June 17, 2004

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Virginia golfer Rachel Smith (Powell, Tenn.) won the 2004 Tennessee Women's Amateur Golf Championship on Saturday at the Colonial Country Club's North Course.

From a field of approximately 90 golfers, Smith defeated former Best of the Preps Golfer of the Year Beth Irwin 3-and-2 in match play competition. The win marked Smith's first state amateur title.

"Oh, it's definitely a big confidence booster," said the sophomore-to-be. "Winning (any tournament) never hurts."

On the 16th hole, Smith drained a 20-foot chip shot to clinch the tourney on the par-3. The shot assured her of no worse than a tie on the hole, and with just two holes to play, it meant the championship was hers.

"You just can't let somebody like her get 2-up on you like that," said Smith of Irwin's play. "I was just trying not to get upset with myself, because I knew we had 16 more holes to play."

Smith, who started all nine tournaments for Virginia as a true freshman last season, averaged 77.04 strokes as a first-year collegian. She tied for 24th at the 2004 ACC Championship with a 227. Smith?s best round was a two-under 70 at the Landfall Tradition. She tied for second in the match against Richmond.

Smith will compete in the North-South Women's Amateur at Pinehurst, N.C., next week.

Information and quotes courtesy of Andy Wilson and The Commercial Appeal
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Virginia Golfer Claims Amateur