CHICORA - Nathan Smith knows the St. Jude golf course - and he needed to.

Smith, 26, carded a 5-over-par 145 Monday to win the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association's 12th annual Tournament of Club Champions at St. Jude Golf Club.

The 36-hole, one-day event consisted of a 30-golfer field of Western Pennsylvania club champions. Smith was club champion at Pinecrest.

He beat out Sean Knapp, who is St. Jude's club champion, and Donald Lewis, club champion at Sewickley Heights, by three strokes each. Knapp and Lewis are members at St. Jude.

No other golfer in the field broke 150.

"It's a big advantage to know this course," Smith admitted. "Knowing the greens and how to play them … there are a lot of safe shots you need to take here that you're not going to know unless you play here."

That's one reason Lewis, a former St. Jude member of eight years, rejoined the club this year after a five-year absence.

Lewis' son, Donny, won the junior club championship at Sewickley Heights while his father won the club championship to become the first father-son combo to do so in the same year in that course's history.

"I want Donny to play here," Lewis said. "He's a six-handicap now and getting better. Between Sewickley Heights and St. Jude, if you can play those courses, you can play anywhere."

Lewis led the tournament after the morning session, carding a 73 to Smith's 74. Knapp had a 77 in the first round.

Lewis lost the tournament when he lost his ball on the 575-yard par-5 No. 14 hole. He took a double-bogey on the hole.

"You try to play a little safer when you have the lead," Lewis said. "My drive sailed into the trees and I never did find the ball. That killed me."

Knapp opened with a 77 in the morning before shooting even par in the afternoon.

He believes he should have done better.

"The old Sean Knapp could putt on this course," Knapp said. "But over the past couple of years, I've lost the ability to putt here.

"I missed 12 putts from six feet or closer today. You don't expect to make them all, but if I make just four of them, that's the difference."

Smith had no such flaw in his game. He had six bogeys and two birdies - on Nos. 8 and 16 - during the morning round.

His lone birdie during the afternoon was on the par-5 No. 14, but he suffered only two bogeys.

"It was a fairly consistent day," Smith said. "You're never sure if a score is going to hold up with a talented field like this one out here.

"This is a fun tournament. It's a relaxed atmosphere, the field's not as large and you get a chance to visit with other club champions."

And Smith earned the prestige of being the ultimate champion.

"Sure, there's some prestige there," Lewis said. "He can say he's the champion of the club champions."

Smith won the title on a difficult course.

"There was no wind today and the weather was ideal," Knapp said. "A field like this one comes out and the winner shoots five-over. That shows how challenging this course can be.

"You have to play perfect golf on these greens. I didn't do it."

While the greens were challenging, Lewis said they were in tremendous condition.

"I've played in four U.S. Amateurs and have never played on greens like this," he said. "These are the best greens I've ever seen, anywhere.

"You miss a putt here, it's your fault. That's the way it should be."