Francis Howell junior golfer Mike Wootten said he only remembers feeling one thing as the events unfolded around him on Tuesday.
That feeling was one of disbelief.
"I was numb," Wootten said. "That's really the best way I could describe it. That's how I felt when I knew it was going to happen. At first, it didn't really hit me but I think it is now."
The ‘it' in question was Wootten capturing the Class 4 individual state title at Twin Oaks Golf Course in Springfield.
It's easy to see why Wootten could feel this way. After all, Wootten finished up a great round of three-under-par 68 for a two-day total of 143, which was one stroke better than Poplar Bluff's Carr Vernon. His 68 was the best one-day score of the whole tournament.
The final two holes of Wootten's round showed the steely play for which he has become known.
First, he sank a clutch 15-foot birdie putt to maintain his lead on hole 17. Then on 18, he played a great up-and-down game to save par by chipping his next-to-last shot 40 yards to within a foot of the cup and then drained the subsequent putt to win the title.
"To be able to be in that last group (the leader's group) meant a lot to Mike. He was excited," Howell coach Carl Wayne said. "He hit a ton of greens and a ton of fairways so he didn't have to do a whole lot of scrambling. But when you consider that he sticks a 40-yard chip to within a foot on that last hole, that's pretty big."
Wootten said being the first Howell boys golfer to win an individual state title elicits some pretty special feelings, especially considering the golfers that have come through the program before him.
"We've had some great guys, guys like Adam Wong (who is now at Duke) played here," Wootten said. "They played some great golf, but to know that I am the only one (with a state title) is an incredible feeling."
Wootten added that, while this title is nice, it doesn't do a whole lot right now to change his future plans.
At least not yet. Included in those plans is a chance at defending his title.
"I have to build my resumé," Wootten said. "I really need to go out and win a few more big tournaments. I have been talking to some schools, but if I can (win more high-profile events), then I really can start looking at some D-I schools."
Wootten won't be the only one with something to defend next golf season.
The Vikings as a team also brought home a state trophy from Springfield. Howell finished tied with Rockhurst with a stroke total of 631 but finished third behind the Hawklets because of a tie-breaker. Rock Bridge shot a 614 for the overall team championship and DeSmet was fourth.
Other Viking finishers were: Cody Stoll (tied for 22nd with a 158), Ryan Staggemeier (T-53rd, 164), Alex Stear (T-63rd, 166) and T.J. Lyons (T-84, 174).
"Sure, we can take pride in a state championship, and we should," Wayne said. "To go out and beat out teams like DeSmet, Parkway South and Poplar Bluff and those type of schools says a lot about where we're at as a program."
