BRIDGEHAMPTON, NEW YORK | With his win
at the U.S. Mid-Amateur last week, Nathan
Smith firmly cemented his reputation as one of
the premier amateurs in the world, regardless
of age. Smith, 32, won the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Championship for a record-tying third time with
a 7 and 5 victory over Tim Hogarth in the final
match at windswept Atlantic Golf Club.
Smith joined Jay Sigel, the winner in 1983,
1985 and 1987, as the second three-time cham-
pion in the 30-year history of the championship.
He also became the second player to win in
consecutive years, matching Jim Stuart (1990
and 1991 winner). Smith also tied Sigel and
Jerry Courville Jr. in advancing to his third Mid-
Amateur final.
Smith, who played on the victorious 2009
USA Walker Cup Team, began the match
crisply. He was the equivalent of 5-under par,
with the usual match-play concessions, in the
morning 18 holes of the scheduled 36-hole
final. He posted 13 pars and five birdies.
“That is the best round of golf I have ever
seen,” said Hogarth, 44, of Northridge, Calif.
“He played phenomenal.”
Hogarth, a reinstated amateur who won
the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links, narrowed
Smith’s lead to just 1-up with birdies on Nos.
8 and 9. Smith’s steadiness brought him back,
however, and he extended his lead to 5-up with
a birdie on the short, par- 4 17th.
“I have been feeling that my game is headed
the right way all year but I didn’t get too many
results,” said Smith, an investment advisor.
“But as far as the week, that is as good as I
have played.”
Smith began the afternoon round by win-
ning the 19th and 21st holes with birdies to
extend his lead to 7-up. He made his first
bogey of the day on the 22nd hole, shrinking
his lead to 6-up.
However, Hogarth could not gain any
ground, even when Smith offered a chance by
posting four consecutive bogeys on holes 25
through 28.
“It just was crazy out there for both of us,”
Smith said of the wind, which picked up signifi-
cantly in the afternoon. “On No. 8 I think I was
trying to punch an 8-iron from 110 yards when
it’s my 150 [yard] club.” RESULTS
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