“I went in with the same game plan today,” Smith said. “Towards the middle of the round it turned into a match play tournament with me and Brett. It was really one vs. one. We were both playing really well in the beginning but it got sloppy towards the end. I was just trying to pick my spots. I thought I played okay today. I could have hit some better shots here or there but overall pretty satisfied.”
Smith started the final round in a three-way tie for the lead with Brett McLamb of Coats, N.C., and Mark Olbrych of Columbia, S.C. A birdie on the par-3 third gave Fulton the early lead but it didn’t last long.
That birdie was the first of three in a row for McLamb. He took a three-shot lead into the back nine but a double bogey on No. 10 led to a three-shot swing when Smith was able to make a long putt for birdie.
“It was a big birdie on ten,” Smith said. “That was a big momentum boost. Then [Brett] bounced back and I knew he would. We kind of went back and forth and I guess I was lucky enough to come out on top at the end but it was a lot of fun today.”
There was another lead change on No. 13 when McLamb birdied and Smith bogeyed.
McLamb started No. 16 with a two-shot lead but found trouble to the right. He finished the hole with a triple bogey and a one-shot deficit. Smith gave one back on No. 17, and the players came into the final hole tied at the top.
Both McLamb and Smith were going for the par-5 18th green in two but neither as able to reach it. A par by Smith was good enough to capture the win. Smith finished the championship with a 7-under 209 total.
Sam Echikson of Charlotte, N.C., finished in a tie for second with McLamb at 6 under.
Defending champion Harry Reynolds of Greenville, S.C., finished solo fourth at 5-under 211.
Brady Hinkle of Lancaster, S.C., had the low round of the day at 6-under 66. He finished fifth with a 4-under 212 total for the championship.
This is Smith’s third CGA championship win with victories at 2016 and 2017 Dogwood State Junior Boys’ Championship.