Colorado has produced many outstanding junior golfers over the years — players such as Hale Irwin, Bob Byman, Brandt Jobe, Brett Dean and Tom Glissmeyer, among others — but Wyndham Clark can rightfully make a case that he belongs among the best of the best.
Clark (pictured at left) added to his resume on Tuesday with a dominating performance in becoming one of just 10 players in Colorado history to win two boys state high school titles. Oh, and by the way, to claim the second Class 4A championship, all he did was shoot 64-64 for a 16-under-par 128 total at Pelican Lakes Golf Club in Windsor. In all likelihood, that’s the best score in Colorado state high school tournament history, and it resulted in an eight-stroke victory.
“The (championship in 2009) was really big for me because it was my first,” said Clark, a senior at Valor Christian who also finished runner-up in two state high school tournaments. “This one is probably bigger because I kind of made a statement and I played really good golf. It was really nice to go out with a bang.”
Clark wasn’t the only newcomer to the two-time state high school champion club on Tuesday as Kent Denver junior Ethan Freeman won the Class 3A tournament in Gunnison.
The other two-time champs are Steve Ziegler of Legacy (2005 and 2006 in Class 5A); Glissmeyer of Cheyenne Mountain (2003 and 2004 in Class 4A); Jay Osmon of Alamosa (1992 and 1994); Dean of Evergreen (1984 and 1986); Jeff Armstrong of Pueblo Centennial (1974 and 1975); Bob Haldeen of Sterling (1960 and 1961); Ron Sevier of Denver South (1953 and 1954); and Frank Van Meter of Denver East (1947 and 1948).
No Colorado boys player has won three or more state high school titles.
So how does Clark stack up against the best junior players Colorado has produced, with his CGA Stroke Play Championship at age 16 last year, his two state high school titles, qualifying for two U.S. Amateurs, and a myriad of other accomplishments?
Coincidentally, one of the spectators at Pelican Lakes on Tuesday can give a little perspective, having coached Byman in high school at Fairview, and in the same town as Irwin. All told, George Hoos coached high school golf in Colorado from 1960 to 1990.
Asked the best junior players he’s seen in the state, Hoos gives the nod to Byman (Fairview), Irwin (Boulder) and Bill Loeffler (Cherry Creek). Each won one state high school title, but Byman claimed a U.S. Junior Amateur title in addition to three CGA Stroke Play Championships by age 18. Irwin also won three CGA Stroke Plays — albeit at a slightly older age — before he embarked on a professional career in which he’s earned three U.S. Open titles. And Loeffler was starting to make his mark in a career which now includes three Colorado Open victories, a U.S. Mid-Amateur title and two PGA of America national tournament wins.
But Hoos is certainly duly impressed with Clark.
“He’s a Byman type, and probably a better physical specimen,” Hoos said. “I think Bob maybe had a little more moxie. But this (Clark) kid is the real deal. He’s flat good.”
How good was Clark at the state tournament this week? The Oklahoma State-bound golfer went bogey-free over 36 holes — something he said he’s never done before in back-to-back tournament rounds. On Tuesday, Clark made an eagle and six birdies, one of which came when he holed a bunker shot on No. 9.
“How good is (64-64), and winning by eight,” said PGA instructor Erik Billinger, who has been working with Clark on his game since the spring. “It’s quite a statement. He deserves it. He puts a lot of work in, a lot of hours in, and sacrifices a lot. It’s his heart and soul. And now he’s getting rewarded for it.”
Silver Creek junior Jack Adolfson (pictured at left, 68-68–136) finished eight strokes behind Clark to place second on Tuesday. His teammate, Dylan Wonnacott, also a junior, posted rounds of 68-69–137 for third place.
“I played well and I really can’t complain,” Adolfson said. “Wyndham is just a great player. I’m not disappointed that I finished second.”
Though Clark shot 64-64, he had even bigger things in mind at Pelican Lakes.
“I really wanted to shoot 59,” said Clark, who’s ranked among the top 20 junior players in the U.S. according to the AJGA. “I know I was far away from it each day — five shots — but at the same time it was also really close because I turned at 5 and 6 under each day. I had so many (birdie) chances today.”
Silver Creek, located in Longmont, won its first boys golf state title, unseating two-time defending champion Valor Christian, which finished in second place, five shots behind. Silver Creek (pictured celebrating at left) posted a stellar 12-under-par 420 team total for two days.
“I’ve got tears welling up right now I’m so happy for the boys,” Raptors coach Mike Maydew said after Tuesday’s round. “They beat a great team and they played great to do it. It’s fantastic.”
Winning a state title has been a rallying point for Silver Creek all season.
“We’ve been playing good all year, and that was our whole goal — just dethrone Valor,” Adolfson said. “We were really motivated to beat them.”
Kent Denver’s Freeman Doubles Up in Class 3A: Kent Denver junior Ethan Freeman birdied the final three holes Tuesday to win his second consecutive Class 3A state tournament, this one at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison.
Freeman came into the final hole one stroke behind Cole Nygren of Alexander Dawson, but Nygren closed with a bogey and Freeman with a birdie to account for a two-stroke swing. Freeman shot a 5-under-par 66 Tuesday for a 6-under 136 total, while Nygren carded a second-round 70 to end up at 137. Jake Ice of Eaton (70-71–141) was third.
Freeman became the 10th two-time Colorado boys state high school champion. Wyndham Clark of Valor Christian also claimed his second state title on Tuesday, marking the first time the feat has happened twice in the same day. (See above for all the two-time winners.)
Meanwhile, Freeman’s Kent Denver squad won its sixth consecutive state title, matching a Colorado record set by Thunder Ridge (2001-2006 in Class 5A). Kent Denver claimed 4A championships in 2006 and 2007, and has ruled in 3A every year since that classification was created in 2008.
This time around, Kent’s 428 total was 16 strokes better than second-place Aspen.
Lundquist, Regis Reign in Class 5A: Gus Lundquist of Regis parred his final 13 holes Tuesday to win the Class 5A state title by one stroke at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction.
With 18 players finishing within six strokes of Lundquist, his even-par 71 Tuesday was good for a 2-over 144 total and a one-shot victory a year after he finished second at state. Brandon Gayeski of Mountain Range (69-76–145) came in second after bogeying his last two holes Tuesday. Kyle Strain of Brighton (74-72–146) and Palmer Giro of Fort Collins (71-75–146) tied for third.
Regis won its second consecutive 5A state team title by prevailing in a one-hole playoff against Cherry Creek. Both teams finished with 19-over-par 445 team titles.
