 |  |
WICHITA, Kan. - Clark Collier from Oklahoma City University will make his Nationwide Tour debut in the Wichita Open at 1:50 p.m. CDT Thursday at Crestview Country Club.
Collier recently capped his collegiate playing career by leading the Stars to the NAIA men's golf championship on May 25 in Salem, Ore. Collier is one of three four-time all-Americans OCU has produced.
A Casady School graduate from Edmond, Okla., Collier made the Wichita Open field by finishing tied for fourth place in a qualifier Monday at Auburn Hills Municipal Golf Club in Wichita, Kan. Collier shot a 69 to be among the 14 who qualified for the tournament, birdieing the 13th, 14th and 17th holes.
The Wichita Open starts 7 a.m. Thursday. Collier will start off the first tee. Follow the event via live stats.
"He's an outstanding person and player, and I'm excited for him," OCU coach Kyle Blaser said of Collier. "The four-time all-American is one of the hardest workers that has played in our program. We are believers that hard work will pay dividends. I believe he will have a very successful career."
OCU alum Tyrone van Aswegen will also play in the event. He will tee off at 1:20 p.m. Thursday at the 10th hole.
Van Aswegen ranks 19th on the 2012 Nationwide Tour money list with $91,714 and has averaged 70.32 strokes per round this year. He comes off his career best finish with a tie for fourth in the Mexico Open on June 7-10 in Leon, Mexico, reeling in $27,500. Van Aswegen's career Nationwide Tour earnings total $250,823.
Van Aswegen won the 2002 NAIA individual championship with the Stars. He posted a career scoring average of 72.88 with seven wins for OCU. Van Aswegen became a three-time all-American in leading the Stars to four national titles from 2000-04.
Collier compiled a 72.77 stroke average for the Stars as a senior. Collier finished 11th to earn all-tournament honors in the NAIA Championships. Collier turned in three top-five finishes this season, capturing the individual title in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships on April 23-24 in Lubbock, Texas. Collier compiled 73.34 shots per 18 holes in 123.5 rounds with four victories as a Star.
OCU has captured national championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012.
