AUBURN, Ala. – After missing out on her 2019 LPGA Tour card by $8, former Auburn golfer Cydney Clanton had two choices: move on or press on.
"It was pretty heart-wrenching," said Clanton, a four-time All-American on the Plains from 2008-11. "It took me quite a while to get over it."
The top 100 players on the 2018 LPGA Tour money list automatically qualified to play on the tour this year. Cydney finished last season ranked No. 101.
"The way I tried to look at it the best I could was there was a reason for why I didn't retain it," said Clanton, who debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2012 and enjoyed her best professional season in 2017, with three top 10 finishes. "There was a reason for why I needed to be in the situation. Either I needed to grow or I needed to develop. There was a purpose for it."
Beginning in April, months later than she usually starts playing, Clanton returned to the Symetra Tour, one rung below the LPGA Tour, winning her first tournament.
"To be in contention and to know how to handle myself and what to expect in those situations, because I hadn't been in that situation since I won a Symetra event in '13," she said. "From there, it was in college, back in 2010 when I had my really successful year at Auburn. So it had been a long time of not being in contention."
Through a caddie friend, Clanton reached out to LPGA Tour player Jasmine Suwannapura about an upcoming inaugural team event with a request reminiscent of an elementary school playground when it's time to choose sides: "pick me."
"I think we would mesh well together because she has the short game and I have the long game," Clanton said. Suwannapura agreed.
"I have that mentality, the one-on-one experience, playing other sports," Clanton said. "I really enjoy match play, even though the tournament wasn't match play, there still is a sense of being able to play aggressively because you have a partner who can help bail out if necessary."
Cydney and Jasmine won the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Michigan in July by six shots, finishing at 27-under.
Cydney Clanton, right, and Jasmine Suwannapura celebrate their LPGA Tour victory
"What we did on Saturday obviously was awesome shooting 59 and the fact that we did it under pressure with having to shoot a low number," said Clanton, who became the first Auburn golfer to win on the LPGA Tour. "What we did Friday in alternate shot, shooting 7-under and giving us the five-shot lead going in to Saturday was way bigger. Alternate shot is a much harder format, it requires both players to be playing great golf and we were. I was way more impressed with how we played on Friday than what we played on Saturday."
In a matter of months, crushing disappointment gave way to a career-defining victory.
"In hindsight, I don't know that I could have dreamed that I would have gone from only playing in four LPGA events and would have won one to then get my card for the rest of the year and for the next two years," Clanton said.
"It definitely took a lot longer than I thought when I turned pro. I struggled the first couple years and settled down in the middle. To get the victory I feel blessed for the opportunity. I was very comfortable on Friday and Saturday [in the final two rounds]. To have that comfort in that position was awesome."
Clanton was a 4x All-American from 2008-11
Growing up in Concord, North Carolina, Cydney dreamed of golfing for the in-state Tar Heels. Then Auburn coach Kim Evans had other plans.
"I went to Auburn and fell in love pretty much the first recruiting trip I went down there," Clanton said. "I was 100 percent recruited to Auburn. Coach did a really good job of getting me down there.
"The facilities Auburn has are awesome. I tell people all the time, if you don't get better at Auburn, it's because you didn't want to get better. We have the facilities that anybody needs to develop.
"When you go there, you're playing with other girls who have the same goals and the same passions as you do. Being able to play with girls every day who had the same goals and passions as I did really helped launch and grow my game in the competitive sense."
Clanton was watching in May when her alma mater advanced to the NCAA Championship semifinals.
"It's great to see [Auburn women's golf coach] Melissa [Luellen] and the girls playing some good golf," Clanton said. "They deserve it. Auburn has traditionally had such a good program. For their hard work to pay off was awesome."
'A long journey': Cydney Clanton walks the course during her first LPGA Tour win
Unlike college golf, professional golf, with few exceptions, is more of an individual endeavor. But for Cydney Clanton, there's still a team behind the scenes.
"I am thankful for my parents and the support of all of my team," she said. "I have a great team around me. David Ross, my longtime swing coach. From the time I was 10 I've worked with him. Tim Yelverton, Bhrett McCabe and Jason Lindsay, my parents and family, they're a big part of the win. They're a big part of the journey.
"I've had a lot of difficult conversations with my parents whether this was actually where I'm supposed to be. The win obviously solidifies that. It confirms with me and my parents. I'm thankful to have them and the support and thankful for all of the support I've had from my coaches, and their patience and their knowledge."
Clanton's college coach, Kim Evans, says Cydney is one of the greatest golfers in Auburn history.
"She is also a true athlete and could play any sport," Evans said. "I'm proud of her staying power- we have had girls get there but were unable to stay. It takes a lot of effort - I think she will really take off now."
Back on the LPGA Tour, Clanton finished 41st last week in the Scottish Open. Knowing she'll remain on the tour for at least two more years validated Cydney's decision to press on.
"Blessed," she said. "I decided in sixth grade that I was going to be a professional golfer and that's what I set out to do. Not only was I going to be a professional golfer but I wanted to win. It's been a long journey."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer