Clark is repeat winner in OGA Mid-Amateur Championship

By Ken MacLeod

Don Clark of Shawnee made a cross country lag putt of about 80 feet to within three feet of the 18th hole, then converted that for a par that preserved a one-shot victory over Phillip Bryan of Mustang in the Oklahoma Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship at Stillwater Country Club Tuesday.

Clark, who won the event in 2012 at Forest Ridge Golf Course in Broken Arrow, became the first repeat champion since Mike Hughett in 2007 and 2008.

The long two-putt on the final hole came after Clark drove his tee shot into trees on the left side and had to punch his second to the front of the green. The pin was cut near the back of the tiered green and his first putt was perfectly paced as it raced up and down the mounds in between.

"That first putt may have been one of the best shots I hit all day and it saved the day," Clark said.

Clark shot 2-over 72 in the final round after an opening 1-under 69 to finish at 1-over 141. Bryan, playing a few groups in front, opened with a bogey, then made four birdies before suffering a bogey on 18 that kept him one shot back at 2-over 142. His second-round 68 was the low round of the tournament.

Austin Hannah of Jenks, playing in the final group with Bryan, overcame a drive out of bounds on the 10th hole with birdies at 16 and 17 and was just a shot behind Clark as they played 18. His approach shot went over the green into a tough lie above a bunker and he was unable to get up-and-down, finishing with a 72 to take third place, two shots back at 3-over 143.

Kacey Threet of Grove (72-73) and Jon Valuck of Edmond (72-73) tied for fourth at 145.

The smooth-swinging Clark, a member of Shawnee Country Club, made two birdies, 15 pars and one bogey in his opening round on the saturated Stillwater CC, then 14 pars, one birdie and three bogeys in a display of consistency on the tight course lined by massive oaks and other hardwoods.

The only trouble spot came on the par-5 10th hole, when his second shot hit high in the bunker guarding the front of the green and he failed to get out with his third. He finished with a bogey there, but promptly hit his approach on the par-4 11th to about 15 feet and rolled in the birdie to get back on track.

Oklahoma Golf Association
Mid Amateur Championship
Stillwater Country Club
June 17-18, 2013
Final Results

Don Clark, Shawnee, Okla. – 69-72–141
Phillip Bryan, Mustang, Okla. – 74-68–142
Austin Hannah, Jenks, Okla. – 71-72–143
Kacey Threet, Grove, Oklahoma – 72-73–145
Jon Valuck, Edmond, Okla. – 72-73–145
Brad Christianson, Jenks, Okla. – 73-73–146
Justin Jang, Norman, Okla. – 74-73–147
Tom Zeiders, Tulsa, Okla. – 73-74–147
John Stansbury, Edmond, Oklahoma – 77-71–148
Jim Davis, Stillwater, Okla. – 74-74–148
Tyler Hall, Moore, Okla. – 73-75–148
Jeff Tyrrell, Duncan, Okla. – 72-76–148
Jeff Coffman, Oklahoma City, Okla. – 76-73–149
Jay Smith, Edmond, Okla. – 79-71–150
Don Howard, Ponca, Oklahoma – 76-74–150
Ken Kee, Tulsa, Okla. – 78-74–152
Brent Gregg, Okc, Okla. – 76-76–152
Jeff Boyer, Oklahoma City, Okla. – 79-74–153
Shawn Barker, Bartlesville, Okla. – 75-79–154
Jason Gulley, Jenks, Okla. – 78-77–155
Darrell Alcorn, Bristow, Okla. – 81-75–156
Aaron Wilson, Stillwater, Okla. – 77-79–156
Max Showalter, Oklahoma City, Okla. – 77-79–156
Jeff Smith, Edmond, Okla. – 81-76–157
Shawn Kitchen, Broken Arrow, Okla. – 78-79–157
Jose Delgado, Tulsa, Okla. – 77-80–157
Todd Holland, Lawton, Okla. – 79-79–158
Neil Metz, Edmond, Okla. – 77-81–158
Ryan Munson, Edmond, Okla. – 77-81–158
Blake Gibson, Yukon, Okla. – 76-82–158
Ryan Sands, Ponca City, Okla. – 85-74–159
Brett Alcorn, Edmond, Okla. – 77-82–159
Brent Taylor, Bartlesville, Okla. – 76-84–160
Randy Brown, Yukon, Okla. – 81-81–162
Dustin Myrick, Turpin, Okla. – 79-83–162
Brad Schultz, Edmond, Okla. – 79-85–164
Steven Barnett, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 84-81–165
Brett Pribble, Edmond, Okla. – 82-86–168
John Wright III, Broken Arrow, Okla. – 81-88–169
Devon Sauzek, Edmond, Oklahoma – 90-84–174
Aaron Engel, Edmond, Okla. – 86-88–174
Ben Wald, Perkins, Okla. – 95-89–184
Dan Payton, Lawton, Okla. – 81-NC–NC
Jeffrey Spangler, Lawton, Okla. – 88-NS–NS
Tony Woods, Owasso, Okla. – 82-NC–NC
Michael Gotcher, Broken Arrow, Okla. – WD
Heath Myers, Kingfisher, Okla. – WD
Chuck Bassett, Tulsa, Okla. – WD
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