Knapp, Smith combine to win Pennsylvania 4-Ball for first time

In Pennsylvania golf circles, Sean Knapp and Nathan Smith are familiar names. Between them, they've won 23 Pennsylvania Golf Association amateur titles. The former USGA champions teamed up this week to win the Pennsylvania Four-Ball title at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. It was a title neither had ever won before.

In typical form, Knapp and Smith set a 36-hole scoring record for the championship, which has been played 30 years. They were 18 under after rounds of 62-63, and two shots ahead of the next-closest team.

"He's my best buddy and I'm just honored to win," Knapp said of Smith. "And if you want to know why someone has won so many USGA Mid-Ams, just look at what he did coming down the stretch today."

Knapp and Smith began the final round with just a one-shot advantage on Conrad Von Borsig and Matt Kocent, who play out of Cricket Club. With three holes left to play, Knapp and Smith led by three strokes.

Smith hit it to four feet on No. 16 and converted the birdie to match Kocent on the hole. And then on No. 17, Von Borsig hit a second shot 3-wood to 15 feet to set up an eagle opportunity.

"He hit the best 3-wood I've ever seen anybody hit," Smith said. "You just knew he was going to make the eagle."

And he did.

On the 18th hole, with a two-shot lead, Smith again led the way, safely reaching the green about 30 feet away from the hole. From there, he lagged to just a couple of feet and made the par putt to clinch the title.

"Conrad and Matt were off the charts today," Smith said. "We really worked hard to try to keep that two or three shot buffer all day."

Information from the Pennsylvania Golf Association used in this report