BY JAMES YODICE / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
At least a part of Clark Sonnenberg probably had to be wondering, how did I end up here?
The Albuquerque Academy junior, by his own admission, stumbled down the stretch Monday afternoon at the Albuquerque Metro Championships at Ladera Golf Course.
Missed a short putt at 16, he said.
Missed a short putt at 17, too.
Double bogeyed the 18th after his tee shot went into the water.
The sloppy finish forced Sonnenberg into a spot he probably didn’t expect to be, locked in a playoff with La Cueva junior Kirin Hochenedel — a playoff Hochenedel could have won by sinking a 4-foot putt at the 10th, the first playoff hole.
The putt lipped out, the playoff continued.
Moments later, Sonnenberg birdied the par-5 11th, winning the 2023 event as Hochenedel missed from about 20 feet for his own matching birdie.
Junior Clark Sonnenberg of Albuquerque Academy (72) after winning metros Monday on the second hole of a playoff: pic.twitter.com/gXz709mUjo
— James Yodice (@JamesDYodice) April 24, 2023
