Miles Russell wasn’t content with simply becoming the youngest player in history to make a cut at a Korn Ferry Tour event.
The 15-year-old American amateur did much better than that, climbing into a tie for 20th at 14 under with a final-round score of 4-under 66 on Sunday at the LECOM Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
The top-25 finish means Russell gets a spot in next week’s Korn Ferry event — the Veritek Bank Championship in Arlington, Texas.
Russell becomes the youngest player to finish in a top 25 in a PGA-sanctioned event.
“It was an awesome week. It was a blast,” Russell said, per the PGA Tour. “Especially for my first one, you may get a couple weird looks, like, ‘Who’s the little kid on the range?’ But, you know, everybody was so nice and so helpful with everything.
“I just try to kind of go with flow and take it as it comes to me, and I’m trying to just stay cool. I was able to hit some good shots in the right moments.”
The Florida resident isn’t eligible to join the PGA Tour’s feeder circuit as a member until 2027, but he certainly put the golf world on notice this week.
Last fall, Russell became the youngest winner of the AJGA Boys Junior Player of the Year award, overtaking a record held by one Tiger Woods. Russell’s year included a seven-stroke win at the Junior PGA Championship and a three-stroke triumph at the Junior Players.
Sweden’s Tim Widing finished 20 under and won a three-man playoff to take the Suncoast Classic title. Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. was the top Canadian, tying for eighth at 17 under.
