To Tucker Clark, it’s all mind over matter.

“My freshman year I really struggled at state. I came back the next year, with no expectations, and I just played golf,” Clark said. “That mindset has really helped me over these past two years.”

Over those two seasons, Clark has finished third and first at state, and brought home two state championships for Arcadia. The junior has been turning heads around the state and is now ranked third among high school golfers.

One of his most recent accomplishments includes qualifying for the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship tour.

The tournament, which took place in February, featured 92 golfers from 19 states, but only one male golfer from the state of Arizona: Tucker Clark.

There Clark shot 82, 87 and failed to advance past the opening rounds. Despite the performance, Clark felt like he had a good day on the course.

“I didn’t play great, but it’s a great experience and challenge playing with some of the best players in the nation,” Clark said. “I struggled with my swing, but the nerves didn’t really get to me.”

Despite the tough competition Clark has faced, perhaps the strongest competitor he has is the one he battles on a near daily basis.

Chaz Aurilia, a senior at Arcadia, has been a teammate of Clark ever since they began playing golf together in middle school.

After years of playing together, the two decided to come to Arcadia to play together on a team.

“I think we kind of offset each other,” Aurilia said. “My strengths are sometimes his weaknesses and vice versa. Because we are so opposite, that allows us to push each other.”

Both have been key parts of the consecutive state championships for the program.

“They’ve pushed one another. What they’ve done is help build each other’s careers,” coach Jason Jones said. “I think that speaks volumes.”

Chaz’s younger brother Gavin is a sophomore and also part of the team. The three regularly practice six times a week at Arizona Country Club and have formed a strong friendship.

“They push me to be a better player. I’m playing with guys who are just as good or better than me that I play with all the time,” Clark said. “I just focus on beating Chaz and Gavin every chance I get.”

The consistent play of the trio was a key aspect of the Titans success this season.

“I could tell you tomorrow if we played what my top four are going to shoot. I might be off by a stroke, but at least I know how competitive we can be,” Jones said. “With my guys I know where they will be.”

At state, the team won its second consecutive title behind the Tucker, Chaz, and Gavin all finishing top-10. Clark, who shot 6-under 64, finished one stroke ahead of Williams Field golfer Kohl Kuebler to capture the individual title.

But the victory didn’t come under normal circumstance.

Due to weather concerns the tournament was called before the second day, allowing the teams to only play the first 18 holes. The end result gave both Clark and Arcadia the state title.

The final came down to a single stroke with the Titans pulling out the victory over both Williams Field and Notre Dame Prep.

“I knew, I told the boys, ‘Guys you really need to be ready for day two not to happen.’ We needed all hands on deck for day one,” Jones said.

Although it was the end result they hoped for, Clark wanted to play the full tournament.

“I was a little bummed out. Winning is awesome, but I’d rather lose the right way than win with a shorten day,” Clark said. “There were a lot of good teams there and they deserved a chance.”

Next season the team will be without one of its key pieces from the state title team.

Chaz, a senior, recently signed his national letter of intent to play golf at UCLA.

“It will be bittersweet for me, but I think the team will step up without me,” Aurilia said. “The seniors will for sure do there part as leaders of the team.”

Clark believes the Titans still have the talent to compete next season.

“At the end of the day, you got four other guys on the team, who have to shoot the best number they can. We need to fill that spot, it’ll be hard, but I’m up to the challenge,” Clark said.

The void will also require Clark to take on other responsibilities for the team.

“I need Tucker to learn how to lead a team. It’s not because he doesn’t know how, it’s because he hasn’t been put it that position,” said Jones. “He’s going to be put in a position where’s he’s the oldest athlete.

Clark knows it will also be his attitude both on and off the course that will make the difference next season. As one of the three seniors on the team, he will be a role model for the younger players.

“It’s outside the course, how to be a teammate, how to be responsible for your actions that you get when you grow older,” said athletic director Cher Fesenmaier. “He has grown so much since his freshman year and I expect to see that even more from Tucker.”

And now with his focus shifting to next season, one thing Clark won’t have to deal with is the recruiting process that many high school athletes face.

After drawing interest from many different colleges, Clark verbally committed to the University of Notre Dame two weeks ago. The decision came after a visit to the campus, where he met with the team and its coach.

It was an opportunity he couln’t pass up.

“My family and I sat down and talked about it, and I decided that’s where I wanted to go,” Clark said. “After my visit and meeting the guys, it just felt right.”

Clark will now take some time for himself.

The junior won’t compete in his next tournament until the beginning of next year. His focus will shift to practice and getting better in the offseason.

“I want to take some time to expand my game and work on my weaknesses,” Clark said.

Clark will play in Wigwam Invitational to start the year and compete in a number of tournaments before the high school season.

As he gears up for his senior year, Clark rates the Titans as early favorites to bring home another title.

But he won’t let the pressure get to him.

“Playing golf is what I do, day in and day out,” Clark said. “It means a lot being state champion, but when you add the extra pressure it just makes it that much harder.”