Scarlet Sunrise: Former Buckeyes golfer Neal Shipley earns top-20 finish in PGA Tour event

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Neal Shipley finishes tied for 20th at Rocket Mortgage Classic

 Former Ohio State golfer Neal Shipley has already shown he can compete at the highest level of professional golf. He finished as the low amateur at both the Masters in April and a few weeks ago at the US Open.

But that was all happening while he was still an amateur — carrying the tag of an Ohio State golfer with him. Now he’s a pro, and after a good first start last week on the PGA Tour Americas tour, he mde his first start on the PGA Tour since turning professional. What a first start it was for the former Buckeyes standout at the Rocket Mortgage Classic up in Detroit this weekend.

Shipley tied for 20th place following Sunday’s final round, earning a check of $113,068 for his performance. It’s by far the most he has earned since turning pro, and it’ll give him a good springboard to the rest of this golf season.

No, Shipley doesn’t have his PGA Tour card. He’s on the PGA Tour Americas circuit as he aims to earn his official tour card. But he earned a sponsor exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic this past weekend, and he certainly made the most of it. What a nice payday for the former Buckeyes star.

ICYMI: Will Howard reflects on Ohio State transition while at Manning Passing Academy

From Lettermen Row’s Andy Backstrom:

 Will Howard is one of 46 quarterbacks at this year’s Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Learning from one of the most iconic families in NFL history is a small part of what Howard hopes is a life-changing fifth and final college season.

First, the former Kansas State standout has to win the starting job at Ohio State.

Howard transferred in this past January after pressing pause on the NFL Draft. Rather than going pro as a potential Day 3 pick, the 6-foot-4, 237-pound dual-threat signal caller bought into what Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day was selling in the transfer portal: a chance to elevate his draft stock and to lead a loaded Ohio State team to the program’s first national title since 2014.

READ: Will Howard reflects on Ohio State transition while at Manning Passing Academy

Inside Buckeyes jam-packed month of June

Ohio State is closing out an absolutely packed month of June.

The Buckeyes wrapped up four straight successful official visit weekends. They held five high school camps and two 7-on-7 tournaments, all of which featured plenty of top-level talents they’re currently in pursuit of moving forward.

But they were also in the middle of a big month of offseason summer workouts, and Lettermen Row has kept its ear to the ground throughout the month. Now we’re putting together a notebook on what we’ve learned from the month that was.

READ: What Lettermen Row is hearing about Buckeyes after packed month of workouts

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 61 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 152 days

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