June 18, 2008

Glendale, CA - Saint Mary's redshirt freshman golfer Kevin Smith posted rounds of 71 and 75 in the 36-hole stroke play at the 97th Annual California Amateur tournament to advance to the 32-player match play on Wednesday. In his first match play pairing, Smith was closed out 3 and 2 by fourth seeded Kevin Fryer.

Smith opened the state amateur with a 71 at the par-70 Lakeside Golf Club on Monday. During his first 18 holes, Smith carded two birdies and three bogeys to shot 1-over par. Tied for 28th place after 18 holes, Smith shot 75 at the Oakmont Country Club on Tuesday, making three birdies and six bogeys, to shot 3-over par. His 36-hole stroke play total of 146 (+4) had him tied for 29th place.

During his first and only match, Smith was all square through four holes, but lost the fifth and sixth holes to go two down. After making par on the seventh to get back to one down, Smith lost the eighth and ninth holes to make the turn down three holes. After both players made par on 10, Smith made bogey on 11 to fall behind by four with just seven holes remaining.

Over the next five holes, Smith would shot 1-under, but it was not enough, as he was only able to win one of the last five holes. Smith's pars on 12, 13, 15, and 16 were matched by Fryer. Smith did get one back on 14 when he made a birdie three on the 399-yard 14th hole. With the match dormie after both players made par on 15, Fryer closed out the match on 16, as both players made par on the 387-yard par 4 16th.

Smith was not the only player with ties to Saint Mary's in the field. SMC head coach Scott Hardy and incoming freshman for 2008, Tim Honeycutt, were in the stroke-play field as well. Hardy carded rounds of 73 and 77 at Oakmont and Lakeside, respectively to shoot 150 (+8). Honeycutt shot 154 (+12) over the two qualifying rounds, as he shot 78 (+6) at Oakmont and 76 (+6) at Lakeside.