Duke men's golf's Quinn Riley turns professional

After four years at Duke, Quinn Riley is moving up.

Riley, on the heels of a successful senior season in 2021-22 and his recent graduation from Duke, announced Saturday morning via a team release that he will turn professional. The Raleigh native is set to compete in two professional events, with the first coming June 2-5 on the Korn Ferry Tour at the REX Hospital Open and the second, his PGA Tour debut at the John Deere Classic, scheduled for June 27-July 3.

"I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity I've gotten here," Riley said in a video accompanying Saturday's release. "I'll proudly represent Duke everywhere I go, wherever golf takes me, and I'm extremely appreciative for the opportunity that they've given me."

In his first two professional events, Riley will play under the sponsor's exemption. His debut at the REX Hospital Open will come in Raleigh, but the John Deere Classic—won by former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover in 2021—is set to take place at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Riley, who posted a 72.38 scoring average in 2021-22, took a step forward in his final season with the Blue Devils, leading the way for a young core and picking up his first collegiate win in Duke's team victory at the Stitch Intercollegiate on his home course in Cary, N.C.

“We had a lot of successes this season,” Riley said. “For me, I felt like I kind of started to see glimpses of how I envisioned playing golf in college.”

"Everyone in the Duke Golf program, myself included, is absolutely thrilled for Quinn to have earned opportunities to compete on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour," head coach Jamie Green said in the release. "It was exciting for all of us to watch Quinn's hard work for four years pay off with a very strong senior year, and especially strong final half of the spring semester."