Top-ranked AJGA player opens in 68-66 at LECOM Suncoast Classic

Miles Russell, 15, isn’t particularly nostalgic. When it was time to switch golf balls midway through the opening round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic, the No. 1-ranked AJGA player considered singling out his first ball as a keepsake. Alas, it made its way into the fray at the bottom of his golf bag.

Yet it stands to reason this week will linger in Russell’s mind forever – and if not, it will be etched in the history books anyway. Russell carded rounds of 68-66 at Lakewood National Golf Club’s Commander course, becoming the youngest player to make the cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event and joining Guan Tian Liang (age 14 / 2013 Masters and Zurich Classic of New Orleans) as the only players under 16 to make a cut on the PGA TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour, on record (since 1983). Russell surpasses the Korn Ferry Tour mark previously set by Gipper Finau (16 years, 20 days) at the 2006 Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank. Russell set the new mark at 15 years, 5 months, 17 days.

“That’s a cool one for me,” Russell said. “It’s a cool record, and hopefully it will get broken.”

This week marked Russell’s PGA TOUR-sanctioned debut, competing on a sponsor exemption, and he has quickly shown that he belongs. After a 3-under 68 in Thursday’s opening round, Russell had one stroke of cushion on the projected cut line, and he further separated himself with two eagles on the front nine Friday – coming at the 282-yard, par-4 fourth and 563-yard, par-5 ninth. He added birdies at Nos. 10 and 11, fell back with a bogey at the par-3 13th but finished with five straight pars to end three strokes inside the cut line.

He’ll enter the weekend in a share of 26th place at 8-under 134, six back of 36-hole leader Brandon Crick.

“I knew it was going to be a good test to see where I am against some of the best,” Russell said. “It’s definitely something I’ll remember even when times will get hard; I’ll remember it when that happens and go with the flow.”

In the context of Russell’s robust list of junior accomplishments, this feat should come as no surprise. Last fall, he became the youngest winner of the AJGA Boys Junior Player of the Year award, surpassing Tiger Woods, his year including a seven-stroke victory at the Junior PGA Championship and a three-shot win at the Junior PLAYERS (which included a second-round 66 at TPC Sawgrass’ PLAYERS Stadium Course).

Although he’s a high school freshman, navigating classes like Earth science and geometry, Russell has carried himself like a pro this week in his home state of Florida (Lakewood National, just outside Bradenton, is located roughly four hours from his hometown of Jacksonville Beach.) Perhaps diminutive in nature for now, the left-hander already generates swing speed that compares to the average TOUR pro and is still growing – suggesting he could become one of the game’s longer hitters in years to come. Combine that with a creative short game, high golf IQ and inquisitive mind – “he’s like a sponge,” said his longtime swing and skills coach Ramon Bescansa – and a successful pro career could be in his future.

Not that he’s taking it for granted. Between shots in a Tuesday practice round at Lakewood National, Russell expressed appreciation for this week’s opportunity and the chance to work toward a career as a professional golfer overall.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to do it,” Russell said Tuesday of eventually pursuing professional golf. “To have the chance to do it would be even cooler, and then to be able to do it would be awesome. I think it would just be cool to do something I love, and there’s not much more I love than this.”

The top 25 finishers and ties at the LECOM (not otherwise exempt) will gain access to next week’s Veritex Bank Championship in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Russell is eligible for this perk, but he’s not eligible to earn non-member Korn Ferry Tour points toward Special Temporary Membership, as the minimum age for Korn Ferry Tour membership is 18.

For now, Russell has secured two more competitive rounds against the pros this weekend, having authored a slice of Korn Ferry Tour history.

“I’m kind of speechless,” Russell said Friday. “The goal was to make the cut and we made it, so we’ll see where the weekend goes.

“It’s a cool record to break. I don’t know how much longer … people are getting so good, so young. It could hold out for a week, you never know, but it’s pretty cool right now.”