Scottsdale AZ Open – Syndication Server

Zach Smith goes low, tops PGA Tour players to win Scottsdale AZ Open

Zach Smith claimed the first-place prize of $20,000 and along the way, beat a handful of golfers who have tasted success on the PGA Tour.

This time last year, Zach Smith was a UC Santa Barbara Gaucho, battling for an NCAA title.

On Thursday, Smith won first tournament as a professional at the Scottsdale AZ Open at Talking Stick Golf Club.

“It’s hard to put into words right now,” Smith said, surrounded by a gaggle of media covering one of the few pro sports events taking place in the U.S. “I’m still in shock a little.”

Smith claimed the first-place prize of $20,000 and along the way, beat a handful of golfers who have tasted success on the PGA Tour, including Tour winners Kevin Streelman and Nate Lashley as well as Joel Dahmen.

SCOTTSDALE AZ OPEN: Leaderboard

How does he plan to soak it all in?

“I’m going to celebrate social distancing,” he joked.

Smith shot 63-67-62 this week, saving his best golf for the last day and making the most of the back nine, where he birdied five of those holes in the final round. A par-par finish got him to 18 under, three clear of runner up Carson Roberts.

Over 54 holes, Smith had 20 birdies and just two bogeys.

The key, he said, was “keeping the ball in play, get it on the green and just let the putter go to work.”

[vertical-gallery id=778044198]

Smith, who grew up in California but calls Mesa, Arizona, home now, has been able to keep his game sharp playing events on mini-tours like the Outlaw and Golden State tours. He has status on the Mackenzie Tour and plans to head north to play the first six events there, starting with the Canada Life Open on May 28 in Vancouver.

Brady Calkins and recently retired Tour player Colt Knost finished T-3, five shots back. Brandon Harkins, Brad Hopfinger and Matthew Liringis finished T-5 at 12 under.

And for all the talk of the PGA Tour players in field, the top finisher from that group was Joel Dahmen, who was T-8 with Mark Anguiano at 11 under.

Kevin Streelman was among three golfers to finish T-10 at 10 under. Nate Lashley (T-16) was 8 under. Scott Harrington (T-27) was 5 under.

[jwplayer BbowfJhq-vgFm21H3]

Carson Roberts shoots 61, pulls ahead of Joel Dahmen at Scottsdale AZ Open

Carson Roberts stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the Scottsdale AZ Open with a 61, which included eight birdies and an eagle.

Carson Roberts stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the Scottsdale AZ Open on Wednesday with a 61, snagging the lead away from PGA Tour player and pre-tournament Vegas favorite Joel Dahmen.

Roberts started his round with a bogey but bounced back with an eagle on the second. From there, he birdied eight of the last 16 holes, including four out of five on the back nine. He is 13 under, with his 61 backing up a first-round 66.

The 2017 Arkansas state amateur champ and former Washburn Ichabod finished sixth at the 2019 PGA Tour Canada Q School but has yet to taste professional victory.

To do so, he’ll need to hold off Dahmen and others on Thursday.

Dahmen, who shot a second-round 63, joked before the start of the mini-tour event in Arizona about being the top dog.

“This is such a new territory. … I’m usually like the 15th guy on the list at 100-to-1,” Dahmen said on the practice range on Monday. His last professional win was at this tournament in 2017. He came into the event fresh off a 58 at nearby Mesa Country Club.

He is a shot off the lead. Zach Smith is third at 10 under.

Roberts, Dahmen and Smith will be in the final group, each driving his own golf cart, starting at 9:42 a.m. on Thursday.

The recently retired Colt Knost is among three golfers at T-4 at 9 under including Brad Hopfinger and Matthew Liringis, who also shot a 61 on Wednesday, tying Roberts for low round of the week so far.

SCOTTSDALE AZ OPEN: Scores | Tee times | Photos

[vertical-gallery id=778044198]

Mark Anguiano and Steven Kupcho are T-7 at 8 under.

In the group of eight golfers at 7 under is Nate Lashley, who shot a 62 in Tuesday’s first round. He posted a 1-over 71 in the second round, which included a triple-bogey eight on the second hole. He had eagled the hole the day before.

He’s tied at 7 under with fellow PGA Tour golfer Kevin Streelman.

The cut was 1 under, with Kirk Triplett and Scott Harrington among those getting through to Thursday’s final round.

Alex Cejka, however, is not moving on. Two weeks ago he rallied from six down with six to go in a Parker, Arizona, mini-tour event.

The Scottsdale AZ Open is a 54-hole stroke play event that started with a field of 162 players. The low 50 players and ties have advanced to the final round. The total purse is $130,000 with $20,000 going to the winner.

[lawrence-related id=778044274,778044099,778044180]

PGA Tour pros crowd leaderboard at Arizona mini-tour event, but upstarts lurk

There’s no question players on the mini tours are outstanding golfers and the margin between them and those on the PGA Tour is razor thin.

But it should also be no surprise that it’s the handful of Tour players who are near the top of the leaderboard after Day 1 of the Scottsdale AZ Open.

SCOTTSDALE AZ OPEN: Scores | Tee times

Nate Lashley, who won the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit last year, fired a 62 on the North Course at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale. He eagled the second hole and also had six birdies and no bogeys and has a one-shot lead.

Zach Smith shot a 63 after posting seven birdies in his round. He is a shot back. Steven Kupcho, brother of rising LPGA star Jennifer Kupcho, shot a 6-under 64 and is solo third.

The eight-way tie for fourth at 5-under includes the PGA Tour’s Joel Dahmen, Scott Harrington and Kevin Streelman as well as the recently retired Colt Knost. They all shot 65s, as did the Korn Ferry Tour’s Brandon Wu, Kevin Lucas and Andre Metzger. Also at 5 under is Brady Calkins.

Brian Urlacher, Michael Phelps and Nate Lashley on the first tee box prior to the pro-am for the 2020 Scottsdale AZ Open at Talking Stick Golf Club in Arizona. Photo by Golfweek

Another PGA Tour player, JJ Spaun, shot a 2-under 68 and is T-26, tied with Sam Triplett, who is the son of PGA Tour Champions player Kirk Triplett. Let the record show that on this day, son beat father by two shots.

Dahmen won the tournament in 2017, his last professional win, and actually came into this event as the favorite.

“Vegas says I’m favored,” Dahmen said before his pro-am round on Monday. “This is such a new territory. … I’m usually like the 15th guy on the list at 100-to-1.”

Dahmen came in as hot as any player, having shot a 58 at nearby Mesa Country Club last week.

The Scottsdale AZ Open is a 54-hole stroke play event with a field of 162 players. After 36 holes, there will be a cut to the low 50 players and ties. The total purse is $130,000 with $20,000 going to the winner.

[lawrence-related id=778043839,778044071,778044040]