Grant Smith honored by GCAA

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BROOKINGS – South Dakota State men's golfer Grant Smith was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America for the second straight year Wednesday.

Smith joins former Jackrabbits Trent Peterson (2007-08 and 2008-09) and David Smith (2011-12) as Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars.

Smith, who was named to his second Summit League Academic All-League team this year, had a 3.66 GPA in mathematics. He led the Jackrabbits with a career-best 74.36 stroke average which ranked 10th in The Summit League and in a single-season at State.

The Johnston, Iowa, native helped lead SDSU to the program's second consecutive Summit League Championship title and NCAA Regional appearance. Smith captured The Summit League individual title, shooting a season-low 214 (71-73-70) and earned all-tournament honors.

Smith led the team at the NCAA Stanford Regional in mid-May, firing a 218 (75-72-71) to tie for 48th.

The 2016 First-Team All-Summit League selection finished his collegiate career ranked third in scoring average (74.36), first in rounds (135) and third in top-five (5), top-10 (9) and top-25 (20) finishes at State.

To be eligible for Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50 percent of his team's competitive rounds, have a stroke average under 76.0 and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.