On Monday, October 26, Youth on Course alumnus Austin Smotherman added another milestone to his career, winning the Butterfield Bermuda Championship just three weeks after capturing his first PGA TOUR title at the Bank of Utah Championship. Two consecutive wins mark a well-earned payoff for Smotherman after years of steady work on Tour.
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Smotherman’s first PGA TOUR victory arrived in dramatic fashion. In his 100th career start, he finished the Bank of Utah Championship at 26-under-par, two strokes ahead of the field to claim his first title.
Three weeks later, he was back in contention at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. After three rounds at Port Royal Golf Course, Smotherman sat tied with Seamus Power at 16-under-par. Strong winds forced officials to cancel Sunday’s final round, setting up a sudden-death playoff on Monday morning.
The two golfers matched each other with pars on the first two playoff holes. On the third, Smotherman made par to secure the victory.
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Before becoming a back-to-back PGA TOUR winner, Smotherman was a young golfer growing up in Loomis, California. As a Youth on Course member and 2012 Scholar, he benefited from opportunities that helped him continue developing his game and pursuing his goals.
Asked whether he would be a PGA Tour pro without Youth on Course, this is what Austin had to share:
"Probably not. At that age to refine these skills that I'm able to showcase out here on Tour and being able to go to college and play college golf, it all comes down to the time spent with a golf club in your hand. For me, that time would have been reduced if it wasn't for Youth on Course."
Youth on Course works to remove cost as a barrier, giving young golfers the opportunity to play for $5 or less and develop their skills over time. For Austin, those early opportunities were part of a journey that has now led to the highest level of professional golf.
Photo Credit: James Gilbert, Getty Images
“On behalf of everyone at Youth on Course, congratulations to Austin on his victory at the Bank of Utah Championship,” said Youth on Course CEO Adam Heieck. “Austin’s story is exactly why we do this work. Every young person deserves the chance to experience golf, and that starts with access. Watching a kid from Northern California grow into a PGA Tour winner has been really exciting.”
For the next generation of golfers, Austin’s story shows how access to the game can open doors, create opportunities, and help young players pursue goals that may once have felt out of reach.
Photo Credit: James Gilbert, Getty Images
Youth on Course is proud to celebrate Austin’s continued success and the role access to golf has played in his journey.
Congratulations, Austin!