Jack Clancy might have started to play basketball when he could barely crawl, but he made the walk over to golf after he received a free golf lesson voucher at a hoops camp.
"I just enjoyed it more," he said.
With his success on the links, don't expect the Marquette sophomore golfer to switch sports in the near future.
Clancy was an individual regional qualifier as a freshman. He's had seven nine-hole rounds of 37 or lower this season, which includes a 34 against Westville and South Central at Legacy Hills on May 9.
His low 18-hole round is a 71, which was good for runner-up medalist honors at the Rensselaer Invitational on May 7. He carded a 72 to win medalist at the Greater South Shore Conference meet on May 20, and he shot a tourney-low 75 to the win the LaVille Invitational last Saturday.
These results don't come as a complete surprise to first-year coach and Blazers alum Jordan Gallas. Over five years ago, Brian Bar, one of Gallas' former Marquette teammates, asked if his cousin, Jack Clancy, could join the group for a round.
"He smoked one off the first tee; I was shocked," Gallas said. "I always knew Jack would be a good player."
Gallas has become impressed with Clancy's emotional growth on the course.
"He's confident but not arrogant," Gallas said. "He's very humble, and he's learning to win the right way. I receive all types of compliments from competing coaches and players about Jack."
Clancy gives credit to his family about his grounded approach. Bob Clancy, Jack's father, played tennis at the University of San Diego. Senior Katie Clancy, Jack's older sister, was a part of three state championship volleyball teams at Marquette, and she advanced to the regional championship of individual singles tournament this season.
"My family gives me great advice, especially my dad," Jack said. "I would get mad when I was younger, but they've helped me stay positive.
"My parents also didn't force golf on me. I was always the one saying, 'Let's go out and practice.' Since I was the one asking, they knew I really liked the sport."
Gallas also sees Clancy as a quality team player, becoming a quality role model for fellow sophomores Patrick Roder and Hunter Paholski.
"I said in the preseason, that Jack sets the bar," He's kind of soft spoken, allowing his teammate to feed off the way he plays and practices."
At this point, Clancy isn't about to rest on his past accomplishments.
"You cannot take nothing for granted," he said. "There's always someone out there that is better than you.
"I have to stay calm and not worry about the past. My biggest concern is my next shot."
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