Past Walker Cupper Smith nets another WPGA Mid-Am title
Nathan Smith (WPGA/Twitter photo)
Nathan Smith first won the Western Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur in 2006. He won it again the next year, then for the third time in another 10 years. Smith won his fourth title in the event on Wednesday when he pulled away from the field with rounds of 64-66 at Williams Country Club in Weirton, W.Va.
Interestingly enough, Smith title came on Walker Cup week. It hasn’t been too long since Smith was on that team. The four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion repped the U.S. team in 2009, 2011 and 2013, compiling a 2-2 record in foursomes and a 1-2-1 record in singles. Smith turned 41 years old last month.
In winning the WPGA title, Smith made only one bogey. He didn’t leave a whole lot of doubt about where he was headed when he opened the tournament with four consecutive birdies on Nos. 1-4. He added an eagle at 14 then closing birdies at Nos. 17 and 18 for an opening 64. At that point, he was only one shot ahead of another past champion, Sean Knapp.
In a closing 66, Smith birdied three of the first four holes. His only bogey came at No. 6. At 14 under, he finished five shots ahead of Rick Stimmel, who had rounds of 66-69.
Jimmy Ellis was solo third at 7 under. Knapp backed up to a 1-over 73 in the final round and finished tied for fourth with Brett Young.
ABOUT THE WPGA Mid-Amateur
The Mid-Amateur Championship was started
in
1985 for amateur golfers residing in western
Pennsylvania who are twenty-five years of
age or
older. The event is thirty-six holes of stroke
play.
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