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Richard Smith was a four-year standout for the Govs golf team, winning several head-to-head matches and tournaments during his career. He led the Governors to their first-ever OVC golf championship in 1979, earning OVC Player of the Year Honors after shooting a three-day total of 216.
He followed up the next season with his second-straight All-OVC selection. He was two-time Tennessee Intercollegiate Championship all-state selection.
In addition, the two-time APSU co-captain left APSU owning the career low-scoring average. He averaged 75.0 as a freshman in 1976-77, 74.93 as a sophomore, 73.0 as a junior and 74.07 as a senior.
He led the 1978-79 team to one of best team records ever, 83-7 during Spring 1980 and a combined 119-17 for year. That team was ranked 15th nationally by “Golf World Magazine.”
Since college, Smith has continued his stellar golf career. He won both the Tennessee State Open and the Tennessee State Mid-Amateur. He finished runner-up four times in the Tennessee Player of the Year Points race. He also finished in the Top 16 of the U.S. Amateur in both 1999 and 2000, and was a member of the 1999 Men’s state team that finished fourth nationally.
He initially turned professional in 1980 before regaining his amateur status in 1991. He turned professional again in 2000 and is now playing on the BUY.COM tour.
He and his wife, Lisa, have two sons, Ryan, Casey, and one daughter. He was elected to the Henry County (Paris, Tenn.) Hall of Fame in 1999.
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