Willie Wood in 1978. Arizona Daily Star file photo

 Arizona Daily Star file photo

Wood was ranked No. 1 nationally for boys 18U in the nation when he repeated as state champ in ’79. He was so highly coveted by college teams that immortal golf pro Byron Nelson phoned Wood to encourage him to attend then-national powerhouse Houston. Wood, who ultimately played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, chose Oklahoma State.Β 

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