Smith wins Texas Public Links Championship
03 Jun 2012
by Texas Golf Association
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courtesy Texas Golf Association
MONTGOMERY, TX (June 3, 2012) -- A picture
perfect morning welcomed the Final Match of
the 2012 Public Links Championship.
Throughout the duration of the championship,
Woodforest Golf Club in Montgomery proved to
be a formidable course to crown a champion.
Michael Smith was able to defend his title with
a 5 and 3 victory over Calvin Clyde V.
Clyde, of Tyler, began the morning with a
birdie on the opening par four 1st hole to take
a 1 Up lead. Cedar Park’s Smith was able to
bring the match to All Square with a par on the
par three 3rd hole. Smith was able to take a 1
Up lead on the par four 5th hole before seeing
the match return to All Square after his bogey
on the short par four 6th hole.
The see-saw battle continued with Smith
taking the next two holes to go 2 Up heading
into the par four 9th hole. Needing to take a
hole heading into the back nine, Clyde did just
that with a birdie on the 9th hole to bring
narrow Smith’s lead the only 1 Up.
As the match continued to the back nine,
Smith extended his lead to 2 Up once again
with a par on the par five 10th hole. The pair
halved the par four 11th and par three 12th
holes before Smith was able to widen his lead
to 3 Up with a birdie on the par five 13th hole.
As they walked to the par four 14th hole,
Smith holding a commanding 3 Up lead with
five holes to play, both players drives found
the trees on the right side. Smith was able to
hit his second shot left and hole high, whereas
Clyde was forced to punch out, leaving him a
dicey third shot over the creek that in front of
the green. Clyde was unable to make his par
putt, going 4 Down with four holes to go.
Standing on the par four 15th hole, the pair
again watched their drives find the right rough.
With a short right hole location, Smith put his
second shot in the greenside bunker, while
Clyde was unable to make the green. Still
away, Clyde’s third shot flew past the hole,
leaving him approximately 25 feet away for
par. Calmly, Smith dug his feet in and played
his third shot from the bunker to inside five
feet. Clyde gave his par attempt a great roll,
only to watch it not disappear into the cup.
Clyde took his hat off and shook hands with
Smith, congratulating him on a great Final
Match. Smith was able to successfully defend
his title with a 5 and 3 victory.
Smith and Clyde both received exemptions into
this year’s Texas Amateur Championship,
hosted by Lakewood Country Club in Dallas
June 14-17. All eight Quarterfinalists in this
year’s field have earned exemptions into the
2013 State Public Links Championship.