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June 16, 2009
IUP junior Gavin Smith has earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Golfer of the Year honors for the second straight year after winning the Division II individual national championship and finishing in the top 10 in seven tournaments during the season. Smith was previously named to the PING All-America first team and was the recipient of the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway as the Division II medalist. He joined Rick Hrip in 1968 as one of only two IUP golfers to win the national title, and Smith was the first to win on the NCAA level. Smith was also the first PSAC golfer to win the men's individual title and only the fifth from a northern school since the NCAA began the Division II golf championships tournament in 1963. Over the past 25 years, the individual champion has come from one of only seven states: Georgia, Florida, California, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Stirling, Scotland, native drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to edge Kelbi Lee of Ferris State. Smith and Lee both finished at five-over par 289. Lee then just missed his birdie putt on the playoff hole and Smith followed with his championship-winning putt. Smith entered the final round two shots behind Gene Webster of Cal State San Bernardino and trailed by three before Webster double bogeyed two of the final three holes to open the door for Smith and Lee. Smith was six down after the first 18 holes but got back into contention with scores of 69 and 70 in the middle two rounds. With Smith leading the way, IUP finished in 12th place in the team standings, matching the 1993 squad for the best finish in 16 seasons under head coach Fred Joseph. Smith finished the season with a scoring average of 73.80 and also won the title at the Guy W. Kuhn Invitational at Allegheny while also tying for first at the Vulcan Invitational. He helped the Crimson Hawks win five tournaments during the season, including the PSAC and NCAA regional championship. In addition to winning consecutive PSAC Golfer of the Year Awards, Smith was the PSAC Rookie of the Year in 2007. |
