Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Greenwood takes ninth at state golf

A repeat trip to the Nebraska Boys Class C State Golf Tournament for Kimball High's Jordan Greenwood produced his second State medal for the young sophomore, who not only scored in the top 15 medal group once again, but improved his finish over his freshman season!

After qualifying as a freshman, and finishing 11th at the state tournament, Greenwood fired a 74 at the district tournament to not only qualify, but had the winning round at McCook by 4 strokes. At the State Tournament this past week Jordan had back to back rounds of 75 for a 150 two-day total and a 9th place finish.

On day one, he shot 38-37=75 and then came back on day two with a round of 36-39=75. I might add that on day two play started in a hard rain with wind that had everyone wondering if they would even get the round in. Jordan met the conditions head on with his head up and a good mental attitude which led to an eagle on his first hole of play and he battled the weather, the course, and the competition in championship style. He finished 1 stroke out of 7th place, 2 strokes out of 5th place, 3 strokes out of 4th place and only 5 strokes back of the winning round of 145.

Following play Jordan talked about his play. "I felt good about my game and I am satisfied with what I accomplished. I was hitting the ball good both days but my putting was not the best," he said. Jordan had 6 three putts both days. His uncle Mike commented, "Just think, if he could have cut those 12 three putts in half, down to just six, he would have won the tournament."

Jordan and his family went to Lincoln on Sunday to play the course, and get familiar with the course, with state tournament play to begin on Wednesday. On his first practice round he shot a respectable 78. On Monday he played the course again but didn't keep score, hitting two or three balls and just working at knowing the layout better. On Tuesday, the day prior to tournament play, he just hit some range, chipped and putted, and relaxed and got ready for the battle.

"I got to know the course. It isn't that hilly and I can hit driver most all of the long holes," he said. Due to the large amount of rain Lincoln has experienced, the course had to be re-arranged a bit as one par four hole was underwater. Jordan also said that after the first three holes of play for him on the final day, the weather cleared up, quit raining, and it was actually pretty nice.

With two state qualifying seasons behind him, and two state medal winning performances, one could expect him to become a very possible four time state medal winner and his goal now is to improve each of the two remaining years and a very possible top finish! It would be nice if he could have company the next two seasons also with a complete team qualification, and that is another solid possibility.

A tip of the cap to Jordan for a great season in which he medaled in every tournament he played in, 11 total, with five wins to his credit and a season best round of 69 in winning the Western Trails Conference Tournament. You played yourself, the Kimball High golf program, the Kimball community, and all of Western Nebraska proud. Well done!