Wyndham Clark has been a model of consistency and stellar play in his final season of college golf, but his final stroke-play round in collegiate action turned out to be a notable exception.
In the last round of stroke play at the Men’s NCAA Finals, the Coloradan shot a season-worst 9-over-par 81, leading to his lowest individual finish at the University of Oregon.
Clark (pictured) placed 51st with an 8-over-par 296 total at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., after playing his final nine holes in 7-over 43. His previous worst showing as a senior was 13th place, and going into the NCAA Finals, he had placed outside the top 10 just once and had won three times individually, including at the Pac-12 Championship in Boulder.
The good news was Clark’s Oregon squad, the defending national champions, rallied to squeak into the eight-team match play field, with the quarterfinals set for Tuesday. The Ducks tied for fifth place out of the 30-team field with an 1,158 total, but were just three strokes better than the ninth-place team, LSU, which failed to advance.
Clark — ranked No. 1 individually among the nation’s college golfers, according to Golfweek — has said he plans to turn pro immediately following the end of his college career.
Braden Thornberry of Ole Miss won the individual NCAA title with a 277 total.
Men’s NCAA Division I Finals
May 26-29, 2017 (final for stroke play) in Sugar Grove, Ill.
51. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oregon 74-69-72-81–296
Missed 54-Hole Cut
138. Coloradan Josh Seiple, Mississippi 74-76-82–232
For complete results, CLICK HERE.