Carson Young’s Saturday at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic was probably as close as the former Clemson player has come to living his professional golf dream — in a career that sometimes seemed closer to a personal nightmare.

After cruising around The Dunes Golf & Beach Club in the third round in a bogey-free 64 shots, Young, 30, sat atop the Classic leaderboard at 13-under par, one shot clear of Harry Higgs and two ahead of Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, the leader or co-leader the first two days.

The Anderson, South Carolina native was a fan favorite, especially among a large Clemson contingent that cheered him on to his second straight bogey-free round.

“Yeah, it’s been awesome,” he said. “I’ve got my whole family down here — my little girl and my mom and brother and my wife’s parents and her brother. It’s been cool to have family out here and a bunch of support with friends.

“I hear a bunch of ‘Go Tigers’ out there, and guys that I haven’t seen in years but they’ve come out to support me. … It’s cool to be here in my home state playing golf. It kind of just feels like old times.”

Those times, almost certainly, were from his amateur days — when he won the South Carolina State Amateur twice and starred at Clemson. His memories as a professional have been far more challenging.

Before finally earning his PGA Tour card in 2023, Young struggled just to get playing time on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour. He spent five years grinding on mini-tours — often barely breaking even.

“I think I’ve talked about that before,” he said as the memories resurfaced. “I did mini-tours for five years, and that’s grueling for sure. Tough on me, tough on the family, just spending money and being on the road all the time, trying to just have a chance to get on the Korn Ferry.

“I did that for five years, and it was going to be my last. I told my wife and family, ‘This is going to be my last Q-school attempt (in 2021).’ But I managed to make it through second stage and that was a big turning point in my golfing career, because it got me status on Korn Ferry, and I ended up getting full status through Q-school.”

From there, his career began to shift upward. He captured a Korn Ferry title and nearly broke through on the PGA Tour at the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship, where he shot a final-round 65 to finish second and earn $600,000 — the best payday of his career.

Had he won, it would’ve meant a two-year exemption and a spot in the 2025 Masters. But even coming up just short, Young wasn’t about to complain.

“Winning on the Korn Ferry Tour kind of changed my perspective on golf, because I felt free again and I was enjoying it again because it was a tough stretch,” he said. “But I never really stopped believing. Just financially and mentally I was saying I was going to be done that year until I finally made it.”

Now in his third year on the PGA Tour, Young feels more settled — and more confident.

“I feel like my game has just been getting better and better for the most part. I’ve learned a lot out here. I feel more comfortable. I don’t feel as nervous. I feel like I know where to go, and I feel like I belong.”

He’s earned $3.9 million in his career and currently sits at No. 156 in the Official World Golf Rankings. This season, he’s missed two cuts but posted a tie for 40th at the Valero Texas Open — a clear improvement from those earlier, leaner years.

Saturday’s round at The Dunes was another sign of how far he’s come. It was highlighted by a dramatic eagle on the par-5 15th.

“That green has been reachable pretty much all week, and today I had like 280-something to the pin,” he said. “I kind of short-sided (my approach) left in the rough, not where I was trying to hit it. I was kind of complaining to my caddie, ‘I hit it in the one spot you couldn’t hit it in.’

“It was a pretty good lie, and just a full swing flop shot and hope for the best — and it came out perfect.” He laughed. “I didn’t see it go in, but everybody started cheering, so that was a cool moment.”

Moments like that help ease the sting of past struggles. But the emotional toll those years took still lingers.

“It was really my fifth try at Q-school,” he said, his voice turning somber. “It was just running out of money, running out of … I felt like I wasn’t really getting anywhere, especially since I had been married for a few years. Felt like I needed to provide for my family.

“That was going to be my best go just because I was kind of burned out on golf, honestly. But once I made it through, that was a sign, and that was just God telling me that He has more plans for me with this golf, and He has a purpose for me out here. So yeah, I just took it and ran with it, and I’m just so thankful to be out here living my dream playing on the PGA TOUR.”

Now, he no longer questions whether he belongs. He knows.

And what’s next? He’s got only one thing on his mind.

“That’s why I’m here. I’m here to win,” Young said. “That’s all I ever want to do when I play golf is to win. I’ve done it numerous times in my career. Not as many at the pro level, but I have done it.

“I was in good position to win in Cabo in the fall and shot 7-under in the final round — just got beat. I feel like that was good prep for me and good nerves to be under. Same for Puerto Rico a couple years ago and John Deere last year.

“I’ve learned a lot in those moments, and I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow and compete — because that’s what I love to do.”

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