Wyndham Clark is only 15 years old, and just starting his sophomore year of high school, but you’d never know it by his quickly-growing golf resume.
He’s won the CGA Junior Stroke Play (by 11 shots), reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, finished third in the Callaway Junior World Championships, also placed third in the CGA Stroke Play, and is currently ranked among the top 50 boys golfers in the nation. And that’s all happened in the last four months.
But one of the things still on Clark’s to-do list locally in the junior ranks is to win a state high school title. He very nearly pulled off the feat as a freshman at Valor Christian, shooting a 66 and holding a four-stroke lead after the first day. But a final-round 66 by D’Evelyn’s Brenden Beeg while Clark shot a 76 left the latter a distant second in the 4A state meet.
But Clark’s second chance comes Monday and Tuesday at the 4A state tournament at Highlands Ranch Golf Club, where Valor Christian is serving as the host school. It’s one of three state high school meets that will be held simultaneously on those days. The 5A competition is set for Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, while the 3A meet will be at Cougar Canyon Golf Links in Trinidad.
Here’s a preview of each tournament:
Class 5A at Saddle Rock — If the past is any indication, Cody Kent of Douglas County should be in the thick of the title chase. Kent finished second to since-graduated teammate Derek Fribbs last year at state, and placed fourth in 2007 and 13th in 2006. Kent is ranked among the top 200 boys players in the nation by both the American Junior Golf Association (111th) and Junior Golf Scoreboard (169th).
Other top-10 finishers at state from a year ago who qualified again this year are: Overland’s Jonathan Park (third in 2008), Air Academy’s Cameron Harrell (tie for fifth), Regis’ Tyler Engel (tie for fifth), Fairview’s Sam Rock (tie for 10th), Fountain-Fort Carson’s Sam Jorgensen (tie for 10th) and Poudre’s Ronnie Toplyn (tie for 10th).
Park had the only sub-70 score in 5A state-qualifying tournaments, shooting a 68 at South Suburban Golf Course. Nick Allen of Dakota Ridge, who finished fifth at state in 2007 and 10th in 2006, qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur over the summer. Jackson Giro of Fort Collins, another nationally-ranked player, is also expected to contend for the title.
Class 4A at Highlands Ranch — Clark shot the lowest round of any player — regardless of classification — in state-qualifying tournaments, firing a 5-under-par 67 at Indian Peaks Golf Course. Clark is the highest-ranked Colorado player nationally, standing 33rd according to the AJGA and 43rd according to Junior Golf Scoreboard.
Four other top-10 finishers from the 2008 state tournament are back this year: Greeley West’s David Oraee (tie for seventh), Alamosa’s Justin Mortensen (tie for seventh), Mullen’s Chris Dillon (tie for ninth) and Rock Canyon’s Brendan Connolly (tie for ninth). Oraee, who was also seventh in 2007, won an AJGA 15-and-under tournament in Aspen this year by 18 strokes. Connolly, along with Clark and Valor Christian’s Michael Schoolcraft, competed in the 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur, with Clark and Connolly advancing to match play.
Aside from Clark, Silver Creek’s Jack Adolfson had the lowest round in 4A state-qualifying tournaments, a 70 at Mariana Butte Golf Course.
Class 3A at Cougar Canyon — Three of the top four finishers from last year — and five of the top nine — are back for the 2009 meet. Andrew Cornella of St. Mary’s in Colorado Springs, the runner-up to Denver Christian’s Michael Reitz in 2008, returns to the state tournament. So do Front Range’s Min Kyu Jeon (third), Jefferson Academy’s Steven Kupcho (fourth), Monte Vista’s Luke Condon (sixth) and Kent Denver’s Jason Lehigh (ninth).
Cornella and Jeon won state-qualifying tournaments this year, with Cornella’s 74 at Hollydot Golf Course being the low score from any 3A regional meet.
