Smith shoots for three-peat

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 24, 2009

BOVINA — Two-time defending Warren County Golf champion Chase Smith will shoot for a three-peat this weekend at Clear Creek Golf Course.

The rising junior golfer at Delta State University had an up-and-down sophomore season for coach Sam Dunning’s Statesmen in the spring but has enjoyed two good outings this summer playing in the Mississippi State Amateur and the Trustmark State Open at Dancing Rabbit in Philadelphia.

Smith will be in a field of 80 golfers for the annual tournament that starts Saturday morning at 7:30. The field includes Warren Central golfer Parker Rutherford.

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Smith’s numbers for his sophomore season at DSU illustrate his roller coaster season which finished on an up note when he placed fourth in the Gulf South Conference Tournament in Hot Springs, Ark. in April.

“I had a lot of inconsistencies, but I finished the year alright, getting a tie for fourth at the GSC,” said Smith, who was named to the All-Gulf South Conference team because of his high finish.

“Part of my inconsistent play was that I have changed some things with my swing. It wasn’t until the GSC Tournament when I felt I hit the ball really good. Until then, I think I had coach Dunning pretty frustrated with me,” Smith said.

He started his season with a 19th finish but then placed 66th and 60th in his next two starts. That was followed by a Top 10 with a ninth place finish at Indian Bayou. The next tournament, he finished 62nd. A week later, he was eighth at the Doyle Walker Tournament in Hot Springs. He finished 50th in the Southeastern Tournament but bounced back in the GSC by shooting three rounds in the low 70s to card a three-day total of 216. His stroke average for the season ended up at 75.94.

Two weeks ago at the Trustmark Open, which is open to club pros and amateurs, Smith finished 12th.

Clear Creek pro Kent Smith, Chase’s dad, says he expects Chase and former champ Mike Hurley to be in the mix this weekend for another title.

“Those two have been first and second for the past four years,” Kent Smith said. “I think scores will be higher this year because the course will be play tougher. We have a little more rough and the greens are pretty firm.”

Chase put in a practice round Thursday with Warren Central’s Chris Whittington.

“It’s in great shape. I’m just looking to shoot something under par,” Chase Smith said.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com