Grand Rapids, Mich. Two rounds. A top-three finish. And a conference honor to call her own. Ava Clark helped Aquinas bring home runner-up honors from the Marshall Masters, and Monday, the Saints junior earned another reason to smile: WHAC Women's Golfer of the Week.
For Clark, it's a well-earned turn in the spotlight. For an Aquinas team that shares in one another's successes, it's another reason to celebrate together.
Clark received the recognition Monday, Oct. 12, after tying for third among 24 golfers at the Oct. 9-10 tournament at Marshall Country Club. AQ's lone conference weekly award winner this week, she opened with an 81 and followed with an 83 for a two-round total of 164 on the par-72 course.
Her performance led Aquinas individually and helped the Saints secure second place in the five-team field. Competing shorthanded, AQ improved its team score by 25 strokes Saturday, following an opening 365 with a 340 to finish at 705. Clark's steady contribution across both rounds helped the Maroon and White turn a challenging start into a rewarding finish.
Golf puts an individual score beside each player's name. Coach Chance Fry sees the support behind those scores as an important part of the Saints' success.
"Ava had a great tournament, and we're excited to see her earn this recognition," Fry said. "Golf is often viewed as an individual sport, but our success at Aquinas comes from how this team supports one another. They share in each other's accomplishments, whether that's a strong round, an individual award or a team finish. Ava's honor is her moment, and she has a whole team celebrating with her. That's something special about this group."
For Clark, the opportunity to grow as a golfer has always been connected to the friendships and experiences she hoped to find at Aquinas.
The junior from Mason, Mich., is majoring in psychology with a minor in business administration. She values giving her best effort and keeping an open mind, an approach that leaves room for improvement and the lessons that come with competition.
Clark arrived at Aquinas with a strong athletic foundation. A three-time all-conference golfer and an all-state selection as a senior, she helped Mason High School win a conference championship and finish third at the Division II state finals. She also played varsity basketball for three years, gaining experience in another sport where individual contributions help shape a team's success.
Away from the course and classroom, Clark enjoys relaxing with country music and spending time on the water.
This week, she has another accomplishment to enjoy. Two solid rounds put her near the top of the leaderboard. The WHAC took notice. And a team that understands what went into that performance gets to celebrate alongside her.
More Saints Worth Celebrating
Clark carries the conference spotlight for Aquinas this week. With another busy stretch of competition ahead, there is reason to believe next week's celebration could include multiple award winners. For now, Ava has earned her turn.
Know someone whose performance, leadership or contributions deserve recognition? Nominations for The Nelly's can be submitted anytime through The Nelly's Nomination Form.
Think you know the next Saint of the Month or Saint Support Superstar? Nominate them today! For more information or questions, contact Joey Sutherlin at sutherlinj@aquinas.edu.
Check AQSaints.com regularly for updates, stories, features and stats on Aquinas golf and all your favorite Saints sports.
It's a great day to be a Saint.
