CdM’s Seeber one to watch
There is so much to cover when writing about Clay Seeber. But maybe, just maybe, all there is to know is discovered in his aspirations.
He certainly has lofty goals. And, there doesn’t seem to be anything or anyone that will stop him.
“My main goal is to make the PGA Tour and win on the Tour and be a top name on the PGA Tour,” Seeber says.
There is so much proof that makes this a viable goal. Seeber is well aware the challenges that will appear along his path to stardom.
But, so far so good.
We’re talking about a kid, a Corona del Mar High sophomore, who verbally committed to play for UCLA before he became a freshman for the Sea Kings. Who does that?
As if that wasn’t enough, Seeber made his ultimate goal believable with a huge 2016 that included four Toyota Tour Cup victories, one wholly impressive American Junior Golf Assn. win, two runner-up finishes and a third place in Toyota Tour Cup events.
Wow! What happens next will be exciting.
“If he stays healthy and without major injuries, he makes it on the PGA Tour,” says George Gankas, who has been Seeber’s swing coach for the past couple years. “He’s too good. He’s a blessed athlete. I’ve seen the great kids in this sport. He’ll make the PGA Tour, no doubt.”
But before that, he has 2017 to tackle, then after high school, there will be competing for the Bruins.
This past year was big for Seeber with regard to national competition. He wants to broaden his reach in 2017.
“I want to become top 10 in the world among junior golfers by the end of 2017,” Seeber says. “I’m like No. 43 right now. I want to be in the top 10 of every single world ranking, AJGA rankings, junior golf rankings or Golfweek rankings.”
Those close to the 16-year-old know that he is plenty capable of reaching those goals.
For the past three years, Seeber has also been working with Kevin Baker, a former pro. They play at Shady Canyon Country Club together. Baker also gives Seeber advice. Seeber calls Baker his mentor.
“His future can be what he wants it to be,” Baker says of Seeber. “He has a long way to go. But he’s on a fantastic trajectory to get where he wants to be. What I try to instill is just don’t think about where you want to go, enjoy the journey.”
Seeber definitely enjoyed his AJGA Invitational championship, a one-shot win in October at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore.
In March, he showed his dominance in the Toyota Tour Cup series by winning with a 16-under score at La Costa Resort.
For 2016, Seeber is the Toyota Tour Cup Player of the Year.
He will be honored during a special Southern California PGA award ceremony on Jan. 21 at Mile Square Golf Club.
Among the several awards he’ll receive will be the Curtis Cup for being the top male junior golfer in Southern California.
Yes, 2016 was a great year, more evidence for what Seeber will accomplish in the future.
“He has the best golf swing on the planet,” Gankas says of Seeber. “He just hits the ball awesome. He has a great personality. He is also strong mentally. A lot of kids, they miss a shot and they look around to see if someone saw them. But he is secure. He just keeps playing. It’s so nice to see with a junior player. You don’t see that often. He’s not trying to impress me or anyone. He just does what he does.”
Look for Seeber to do more.
