Good Golf, Good Grades A Good Mix

Valley golfer Brandon Smith is the epitome of the scholar-athlete.

Although not on scholarship, Smith completed his sophomore year as a top-six member of the University of Arizona golf team with a 74.94 stroke average.

He’s just as pleased with the near 3.8 grade-point average that earned him in a spot on the Pac-10 allacademic team.

“Academics has always been my first priority, above sports or anything,” said Smith, a 1998 Central Valley High School graduate. “I take a little more pride in academics than golf sometimes.”

Nonetheless, Smith’s ultimate objective is to pursue the sport professionally.

“That’s my highest goal,” said Smith. “It would be kind of a waste if I didn’t give it a try.”

Most recently Smith tied with Arizona teammate and Ferris High School grad Reid Hatley for first place in the Washington tournament at Willows Run in Redmond that qualified them for the Pacific Coast Amateur Tournament next month at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

“I played really well,” said Smith of his two-round score 141. “I came off a nine-day layoff and didn’t know what to expect. I made a lot of birdies and not too many mistakes and it worked out in the end.”

Smith attracted collegiate attention after winning the Maxfli Pacific Northwest PGA Junior Sectional and tying for 12th nationally in Florida.

“I first saw him at the PGA Junior in West Palm Beach,” said Arizona coach Rick LaRose. “I never talked to him, but I liked what I saw.”

Smith’s father indicated his son’s interest in Arizona and LaRose said he saw potential.

“Obviously we wanted him here,” said the coach who has built a nationally ranked program around Washington state golfers.

Smith said there is no better program than Arizona’s for its golf courses, resources, weather and tournament schedule. This year he played in 10 events for the Wildcats. His best finish was 13th in the John Burns Invitational in Honolulu.

But during the season, Smith said, he didn’t hit many greens in regulation despite driving well, which prevented him from making birdies. He was Arizona’s No. 6 golfer in the Pac-10 tournament. Only five, including Hatley, made the trip to the NCAA tournament, where Arizona was third.

“It’s always disappointing when you don’t get to play anymore,” Smith said. “You always want to be part of a team in post-season.”

But his value to Arizona’s program transcends his ability to play golf. Academics is one. He was also the team’s representative on the student advisory board, which sets policies for student athletes.

He attended the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., in late May. Prior to winning the Washington Amateur qualifier, Smith had been in Colorado Springs at an Athletes in Action Christian ministry camp.

“He’s been a great asset to our program in more ways than one,” said LaRose, “not only on the golf course, but off.”

Smith is determined to increase his value to the team as a player as well, including playing a heavy summer schedule.

“It just takes playing more holes, more rounds in the 60s,” he said. “Do that and the coach will put you in the lineup.”

That could bring even better things over the next two years.

“The two Spokane boys figure heavy in the future,” said LaRose. “Brandon and Reid were works-in-progress who came down here and got a lot better. They will get better still. They are great kids and great players.”