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.”
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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.
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