Thomas Dale grad, champion golfer dies in Chesterfield crash
CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) - Saint Leo University in Florida says one of its students and a member of its national championship golf team -- Griffin Clark -- died in a single-vehicle crash in Chesterfield on Monday.
The Chesterfield Police Department says Griffin Clark, 21, died after striking a brick retaining wall and overturning in the 1900 block of Walthall Creek Drive. Police say it appears speed was a factor in the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt.
"This is tragic news for all of us in the Saint Leo family, and we join Griffin's parents and family in their sorrow," said Francis X. Reidy, Saint Leo's director of athletics.
Griffin Clark was just two blocks from home when this fatal crash occurred. Now his family is left wondering why and how this happened to a young man who had the whole world ahead of him.
"He was a great kid. He loved life. He loved his friends and he loved his family," said Griffin's dad, Kenny Clark.
A day after the crash, Kenny Clark is sharing memories of his youngest son, Griffin.
Griffin was a rising junior at St Leo University in Florida, where he was a member of the Men's Golf team. He was also a part of the squad that helped win a championship in May.
"It came down to Griffin's match, and the team had fought real hard to get into the finals," said Kenny Clark. "Griffin came through for his team, and they won the school's very first national championship in any sport, ever."
As proud as he was of that accomplishment, Kenny Clark says his son had figured out there was more to life than golf and was a devoted friend - obvious from the countless condolence posts on his Facebook page.
"He was such a good person. Yeah, he was a good golfer, but he was a better person," said Kenny Clark.
Kenny Clark says it's those memories he'll share with his granddaughter, Camryn. He says Griffin was devoted to his six-month-old niece. He's heartbroken she'll never grow up to know him.
"I'll tell her how much he loved her and how he was so excited when she was born and when he first got to see her how excited he was," said Kenny Clark.
Griffin Clark was a sophomore at Saint Leo majoring in criminal justice. His golf profile on Saint Leo's website says he was a graduate of Thomas Dale High School and also attended John Tyler Community College.
"Griffin was an outstanding young man. We were so blessed to have him be part of our Saint Leo family," said Saint Leo men's head golf coach Chris Greenwood. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Griffin Clark was a member of the 2016 golf team that won the NCAA Division II national championship. The school says he was in the final pairing at the championship to help seal the win by beating his opponent by three strokes.
"I have so many good moments with Griffin, but the one I will always remember is standing in the 18th fairway together the final day in Denver," said Greenwood.
A memorial service to celebrate Griffin Clark's life is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Petersburg Country Club.
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