Sports
Orono's Clark Tees Off for Next Phase
Dakota's 12th-place finish at the MGA Amateur Championship and 40th-place finish at the MN State Open Championship helped him transition into the next phase of his career
Orono graduate Dakota Clark is ready to make his move to college.
The standout Spartans boys golfer is excited to represent the University of South Dakota on the course and test his skills against the Division II field. But more than anything, Clark is ready to blaze a trail on his own.
“Getting away from home, starting a new life almost,” Clark said. “There’s a big stepping stone in life.”
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Clark began that journey on the golf course, participating in two of Minnesota’s top tournaments and holding his own against an older, more experienced field.
Clark placed tied for 12th overall at the 108th annual Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship at the White Bear Yacht Club on July 18-20, then placed 40th overall in the Minnesota State Open Championship on July 22-24 at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove.
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The pair of tournaments opened Clark’s eyes. Despite being part of an Orono program that attempted to win its fourth-straight Class AA state championship this spring, going head-to-head with top-notch golfers this summer helped Clark take the next step toward the collegiate level.
At the MGA Amateur tournament, Clark faced the likes of South Dakota State’s David Smith, University of Minnesota’s Robert Bell and former U of M standout Donald Constable, who won the tournament with a seven-under par 206.
Clark, representing Baker National Golf Course, finished the tournament with a 216.
“I hadn’t been up against any of them before,” Clark said. “It was new, seeing what I can do against them.”
So new, in fact, that his 12th-place finish shocked him. But that shock carried into the first day of the MN State Open Championship.
After the first round, Clark was tied for fifth place with a round of 69.
“That kind of opened my eyes that I’m almost in the lead,” he said. “That was big for an 18-year-old kid. I’ve never been in that position before.”
Clark fell down the leaderboard of the next two days, finishing 40th with a three-over 219 score. Troy Johnson won with a 10-under 206.
Still, Clark’s performance against Minnesota’s top golfers gave him the experience and the confidence to enter USD’s men’s golf program this fall and hold his own.
He leaves for school on Aug. 26. That’s when the next phase in his golf career beings.
“I’m really excited—I can’t wait to play some college tournaments,” Clark said. “I think I’ll make an impact down at USD.”
