Discretion is not the better part of Valor. Wyndham and Michael and Spencer are the better part of Valor.
Valor Christian, that is. New coach Jason Preeo is hoping the success Wyndham Clark had over the summer, the golfing pedigree that comes with the Schoolcraft name (via Michael Schoolcraft) and Spencer Sheets’ state tournament experience last year will mesh into the school’s first state title team come October when the Eagles host the Class 4A state tournament at Highlands Ranch Golf Club.
“I’m obviously not familiar with the whole scene; in fact, I don’t have a clue,” said Preeo, a former player and coach at University of the Pacific. “But I do know the standards I have for them, and that’s what I’ll hold them to.”
For Clark, it has been a summer chock-full of stellar play and one championship after another. His summer began with an 11-shot victory at the Colorado Junior Golf Association’s stroke play championship.
Victories at the junior world qualifier (Pelican Lakes in Windsor) and junior amateur qualifier (Boomerang Golf Links in Greeley) were just a few highlights.
“Once regionals and state roll around, it becomes a big deal,” said Clark, a sophomore who shot 67-66 in team tryouts at Lone Tree Golf Club on Monday and Tuesday. “For our school, to have a chance to be the first state championship team of any kind would be a huge deal.”
It was his October experience at the 4A state tournament in Craig that may have been the catalyst for Clark’s marked all-around improvement. Holding a 4-shot lead after the first round at Yampa Valley Golf Course, Clark shot a 76 the next day and watched D’Evelyn’s Brenden Beeg fire a 6-under-par 66 to win by six shots.
“I wasn’t ready to win a state title mentally,” Clark said. “A lot has changed since then. I’ve gained a lot of experience and feel like I’m ready.”
Clark’s work ethic has not gone unnoticed.
“He’s a kid that can go out and shoot 65 or 66 on any given day,” Kent Denver coach Bob Austin said. “Most kids, when the get to 2- or 3-under, they try not to screw it up. Wyndham thinks of how he can get to 4 or 5.”
For Schoolcraft, whose brother Beau won the 2007 Class 4A title at Kent, competitive golf is relatively new. After devoting the last 10 years to hockey, including a stint at a prep school in Connecticut, Michael Schoolcraft turned to his “true passion” after he broke his collarbone in January.
“I miss hockey,” he said. “But this has been my passion for years.”
Clark, Schoolcraft, Sheets and sophomore John Dalgano form arguably one of the best teams the state has seen in years.
“Getting better every day in practice is what it’s all about,” Schoolcraft said. “And when you practice with these guys day in and day out, you can’t help but get better.”
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
