Clemente, a high school freshman who finished runner-up to Yana Wilson at the U.S. Girls' Junior in July, earned her way into her third consecutive LPGA event on Monday, when she shot 7-under in rainy conditions to gain entry into the inaugural Kroger Queen City Championship at Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati, approximately a four-hour drive from her home in Warren, Ohio. The other spot went to Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras at 4-under par.
According to LPGA.com, Clemente is the youngest player ever to Monday qualify for three consecutive LPGA Tour events. Only one other person has successfully Monday qualified for three consecutive events on Tour: Hee-Won Han in 2001, at the LPGA Takefuji Classic, Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open and Welch's-Circle K Championship.Thanks for the welcome Queen City! -7 in qualifying today to make my 3rd @LPGA start still in the OH pic.twitter.com/o7G9u5KM9Q
— gianna clemente (@giaclementegolf) September 5, 2022
Her run began when she earned one of the final four spots in the CP Women's Open qualifier on July 22, shooting an even-par 72 to share co-medalist honors for her first LPGA start and Monday-qualified again for last week’s Dana Open in Sylvania, Ohio, when she rebounded from a late double with two birdies to shoot 3-under 69 and win the qualifier.
Clemente has finished fourth or better in five AJGA tournaments so far in 2022. That includes runner-up finishes at the Girls Rolex Championship in June and in July at the U.S. Girls Junior Championship. She last competed two weeks ago at the U.S. Women's Amateur where she qualified for match play but fell in the Round of 64.