SILVIS — Luke Clanton was adamant earlier this week that he’s in no rush to turn pro. Winning a national championship at Florida State University remains his motivation.

But after navigating his way into contention at the halfway point of the John Deere Classic, the junior-to-be wasn’t as resolute in that stance if he should go on to claim a PGA Tour tournament title Sunday evening at TPC Deere Run.

“We’ll see,” said Clanton, who has rounds of 63 and 67 and is two shots off the lead heading into Saturday’s third round. “Simple as that.

“We have two more days of golf. We got to do that first.”

There is no denying the 20-year-old has enough talent and fearlessness to be the last one standing here.

Clanton recorded the lowest scoring average in Florida State history this past season at 69.3 — the same school to produce five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and past Tour winners Paul Azinger, Hubert Green, Jeff Sluman and Daniel Berger.

Ranked fifth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Clanton made the cut at the U.S. Open last month at Pinehurst, tied for 10th a week ago at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit and now is in the hunt at a tournament known for turning young guns into stars.

Nick Dunlap, who played at Alabama, became the first amateur to win on the Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991 earlier this year at The American Express Championship. Dunlap turned pro days after that historic victory.

A similar decision could await Clanton if he can get his palms on the bronze buck trophy.

“I don’t want to sound cocky or boastful at all, but we’ve trained to do what we’re doing here,” Clanton said. “Honestly, college golf is tough. It prepares us for these kinds of moments and these kinds of golf courses, and now that I’m in contention for the second week in a row it’s pretty sweet.

“I know where I’m at and what to do now. I had a lot of learning last week and I’m excited.”

Clanton’s 36-hole total of 130 is the lowest by an amateur at the JDC. Patrick Rodgers (T15, 2013) and Michael Thorbjornsen (T17, 2023) are the only amateurs to finish in the top 20 at Deere Run.

The long-hitting Clanton could have opted to play in the prestigious Arnold Palmer Cup this weekend, an annual team competition comprised of college and university golfers. He turned down that invitation to tee it up with the pros.

“Just to even be out here playing golf is just unreal,” Clanton said. “The man above has given me these opportunities to be in contention for these events and understand that I got my family on the side, my girlfriend here, everything like that.

“It's been just awesome to be out here.”

Clanton walks the line between cockiness and confidence.

After making a double-bogey at the par-4 sixth Friday, Clanton didn’t flinch.

“I knew I was going to make birdie, birdie,” he said. “After I got that double, I said to myself, ‘We aren’t finishing at 10-under; we’re going to finish at 12.’”

Clanton hit a “crappy 2-iron” off the tee at No. 6 and was stuck behind a tree.

“Tried to pull off a Tiger (Woods) shot and didn’t do it,” he said. “Whatever. It’s going to happen and you’re going to handle adversity no matter what. I knew the last three holes were pretty gettable with the wind and how they were.”

He drained birdie putts of nearly 10 feet at Nos. 7 and 8 to offset his only hiccup of the day.

“I have fun every time I hit a golf shot,” Clanton said. “I don’t think there is a difference between here to college. I think it's kind of the same mindset for me.

“I’m just having fun out here, man. That’s it.”

And come Sunday evening, Clanton could have a new lease on his golfing life.