Chris Smith (golfer)

Last updated

Chris Smith
Personal information
Full nameChristopher McClain Smith
Born (1969-04-15) April 15, 1969 (age 55)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight190 lb (86 kg; 14 st)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Career
College Ohio State University
Turned professional1991
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Web.com Tour
Hooters Jordan Tour
Professional wins15
Highest ranking 56 (June 23, 2002) [1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour1
Korn Ferry Tour5 (Tied-7th all-time)
Other9
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament DNP
PGA Championship T29: 2001
U.S. Open T60: 1997
The Open Championship 71st: 2003
Achievements and awards
Big Ten Freshman of the Year1988
Big Ten Player of the Year1991
Nike Tour
money list winner 		1997
Nike Tour
Player of the Year 		1997

Christopher McClain Smith (born April 15, 1969) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour.

Contents

Early life

Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, graduating from Rochester Community High School; during his sophomore season (1985), he was the Boys State High School Champion, in his senior season (1987), he finished as the state runner-up in the boys state golf championship. [2] He was awarded the Fred Keesling Award following his high school career. [3]

Amateur career

He attended Ohio State University, where he completed a successful collegiate career. He won seven individual titles, including the 1990 Big Ten Championship, the 1991 Robert Kepler Intercollegiate and 5 other events. He was a four-time All-Conference selection in the Big Ten from 1988 to 1991; his other Big Ten Awards include the 1988 Freshman of the Year, the 1990 Player of the Year and the 1990 Les Bolstad Award for lowest stroke average. He was named an All-America selection in 1990 as a junior (honorable mention) and in 1991 as a senior (first team). Smith won the Indiana State Amateur Championship in 1990 and competed in the Sun Bowl Golf Classic in 1990. He was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 2000.

Professional career

In 1997, Smith became the first golfer on the Nike Tour to immediately move up to the PGA Tour by way of the "battlefield promotion," which is awarded to a player who wins three tournaments in one Nike Tour season. [4] He was named the Nike Tour Player of the Year in 1997 and also led the money list.

Smith has won one tournament on the PGA Tour, the 2002 Buick Classic. [5] Smith struggled on the PGA Tour after the win. Smith's best result on the PGA Tour since his sole win in 2002 was when he finished 3rd place at the 2004 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.

In 2013 Smith was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall Of Fame and has been quite successful in the Indiana Golf Association. [6]

Smith held a share of the 54-hole lead at the 2015 Puerto Rico Open, but stumbled with a final-round 73 to finish T10. It was his first PGA Tour top-10 in ten years.

In 2018, Smith collected several professional wins on the Indiana Tour becoming the Indiana PGA Player of the Year. He also won the 2020 Indiana PGA Championship.

Personal life

On June 21, 2009, Smith's wife was killed in an automobile accident. His two children were also critically injured. [7]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (15)

PGA Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runners-up
1Jun 9, 2002 Buick Classic −12 (66-69-67-70=272)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg David Gossett, Flag of the United States.svg Pat Perez,
Flag of the United States.svg Loren Roberts

Nike Tour wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1Jul 23, 1995 Nike Gateway Classic −13 (68-65-70=203)*Playoff Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Glen Hnatiuk
2Aug 6, 1995 Nike Dakota Dunes Open −16 (70-69-66-67=272)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Greg Hamilton, Flag of the United States.svg Clarence Rose
3Jun 1, 1997 Nike Upstate Classic −21 (66-64-67-70=267)3 strokes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Price
4Aug 3, 1997 Nike Dakota Dunes Open (2)−20 (66-67-68-67=268)2 strokes Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Glen Hnatiuk
5Aug 10, 1997 Nike Omaha Classic −26 (63-65-64-66=258)11 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Barry Cheesman

*Note: The 1995 Nike Gateway Classic was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

Nike Tour playoff record (1–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1995 Nike Gateway Classic Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Glen Hnatiuk Won with birdie on first extra hole
2 1997 Nike Wichita Open Flag of the United States.svg Ben Bates, Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Brehaut,
Flag of the United States.svg Carl Paulson 		Bates won with birdie on first extra hole
3 2000 Buy.com Richmond Open Flag of the United States.svg Steve Runge Lost to birdie on first extra hole
42000 Buy.com Dayton Open Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ian Leggatt Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Hooters Jordan Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Jul 10, 1994Coca-Cola Classic−20 (67-67-67-67=268)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Gorman

Other wins (8)

Results in major championships

Tournament19971998199920002001200220032004
U.S. Open T60T62CUTCUTCUT
The Open Championship T7571
PGA Championship T29T53

Note: Smith never played in the Masters Tournament.

  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament2002200320042005
The Players Championship CUTCUTCUTCUT

CUT = missed the halfway cut

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament2002
Match Play
Championship
Invitational T55
  Did not play

"T" = Tied

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Week 25 2002 Ending 23 Jun 2002" (pdf). OWGR . Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "State Finals Preview: Prairie View Hosts Boys Golf Championships" (PDF). IHSAA. June 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Fred A. Keesling Mental Attitude Award". IHSAA.
  4. ↑ "Nike Omaha Classic" . The Stuart News. Florida. August 11, 1997. p. B7 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Despite problems off tee, Smith wins Buick". ESPN. Associated Press. June 9, 2002.
  6. ↑ "Hall of Fame Members". Indiana Golf. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Smith's wife killed, children injured in car accident". PGA Tour. June 22, 2015.
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