Consistency does matter
FOX CHAPEL — After the first day of the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational, Nathan Smith was among several golfers who knew consistency would be the key.
As it turned out, he was the most consistent.
Smith, a member of St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora, fired a four-round total of 282, including a 2-over-par 72 Wednesday, to capture the event at the Pittsburgh Field Club.
"We play that course almost every year for that tournament," said Smith, who also won the event in 2005. "After the first round Monday, we we're going to have to play very tough. The winds were really howling and it made for some tough conditions. The pins were tight, too.
"I just kind of kept it in front of me and it was nice to see what everyone else was doing," he added.
Smith, an amateur, opened the tournament with rounds of 70 and 71 Monday, then followed with a 69 Tuesday to enter Wednesday's final round at an even 210, the only golfer who was not over par.
John Aber of Allegheny Country Club carded a 66 on Tuesday to pull to within one shot, but he carded a 73 Wednesday to finish tied for second with Ryan Sikora of Pittsburgh National Golf Club with scores of 284.
"I could see the leaderboard, the scoreboard, and I was able to keep an eye on everyone," Smith said. "I made the turn at even par and everyone was a couple over, so I just managed my way."
Arnold Cutrell, another amateur, was fourth at 288 and five others tied for fifth with scores of 290.
In all, four amateurs finished in the top 11, including Sean Knapp, also a member of St. Jude, who was tied for 10th place with Butler Country Club's Rob McClellan (291).
Smith, 30, a financial adviser who resides in the North Hills, felt a certain calm in the invitational, having already picked up a title four years ago.
"I really felt comfortable, maybe it was the fact I didn't think about it too much," said Smith. "In 2005, I thought about it more. I wanted to break out and win. This time, I just wanted to make par. The course plays so tough."
Because he's an amateur, Smith had to settle for $750 in pro shop merchandise while runners-up Aber and Sikora pocketed $18,000 apiece. The pros who finished between 31st and 40th places earned $1,400 each.
It's not the money; it's about the prestige, Smith said.
"It was an honor to win the tournament," he said. "It's such an honor to play against the tri-state area's really good golfers."
Smith's golf season runs from June through August, so the number of events he can play is limited.
"This is usually the only pro tournament I play in," said Smith. "I practice a lot and I'll play the West Penn Open and Tri-State and do some amateur national events."
Smith's also eyeing the upcoming state amateur open, as well as qualifying for the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur events.
Other Butler County area competitors in the Fuhrer Invitational included Joe Boros of Treesdale Golf & Country Club, who tied for 18th with a 297, and John Aubrey Sr. of Aubrey's Dubbs Dred, who tied for 24th at 302.
