MESA, ARIZ. – Johnnie Clark is returning to Stillwater on a well-earned high note. The rising sophomore at Oklahoma State dominated a field of 121 players at Longbow Golf Club, carding -19 over four rounds to capture the 2024 Arizona Stroke Play Championship by a commanding six-stroke margin.
“The course was tough. You have to place your ball well. I just struck it well all week and came out with the win,” Clark said.
Clark's wire-to-wire victory began with a stellar opening round on Thursday, where he set the pace with a 66, highlighted by an eagle-birdie-birdie streak on the first three holes of the front nine. He followed that up with the tournament’s lowest single-round score of 65 on cut day.
Despite Clark's strong performance over the first three rounds, two other players, Sean O’Donnell (-14) and Kris Marshall (-12), also shot under par each day, keeping Clark on his toes heading into Sunday. O’Donnell entered the final round just one stroke behind Clark, but Clark maintained his poise despite the slim lead; he sank birdie putts on holes three, four, six, and seven before putting an exclamation point on his victory with an eagle on the 15th.
Longbow is a familiar course for Clark. His home course, he won the PING Heather Farr Classic there in 2022; his knowledge of the layout played a crucial role in his success this week.
“Knowing the course helped a lot. Just knowing for certain pins, areas you’re not allowed to miss or areas that will increase your strokes if you do. Just having that knowledge of the course and tee shots. I probably only hit five drivers today,” Clark said.