Nate Smith, a former professional golfer reborn as an amateur, went wire to wire at the Snedeker Memorial to become the event’s second champion. Smith dominated the field, shooting 70-68-67 (11-under 205) to win by six strokes at Lakewood Golf Club in Point Clear, Alabama.
“It feels great,” Smith said. “It’s always difficult winning against strong fields and to win by that many strokes is even more difficult.”
A 2010 winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, the 41-year-old Californian pulled away during the final round. Taking a one-stroke lead into Sunday, Smith fired a bogey-free, tournament-low 67. Despite being in control of the tournament, Smith says he had to remain focused.
“It’s never any less stressful throughout the round,” Smith said. “You try and shut the thoughts out of your mind of where you are in the tournament by setting mini goals, like making birdies or getting to double digits [under par].”
After going to college at Duke, Smith turned professional in 2006. He played in 68 Korn Ferry Tour events, winning the WNB Golf Classic in 2010. He also played in 25 PGA Tour events, making the cut in nine of them. However, Smith decided to step away from the professional game in late 2013.
“I had some issues with my knee and I also really fell out of love with the lifestyle and travel,” Smith said.
“I’m still getting my legs under me from a competitive aspect, but I’m just enjoying the journey.”
Nate Smith
Smith went back to school, earned his MBA and reinvented his career as a home builder. Golf took a backseat for almost a decade.
“It took a little while to build up our business to the point of having the flexibility and the financial freedom to compete in some of the mid-amateur stuff,” Smith said.
In 2023, at almost 40, Smith returned to competitive golf. He collected his first win at the Idaho State Amateur in 2024. Smith says his perspective of the game has drastically changed since leaving professional golf behind.
“I don’t take golf as seriously anymore,” Smith said. “I’m still extremely competitive and I want to win when I tee it up every week, but at the same time I’m trying to enjoy the experiences and get to know the people competing in the tournaments.”
In addition to winning the individual stroke play at the Snedeker Memorial, Smith finished first in the simultaneous team championship portion of the tournament. Smith and teammate Kristoffer Marshall started the final day five shots back of the lead, but Smith said the pair felt confident. Marshall’s driver even broke midway through the round, forcing him to use 3-wood off the tee.
“I was really proud of how he competed out there,” Smith said. “It was important to us to win the team part because there are bragging rights.”
Tournament committee chairman and participant Haymes Snedeker shot 74-72-72 (+2). Older brother of PGA Tour pro Brandt Snedeker, Haymes says the tournament honoring his late parents, Larry and Candice Snedeker, for their support of junior golf is special to him.
“I’m humbled and flattered by the caliber of the field and the players that travelled across the country to come spend three days with me to celebrate my parents’ memory,” Snedeker said.
Snedeker knows Smith personally, as the pair met in 2024 at the Azalea Invitational. Smith says he was proud to be a part of the event.
“It’s awesome to be in the fledgling part of the event,” Smith said. “I think the purpose of honoring Candice and Larry, having their memory live on, is awesome.”
Even with his latest win, Smith believes his game can get better. The success of his business means he can practice more and continue to work off the decade of rust. However, Smith says he doesn’t want to put an emphasis on how he performs.
“I’m still getting my legs under me from a competitive aspect, but I’m just enjoying the journey,” Smith said.
Everett Munez