Nate Smith (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Nathan J. Smith is an American professional golfer
.
Smith was born in Santa Monica, California
. He played at Soquel High and transferred to Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, where he also played golf two seasons. He played college golf at Duke University
where he was a two-time All-American. He turned professional after graduating in 2006.
Smith played on the mini-tours from 2006 to 2008. He joined the Challenge Tour
in 2009 via qualifying school
. He joined the Nationwide Tour
in 2010 and won his first event in September at the WNB Golf Classic.
Smith just missed out on an automatic PGA Tour card, finishing 27th on the 2010 Nationwide Tour. He later earned his card through qualifying school.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
.
Smith was born in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
. He played at Soquel High and transferred to Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, where he also played golf two seasons. He played college golf at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
where he was a two-time All-American. He turned professional after graduating in 2006.
Smith played on the mini-tours from 2006 to 2008. He joined the Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
in 2009 via qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
. He joined the Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
in 2010 and won his first event in September at the WNB Golf Classic.
Smith just missed out on an automatic PGA Tour card, finishing 27th on the 2010 Nationwide Tour. He later earned his card through qualifying school.