A Warm Welcome Home

You can always come home, especially when home is Stillwater. Wyndham Clark is proof of that.

The 50th annual Cowboy Pro-Am provided the welcome mat for the return of the former Cowboy All-American. The fundraiser is vital to the Oklahoma State men's golf team on so many levels and this year was no different as Clark paid his first visit in six years.

Clark last set foot on campus during the summer of 2016 when he made the trek from his home in Colorado to gather his belongings before making his way to the University of Oregon for his final year of eligibility.

The ultra-talented Denver native arrived at OSU as one of the nation's most coveted recruits for the 2012-13 season. However, Clark and his family were dealing with a heartbreaking set of circumstances as his mother, Lise, bravely battled cancer before passing away in August of 2013.

After his freshman season ultimately resulted in the use of a redshirt, Clark returned to competition the following year and led the Cowboys to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship en route to earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors and All-America status.

"Oklahoma State is really where I shaped a lot of my golf game. The hardest time in my life was at Oklahoma State and that is not fair to OSU that happened. That is ultimately what led me to transfer," Clark said.

After spending four seasons as a Cowboy, Clark needed to hit the reset button for his final campaign as he eyed the PGA Tour. As difficult as it was to part ways with OSU for the time being, the decision to make the move to Oregon to compete for Casey Martin's Ducks was the correct one.

"I didn't like where my game was and a lot of stuff happened in my personal life outside of golf. It was like I needed a reset and to go where nobody knew me. I wanted a fresh start. As much as it pains me to say because I love this place, it was the best thing for me," Clark said.

"I had my best year in college at Oregon, but it was mainly because I was able to go and nobody knew my past and what had happened with my mom."

Clark's time at both schools provided the formula to reach the PGA Tour. In Eugene, he regained his All-American form and was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and a Ben Hogan Award finalist.

To nobody's surprise, Clark has enjoyed a successful start to his career. Since joining the Tour in 2019, he has surpassed the $1 million mark in earnings three times and has nine top-10 finishes to his credit.

While a year in Eugene was essential in providing the final touches of preparation for life as a professional, the bulk of Clark's college memories are rooted in Stillwater.

"I graduated from Oregon, but my college time was here, all of my college memories, all of the fun times I had with my teammates and the golf, the football games and the tailgating and all of the fun stuff we did outside of golf," Clark said.

"When I think of my college experience I definitely think of Oklahoma State."

The muddied waters that can accompany switching college affiliations have appeared on more than one occasion. Often times, there is a hero and a villain or a winner and a loser, not so in Clark's case with no ill will existing in any direction as his recent return would confirm.

Clark's return to Stillwater was green lighted when OSU head coach Alan Bratton extended an invitation for this year's Pro-Am, removing any doubt he remains part of one of the most special fraternities in all of sport.

"Once Coach reached out and asked if I was interested in playing in the Pro-Am, I was like, 'Yes!'. I have wanted to the last few years I just didn't know what the atmosphere was like with me here. Once coach opened that up I really wanted to do it. I wanted to be back. I thought it would be really fun to see some of my teammates I hadn't seen and, obviously, all of the people that were really invested in me when I was here," Clark said.

A warm reception awaited Clark and all of those college experiences quickly came rushing back.

"It was nice driving through the gates at Karsten. It brought back all the memories. To see faces and people I haven't seen in a while. To walk through and get the smells of the clubhouse because there is a distinct smell at Karsten Creek. To walk down the hallway, it was pretty surreal, but at the same time it felt like I had never left," Clark said.

"It was nice to be back."

Through it all, Clark's affection for his university never waned as evidenced on May 30, 2018.

"I was in North Carolina for a Web event when the Pokes won the national championship in 2018. I got chills watching it. It was at Karsten and that was always our dream. You always want to win a national championship, but especially if you win it at Karsten that would be amazing," Clark said.

"I have always been partial to Oklahoma State and really do feel like I am a Cowboy. It is unique because I did go to two schools, but I spent more time here and made more friends and lasting relationships here, so I have always been a Poke and always will be."

With any doubt about the door always being open now removed, plan on Clark finding his way home whenever the opportunity presents itself.

"I am going to come back as much as I can. It is obviously tough with my Tour schedule, but coming back for a football game or passing through, I want to come back and say hello to people. It is really fun," Clark said.

"Driving around, I remembered how to get everywhere and seeing places I loved it is fun seeing all the changes, but at the same time it feels like the same place. There were definitely some tough times here, but there were also some great times during all of that. I love this place. It is an amazing spot. I will definitely be back."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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