STUART, Fla. – Newcomer Mark Smith of Stuart earned his first Golfslinger.com Tour victory Thursday with a three under par 69 at the Champions Club at Summerfield.

Smith overcame an unusual back nine to win by a stroke. After turning in 36 with two birdies and as many bogeys on the front, Smith had six birdies, a bogey and a double bogey on the inward side. He parred the 10th hole, birdied Nos. 11 and 12, made double bogey at the par-5 13th, birdied 14, 15 and 16, bogeyed the short 17th and birdied the long 18th for the margin of victory.

In his 11th start since joining Golfslinger in March, Smith earned $1,000 from the $2,338 purse at stake for the 14 entrants. Heretofore his best finish was a tie for second April 26 at the Evergreen Club in Palm City, worth $408.34.

The second of the Golfslinger’s four “major championships” highlights next month’s schedule, June 6-7 at PGA National's Champion course in Palm Beach Gardens in which the winner is guaranteed $10,000. The champion course is the venue of the PGA TOUR Honda Classic. David Smith of Ruston, La., won the first major of the year in March.

There was $50 in the skins pot with 7 skins out worth $7.14 each.
2 (Par),10,11- Sunny Kim
8 (Eagle),9, 14- Hernan Rey
18- Will Coleman