Another Clear Lake State Champion

Snelling claims title for Clear Lake; GHV’s Frayne places 13th

Clear Lake’s Emily Snelling claimed the individual Class 3A championship at the Iowa Girls State Golf Meet held Monday and Tuesday, June 1-2, in Marshalltown.

Snelling, an outstanding sophomore who was second last year, was considered one of the favorites to win, but she had to do it in dramatic fashion.  She defeated another favorite, Brooke Klostermann, of Dyersville Beckman, in a one hole playoff to claim the title.  Klostermann, a senior, held a four stroke lead over Snelling after day one.  However, on the first hole the second day of the event Snelling said she felt the win was within her grasp when she parred the hole and Klostermann double bogeyed.

Klostermann finished with a (75-77) 152.  Snelling had rounds of 79 and 73 to card a 152.  In a playoff, Klostermann had an unlucky break and all Snelling had to do was par the hole. After sticking her approach shot to 15-feet, she drained the putt for birdie to record her first State championship.

“I couldn’t find a rhythm on day one,” said Snelling.  “On day two I knew that every hole counted and after the first hole I knew I could catch up.”

Coach Adam Brinkman said on day one Snelling knew she had left a few strokes on the course and that stuck in her mind all day.

“Emily has played the course in other summer tournaments, so she knows it very well and it sets up for her long distance hitting,” said Coach Brinkman.  Snelling’s driver was on and it was giving her great opportunities to attack the greens.

“Honestly, Emily only had one bad hole on day one, but it was one that really stuck in her head the rest of the round, so it was important to keep her calm, and I just kept reminding her that there was a full day left of golf, so we got to get over the humps and forget about the past holes, which she did.”

Within five-minutes after turning in her scorecard, Snelling was off to the range working on  her short game with Brinkmann and her father.

“Emily hits the ball extremely far, but sometimes she tries to overdue it, and going into day two we worked on not trying to swing so hard, and taking some extra clubs to get more control of her shots,” explained the coach.

Snelling’s adjustments paid off on day two.

“Her first nine holes were just absolutely tremendous,” said Brinkman.  “Everything was clicking.”

Snelling was two-under par after 12 holes after making a 12-foot eagle putt on the short par five. She had a three stroke lead with six holes to play overall, and after giving a couple of those strokes back, she was up one with two holes to play.

“Emily is only a sophomore and anyone in that kind of position is going to be very nervous, so I just did anything I could to keep her calm. Heading into the last hole all she had to do was make par and the championship was hers. After a very well struck shot that unluckily went a tad over the green, she was unable to make her par and forced a playoff with Brooke,” explained Brinkman.

Heading into the playoff with more then 60 fans watching, it was all about blocking them out and taking one shot at a time, continued the coach.  “After placing second as a freshman, Emily has worked extremely hard at getting this championship, and this one was well deserved. She works extremely hard on all aspects of her game, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. Although the season might be over and she won the State title, I know that she will be working even harder this offseason, because she knows she can do even better next season. I am already looking forward to next season.”

Snelling was back at another State meet Tuesday, June 9, competing with fellow State Champion Dane Waldron in the Iowa Co-Ed State Meet at Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Boone.

GHV’s Frayne is 13th

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura freshman Bailee Frayne claimed 13th place in the Class 3A State meet with an (87-87) 174.

“Any time you end the season competing for a medal at the State met, you’ve got to be pleased and I know that Bailee is,” said Coach Todd Greiman.  “She no doubt has some disappointment resulting from a few shots she’d like to re-do, but overall it was a great experience for her and I know she’ll begin next season with the goal of earning a return trip.  Her work ethic is probably her biggest strength and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was practicing on the driving range the day after we got back from Marshalltown.”