Smith was in position with close putts on seven and eight, but the birdies didn’t fall. Pate had early struggles which turned the lead into Smith’s hands as the group completed the front nine. 

Although frustrated after not converting, she stayed patient. 

“It was making sure I took a step back and kind of just reoriented myself,” Smith said. 

Those putts started falling on the back nine with birdies on 13, 15, and 16, which increased her lead to three, putting the title within reach.

Through the three rounds, Smith’s play improved. In Round 1, she was 2-under par before double-bogeying the par 5, 18th. After a rough approach which caused the error, she realized she needed to play smarter to start giving herself closer looks on the greens. 

The adjustment translated to a 4-under Round 2 score, providing momentum for her final round.

Off the tee, the course can play quite narrow forcing precision to stay in bounds and away from any penalty areas. Hitting the right numbers became pivotal for Smith to win the championship, her first CGA title.

Pate finished in second at 5-under and Schuster in third at 2-under. Tied for fourth at 1-under were Nash, Emily Mathews of Mebane, N.C., and Ella June Hannant of Pikeville, N.C. 

Countless universities were represented in the field, and Smith just graduated from The University of North Carolina. 

She will play the rest of the summer as an amateur before starting Q-School, the LPGA Tour Qualifying Series. 

“I’m sort of going out into the world of adulthood and golf being my job,” Smith said. “I’m very excited that I’m going to be sort of a rookie, sort of relearning aspects of professional golf.”

Before that transition, the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, the final event Smith will play as an amateur, is August 5-11 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, O.K.

She’s played in the championship before and is eager to return.

“It’s really awesome to play in USGA events,” Smith said. “To have that be my last tournament as an amateur, it’s arguably the strongest field in women’s amateur golf, is really awesome.”