Golf season ends for preps

With older brother Sam secure at USC, it's time for the Smith family to find a college for younger brother Paul.

The Turlock junior will be a target for college coaches, particularly after firing a 1-over 73 to tie for 18th at the Northern California Golf Championship at Diablo Grande.

Smith was one of two Stanislaus District golfers on the Legends Course: Oakdale's Austin Whitworth shot a 75 to finished tied for 34th.

He collected three birdies, but was hurt by a triple bogey on No. 5.

Sam Smith was The Bee's three-time Player of the Year, earning a scholarship. Coaches are tracking Paul and interest will increase with the junior tournament season opening next week in Fresno.

Smith bounced back from a poor start: He had a triple-bogey on 585-yard, par-5 No. 2. Birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 5 left him even through five holes.

A double-bogey pushed him two back at No. 7, then he had a birdie and 10 pars the rest of the way. Smith shot a 3-over 69 last week to win the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters.

"A couple of bad drives, followed by a poor second shot," said Smith, explaining his troublesome holes. "The college coaches come to the junior tournaments because we play three or four rounds and they see a lot of golf at once."

Whitworth had one blow-up hole -- an 8 on the 488-yard, par-5 No. 5 -- and shot a 39 on the front nine. He had bogeys on the first three holes of the back nine, but birdied three of those final four holes and finished with his 3-over 75.