 2 shots. On the second day, he had a bit of a roller coaster ride but held on strong to shoot an even par, 72 and a two day total, 139, 5 under par and win by 7 shots. Clay just experienced back to back wins on one of the strongest junior tours in the United States.
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These two events and what he learned from them proved to be very important to Clayton as he got ready to play at the Toyota Tour Cup Championship at Sandpiper Golf Course in Santa Barbara, CA. Having worked with Clayton over the past 3 years, we discuss things like, attack angle, club path, trajectory, spin rate, launch angle, dynamic loft, etc. We also discuss the areas of, “What if’s”, scenarios, “What to do when”, and discuss things like, staying in the moment. Clayton was about to be seriously tested and many of the experiences that he has had, along with mental toughness that he has practiced, would play a serious role in the outcome of the Tour Championship.
On Saturday, December 20th Clay teed it up at 7:39 on #10 with two other competitors. On hole #11, Clayton scored an 8 on the 206 par 3. This is not a typo! After hitting his first ball into the hazard, he and the other players thought he had to play the ball from where it entered the hazard; none of the players new that a drop zone had been designated. In short, he dropped the ball in a muddy lie and proceeded to hit two more balls into the hazard before hitting his 7th shot onto the green and 1 putting for a gut wrenching quintuple (+5) bogey on the second hole of the championship. As he tried to control his emotions and get clarity on his game, he made a par on the 13th, 343 yard Par 4, only to be bitten by the 523 yard Par 5 where he took a 7. Now, Clay is 7 over par and he has only played 4 holes in the championship. At this point in the round, he had two choices, give up or play with his heart. He chose the latter. He finished his front nine with a birdie, 2, on the 170 yard par 3, 18th to shoot a first nine total of 44. He then went on to birdie the first hole on the second nine, along with two bogeys to shoot 38 and a first round total of 81.
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That night, Clay thought about his round and what could have been. He realized his mistakes and accepted them for what they were and decided to learn from them. He then made a choice to play his heart out and prove to himself that he was one of the best golfers in the field and that he was good enough to win.
The next day, Clay just knew in his heart that he was going to play well and that Is just what he did. With three bogies and one birdie on the front, 38, he was just warming up to go low on the back nine where he had FOUR birdies and NO bogeys to shoot 32, and a final day score of 70. His 2 under par round was the lowest round of the day. One hole number 11 he decided to give a little “pay back” to the hole that challenged him on the first day. He hit his 4 iron eight inches from the hole to make an easy two. He started the second day of the tournament tied for 44th place and finished the tournament tied for 10th which earned him a 12th place ranking in the Toyota Tour Cup Tour, Player of the Year Points.
There is a lot to be learned from this event for all of us. To be the best one must be willing to do what most people are not. The fact that Clayton showed character, poise, control and confidence is something that this game requires if one is going to be successful. The most important characteristic displayed in his performance is that he elected to stay in control and not let the game control him. In the end, Clayton won! He won because he did not give up. He won because he challenged himself to succeed. He won because he believed in himself.
Clayton played in 7 Toyota Tour Cup Series events taking 1st place THREE TIMES. His combined scoring average for all 7 events was 73.1.
Clayton is competing at the highest level of Amateur golf in the SCPGA, AJGA and USGA national events. He will look to continue his winning ways in 2015 by once again competing in the Toyota Tour Cup series and other AJGA events, as well as being Captain of the Dana Hills High School Golf Team.
For all of us at El Niguel, I would like to congratulate young Mr. Feagler for his incredible year on the Toyota Tour Cup Series and his continued effort to improve both mentally and physically at the game we all love. Great job Clayton and continued success in future events.
