Back-to-Back: Lynnville-Sully’s Smock wins second straight 1A golf title

MARSHALLTOWN — Most golfers would take a par on every single hole if it was possible. It’s the bogeys and double bogeys that can really hurt a score.

Lynnville-Sully junior Greenlee Smock had a little bit of all three on the back nine at American Legion Golf Course during the opening day of the Iowa High School State Golf Championships.

Smock’s front nine included four bogeys, but three birdies on the back allowed the defending champion to hold a six-shot lead after 18 holes.

The Hawk standout made sure that lead held up and Smock grabbed her second straight Class 1A championship on Friday following another two-day score of 154.

It was the exact same score she won her first state title with at Ames Golf and Country Club last spring.

“Having three birdies on the back nine helped a lot. The first nine holes were a struggle so being able to get something going on the back nine really helped,” said Smock about her first round on Thursday. “Winning back-to-back titles feels great. I feel like my hard work is paying off.”

Smock held a six-shot lead with a 75 after the opening round. In the second position was a familiar face for Smock.

Sigourney’s Madelynn Hornback shot an 81 and was in front of two other golfers by one stroke after 18 holes. She captured runner-up medalist following a two-day score of 163.

Smock and Hornback have played against each other at least four times this season. The first one was decided by a playoff but Smock has been the better golfer in the other meetings.

Smock, who is undefeated in her high school career, was 15 strokes better at the conference meet and 11 shots in front of Hornback at the opening round of regionals.

Hornback got within four strokes at the regional final as both golfers shot under 80 on Smock’s home course.

But at state, Smock pulled away in the final 18 holes and claimed the state championship by nine shots. Hornback shot an 82 on Friday but Smock’s 79 allowed her to create even more separation.

Hornback shot two rounds of 100 at last year’s state tournament and finished in a tie for 39th overall.

“It was pretty awesome to have Maddie as the runner-up. She’s worked really hard and deserves every bit of it,” Smock said. “It’s also pretty cool for her and I to represent the SICL Conference.

“I didn’t play great on Day 2. I missed quite a few putts by an inch or so, and I wasn’t hitting my driver great. I had a couple of bad holes, but I was able to keep my head up and follow them up with pars on the next holes.”

Smock’s opening round at American Legion Golf Course on Thursday featured eight pars, seven bogeys and three birdies. The final round included 11 pars, six bogeys and one double bogey.

Heading into the final round, Smock’s strategy with a six-shot lead was to do what she has done all spring.

“The strategy was to play my game and stick to my routine,” Smock said. “I took it one shot and one hole at a time. I knew that if I went out and stuck to that strategy, I’d have a good chance.”

Smock won her second straight state title playing three sports at one time. She recently finished a track and field season that ended on the blue oval and is currently part of the Hawk softball team, which has played a few games already this season.

“Playing three sports at once and having academics on top of that is very challenging mentally and physically,” Smock said. “My coaches and teachers all work with me to help me succeed, which I greatly appreciate. I try to focus on whatever I’m participating in that day regardless of what I did the day before or what I would do the day after.”

Smock is one of two golfers in Jasper County to win a state title in 2022. She joins Newton’s Rylee Heryford, who won her first title on Friday. Heryford won the 3A crown after coming up victorious in a three-hole playoff.

“It’s really cool. I’m super proud of her,” Heryford said of Smock. “She works really hard, too, so I’m glad to see both of us lock it in. I’m really happy for her.”

Smock’s 75-79 produced a two-day score of 154. She won the state title with two-day splits of 77-77 last spring.

Hornback went 81-82 for a two-day score of 163. Grundy Center’s Abbie Lindeman and New London’s Taylor Phillips tied for third with 166s and Algona Garrigan’s Annie Burns shot a 167 in fifth.

Burns was third last year, while Lindeman placed seventh and Phillips tied for eighth.