Brandon Smith Central Valley Year: Senior Sport: Golf

Competition became secondary when Brandon Smith got on a roll last week.

The Central Valley junior reached the 18th tee at Wandermere at 8-under par and the rest of the group was hoping he’d get one more birdie on the par-68 layout.

“I knew I was 8 under, the other guys were joking around, they wanted me to birdie so they could say they played with a guy that shot 59,” Smith said.

In golf, 59 is the magic number, no matter what par is. Wandermere was playing short because of weather-induced course conditions, but 59?

“I was playing pretty well, I just wanted to keep it going,” said Smith, who qualified for state last year. “On the 10th hole I made a 45-foot putt for birdie. I knew it was going pretty good then. My putting is what saved me. Taking it under par like that, for my third time under par, is a little bit out of my realm for what I believed in.”

“He’s probably one of the most consistent golfers we’ve had in this league for quite a while,” CV coach Barry Poffenroth said. “He’s always been between 70 and 75 every round he’s had.”

Not anymore.

Though Smith said he hit the ball well on No. 18 at Wandemere last week, he bogeyed for a 61. It wasn’t a 59, just the lowest score ever in a Greater Spokane League match. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo