The winning putt! Congrats Zach Smith. What a great tournament. In my book the @ScottsdaleOpen is now the fifth major. pic.twitter.com/Mn3ijXAwp9
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) May 14, 2020
Former UC Santa Barbara golfer Zach Smith won his first professional tournament, capturing the Scottsdale Open at Talking Stick Resort on Thursday.
Smith closed with an 8-under 62 for a three-stroke victory. He finished the three-round PGA mini tour at 18-under 192, earning $20,000 from the $130,000 purse.
“It’s exciting. It’s my first professional win and it’s awesome to have it come against such a competitive field of players,” Smith told the Associated Press. “I wasn’t sure how the week was going to unfold, but after my opening 63 I felt pretty confident and thought I could put myself in position to win.”
Carson Roberts was second, following a second-round 61 with a 68. He’s a regular on the Mackenzie Tour in Canada.
Colt Knost closed with a 66 to tie for third at 13 under, three-plus months after missing the Phoenix Open cut and retiring. Korn Ferry Tour player Brandon Harkins and mini-tour player Brady Calkins also were 13 under.
Smith last played at UCSB in 2019, making history by finishing second at the Pullman Regional and becoming the second Gaucho to qualify for the NCAA Championship as an individual.
The PGA Tour suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is set to return June 11-14 for the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.