Clark Collier (4/30/2012) - Athlete Awards - Oklahoma City University Athletics

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Clark Collier

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Athletes of the Week
Week Of

4/30/2012
Sport

#4 Men's Golf
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Oklahoma City University senior Clark Collier doesn’t have just one go-to golf club in his bag.
“It probably changes for each tournament,” Collier said. “Some tournaments I’m hitting the ball really well off the tee. Some tournaments I’m chipping and putting well. I’d really like to say my go-to club is my putter every time because that is going to give you the best result, but it varies from tournament to tournament.”
Collier, of Edmond, Okla., captured the Sooner Athletic Conference individual championship on April 24 in Lubbock, Texas, shooting 67-69-66-202, 14-under par. Collier also helped the second-ranked Stars to their 18th SAC title. OCU won the tournament by 29 strokes.
“I talked the guys and I’ve talked to coach and it seems every week we’ve had one guy play well or two guys play well and the rest of just kind of coast,” Collier said. “We all said, ‘What if we had three guys play well?’ and at conference all five guys played great and when you have that kind of formula it equals an amazing outcome.”
According to Collier, the team puts an emphasis on the conference and national tournaments.
“It’s a championship,” Collier said. “All season long, it’s all practice for the two at the end with conference and nationals. We’ve had guys that when we’re put in the pressure cooker and it comes down to the wire at tournaments, we’ve had this theme of stepping up and fighting to the very end with a sense of urgency. This is the end of the year, if we are going to do it, we’re going to it now and we came together as a team and it was pretty cool.”
Collier says his team is ready to compete at the NAIA Championships in Salem, Ore., on May 22-25.
“We’re confident, but that being said, we’ve been there and it’s dangerous to go in with overconfidence” Collier said. “It’s nice to go in with a chip on our shoulder. We’re playing well right now, but we’re going to keep practicing and know that we still have room to improve.”
Collier says the team is confident in each other.
“It’s great knowing I’ve got guys on the team like Taylor Artmanand Elliot Groves, seniors on the team that have really stepped up this season,” Collier said. “I’m so proud of Taylor for coming together and really playing consistently this season. Elliot stepped up at the end of the year which is awesome, and James Marchesani and Michael Palmerwere so consistent this year, so it’s comforting knowing that when I’m playing I’ve got four guys that aren’t going to quit and that is what builds our confidence.”

More on Clark:
Favorite sports venue: Augusta National
My obsession is: Golf
Define greatness: Playing great when it matters most
Sporting event I would like to see someday: Masters
Reason I picked OCU: Prestigious golf program

Athlete Awards
Date	Athlete	Sport
2/25/2008	Brandon Benson	#4 Men's Wrestling
2/11/2008	Viola Beybeyah	Women's Basketball
2/4/2008	Dillon Blackmon	#4 Men's Wrestling
1/27/2008	Kameron Gray	Men's Basketball
1/20/2008	Ollie Bailey	Men's Basketball
1/13/2008	Ashley Sword	#17 Women's Wrestling
11/26/2007	Mitchell Eichenauer	#4 Men's Wrestling
11/19/2007	Maryna Verbovetska	Volleyball
11/12/2007	Whitney Kress	Volleyball
11/5/2007	Matt Williams	Men's Soccer
10/29/2007	John Wilcox	#4 Men's Wrestling
10/22/2007	Amy Clendenin	Volleyball
10/15/2007	Brittany Tibbs	Women's Soccer
10/8/2007	Scott Jackson	Men's Soccer
10/1/2007	Elaine Fontes	Women's Soccer
9/24/2007	Ashley Sholer	#19 Women's Golf
9/17/2007	Brandon Hull	Men's Soccer
9/10/2007	Erin Hirt	Volleyball