HIGHLANDS RANCH — Chapter 1 of the Wyndham Clark story didn’t quite go as he had planned. Clark hopes that Chapters 2-4 read the same.
One year after relinquishing his first-round lead at the Class 4A state tournament and finishing second, Clark, a Valor Christian sophomore, rallied from three shots behind first- round leader Drew Trujillo of Montrose to win by two Tuesday at Highlands Ranch Golf Club.
“I’ve changed so much last year and matured,” said Clark, a sophomore who is the 2-year- old Highlands Ranch school’s first state champion. “This is a big deal for me, and it has been my dream to win this.”
It was a banner day for Valor as a whole. The Eagles won the schools first state title, finishing the two-day event a combined 3-under par. Their team total of 429 was just enough to edge Rock Canyon’s 435 total.
“After getting off to a slow start, they really played well on the back nine when it really mattered,” said Eagles coach Jason Preeo of his foursome that included Clark, Michael Schoolcraft, Spencer Sheets and John Galgano.
“We haven’t been around that long, and for us to get off to a good start with the golf program means a lot.”
Clark and Trujillo turned the stroke play event into their own match play event with just nine holes to play. Both turned at 5-under par, and it was Trujillo who would strike the first blow on the inward nine.
The Montrose junior snaked in a 30-foot downhill putt for eagle to move to 7-under par on the par-5 11th. Moments later, Clark rolled in a 4-foot birdie putt to keep things interesting.
“I had a similar experience with Steve Ziegler at the men’s stroke play where he holed out for eagle and I missed my birdie putt,” Clark said. “Because I missed that, it changed the whole tournament. I knew I had to make that putt and I hit it right where I wanted it.”
Clark followed his birdie at No. 11 with one at No. 12 to again even things with Trujillo. Trujillo would surrender the lead for the first time and for good on the next hole. After flying the green on the par-3, he had a tough downhill chip and took a bogey medicine.
“I was just looking at beating the golf course instead of Wyndham,” Trujillo said. “I just lost control of my irons, and Wyndham played well today. I didn’t play bad, I just didn’t play better than him.”
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
