AUGUSTA, GEORGIA | Gianna Clemente possesses the whole package – talented, smart, attractive, personable and fearless. A year ago, her golf skills led her to the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at age 15, the youngest player in the field. Today, after celebrating her 16th birthday exactly two weeks ago, Clemente is in the final pairing at the home of the Masters with an ANWA trophy within reach.
“I don’t think there is anything you can do to prep for that,” Clemente said after under-par rounds of 70 and 71 at Champions Retreat have her tied for second with 22-year-old Maisie Filler of the University of Florida, two shots behind 20-year-old Englishwoman Lottie Woad of Florida State. “There is definitely going to be some nerves on the first tee. That’s inevitable.”
Nerves or not, this is precisely where Clemente wants to be. Last year was all about the experience, and she exceeded her modest goal of just making the cut by finishing tied for 14th. This year, the No. 3 AJGA female junior wanted and expected to do more than just qualify for the final round.
“I said from the very beginning last year that my goal was just to make the cut. I wanted to play Augusta National under competition so badly. It didn’t really … I’m not going to say it didn’t matter where I was, but I just wanted to play it under competition,” she said Thursday after posting one of only five under-par scores in difficult second-round conditions a day after 28 players shot 71 or better.
“I feel like coming into this week I wanted a little bit more than that,” Clemente said. “Obviously to make the cut and play it in competition again, but I think maybe just being in one of the leading groups and having the bigger crowds and the more pressure. I think I wanted a little bit more out of this week, yeah.”
This is what separates the good golfers from the potential greats – the desire to test themselves by fire. Clemente has the spark to be special – something made abundantly clear right before the ANWA even started when the high school sophomore from Estero, Florida, was named to the USGA’s inaugural U.S. National Junior Team and signed a multiyear NIL partnership.
NIL – which stands for name, image and likeness – is an acronym that has taken collegiate sports by storm in recent years. It allows amateur athletes to accept money pursuant to what someone thinks their skills are worth, without violating the rules that govern amateur play. It’s an accepted version of professionalism for athletes who haven’t turned professional yet.
While schools and organizations try to figure out the Wild West of NIL’s early days, it has its benefits beyond just sustaining or even enriching young athletes. NIL can curb the need or incentive for young players in any sport to jump into the professional realm too soon or before they’re ready.
“Obviously, Augusta National is very intimidating. Yeah, just reminding myself that I’ve been in these situations before and I felt these nerves before. Yeah, it’s really important to draw some confidence off that.” — Gianna Clemente
Clemente is just old enough to drive, but already she has entered the NIL waters as a high-schooler in the Class of 2026. On Monday before the ANWA started, Clemente was announced as the newest elite golfer to forge a multiyear NIL partnership with Transcend Capital Advisors, a wealth-management company. She joins a “Transcend golf team” that includes top-ranked AJGA boys and girls juniors Miles Russell and Yana Wilson (a fellow ANWA participant this week), 2023 U.S. Amateur co-medalist Blades Brown and all-American University of Virginia golfer Ben James. Caleb Surratt had an NIL agreement with Transcend before leaving college to join Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII LIV Golf team in February.
“Transcend Golf was created to invest in some of the game’s most talented amateur players and to help them achieve their dreams of playing professional golf,” said Brian Gorczynski, managing partner of Transcend. “Gianna has established herself as one of the brightest stars in the game, and her accomplishments speak for themselves. We are thrilled to welcome her to Team Transcend and are excited to watch all that she will achieve over the course of her career.”
Between that and the USGA national team, Clemente’s development is well covered.
“The team they have built is truly amazing, and I am humbled to become part of such a great group,” Clemente said of the NIL deal. “I am grateful for Transcend’s commitment to amateur golf, and their support will allow me to continue growing into the best player that I can be.”
Clemente’s growth has been steady. She won her first tournament at age 5. In 2017, she finished seventh in the 7-9 age group at the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National. In 2019, she stepped up her game by qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Amateur at age 11.
In 2023, she not only reached the final round at ANWA, she won the Girls’ Junior PGA Championship and The Sally, teamed with fellow past DC&P finalist Avery Zweig to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, reached the semifinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior and represented the U.S. in the Junior Solheim Cup in Spain and the Junior Ryder Cup in Italy.
This year, Clemente was among 12 players invited to participate in the 2024 U.S. Curtis Cup practice session in January at Seminole Golf Club.
But first things first: Augusta National. Clemente focused more on her practice round and soaking it all in on the big course Friday before a fun spin around the Par 3 course – an added bonus for the ANWA participants this year. But the fact that she’s been there before helps.
“Obviously, Augusta National is very intimidating,” she said. “Yeah, just reminding myself that I’ve been in these situations before and I felt these nerves before. Yeah, it’s really important to draw some confidence off that.”
If things work out and she trumps Anna Davis as the youngest 16-year-old ANWA winner, a lot of doors will open for Clemente. Already the youngest player to make it into three straight LPGA Tour events via Monday qualifiers at age 14 in 2022, a win today likely would get her invited to LPGA majors this summer.
“I would absolutely love to do that,” she said of the potential step up against the world’s best. “Obviously, I have a lot of work ahead of me still left to make that happen. But, yeah, I would love that. It’s such a good experience. I’ve played in three LPGA events and none of them were majors, but it was such good experience. I had a great time in all of them, and it was just so fun. I would love to be able to do that again.”
With such heady stuff, you almost forget that Clemente is still a young girl. Then she’s asked about the two different ball markers on each side of the brim of her cap – one a money sign and the other an American flag.
“Yeah, a little superstition of mine,” she said. “People used to call me ‘G-Money’ so I use the one [$] for birdie putts and I use this one [flag] for par putts. I know that’s very superstitious, but I’ve done it for years.”
While the competition is stiff with 16 players even par or better with the chance to win it with a low round today, G-Money is not a bad bet to cash in at Augusta National.
Top: Gianna Clemente tees off at No. 5 during the first round one of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club. Shanna Lockwood, Augusta National
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