2021 IGA Yearbook

FOREVER 39 MATCH PLAY HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB, ADEL JUNE 7-8, 2021 L eanne Smith knows how to win match play events. Smith won the 2019 and 2020 IGA Women's Match Play Championships and in her first start, the Forever 39 Match Play. "I can be a little errant somtimes, so giving up a big number on a hole doesn't really faze me in match play, you just lose the hole, you don't fall behind in strokes. I know that I can go out and make birdies and get some points," stated Smith, who was the 2020 IGA Women's Player of the Year. The tournament took place at Hillcrest Country Club in Adel, Iowa. In the stroke play qualifier, Smith fired a 1-under 35 to take the No. 2 seed behind Fiona Watson of Des Moines. "I had never played at Hillcrest before, I was trying to figure out where to be off the tee and on the greens," said Smith. "It was nice to shoot a good number to set myself up good in the matches" An extra boost of confidence in Smith was not what the rest of the field needed. In the first round, Smith knocked off Robin Webb and advanced to face off against a fellow 2020 IGA Player of the Year, Rose Kubesheski, who captured the senior honor. Smith got off to a quick start and with only a nine hole match, Kubesheski ran out of holes. Smith advanced to the final round and defeated Laura Leszczynski, 4&3 after a quick three hole lead. In the Championship Flight Consolation Match, Fiona Watson, who won the stroke play qualifier after carding a 33, defeated Kubesheski 4&3 to earn third place in the bracket. In the First Flight bracket, the No. 5 seeded Margene Grady knocked off Susan Harmon, 2&1 in the final match. Grady had to face three of the top four seeds to win the bracket. One of those top four seeds was No. 1 seed, Noreen Christians. The No. 7 seed, Jan Sewright, was the outright winner in the Second Flight bracket, defeating Nancy Olberding, 5&3. The Third Flight bracket featured the No. 6 seeded Ardrae Parmenter taking on the No. 5 seeded Nancy Lorenzini in the final round. Parmenter completed three total upsets, including a 2&1 victory over Lorenzini to earn the overall win in the bracket. In the consolation brackets, Julie Buerman won the Championship Flight over Robin Webb. Michelle Klein defeated Leighann Larocca in the First Flight Consolation bracket. Kelly Nelson beat Susan Mitchell in the Second Flight and Bonnie Jones defeated Becky Schwiete in the Third Flight Consolation bracket. In her first year of eligibility Leanne Smith captures the F39 title with commanding force, winning the 9-hole final match 4&3. Smith Dominates at Hi l lcrest Count r y Club, Wins Forever 39 In Her Fi rst Star t