MERCED, Calif. (July 7, 2013) -- Sam Smith won the championship division at the Merced County Amateur, posting rounds of 66-68 at Merced Golf & Country Club for a 5 stroke victory over Paul Smith and Rich Gilkey. Smith, who plays for USC, won the individual title at the NCAA West Regional in the Spring.
Paul Smith (Sam's younger brother) started with a 74, but made a run up the leaderboard with the lowest round of the tournament on Sunday, a 7-under 65.
Jim Knoll of Sunnyvale cruised to the senior division title with a 5-under 139. Terry Foreman took second at 1-over 145, in a huge field of 52 senior players. Frank Pieper, Greg Saiki, and Herb Jensen played steady golf in tying for 3rd at 146.
Smith, Knoll win titles at Merced County Amateur
Sam Smith of Turlock wins the overall while Jim Knoll of Sunnyvale wins the senior title