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Chris Smith

b. 1969

Professional golfer from the United States

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About Chris Smith

Born 1969. Chris Smith is an American golfer.

Christopher McClain Smith (born April 15, 1969) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour.

Early life Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, graduating from Rochester Community High School; during his sophomore season (1985), he was the Boys State High School Champion, in his senior season (1987), he finished as the state runner-up in the boys state golf championship. He was awarded the Fred Keesling Award following his high school career.

Amateur career He attended Ohio State University, where he completed a successful collegiate career. He won seven individual titles, including the 1990 Big Ten Championship, the 1991 Robert Kepler Intercollegiate and 5 other events. He was a four-time All-Conference selection in the Big Ten from 1988 to 1991; his other Big Ten Awards include the 1988 Freshman of the Year, the 1990 Player of the Year and the 1990 Les Bolstad Award for lowest stroke average. He was named an All-America selection in 1990 as a junior (honorable mention) and in 1991 as a senior (first team). Smith won the Indiana State Amateur Championship in 1990 and competed in the Sun Bowl Golf Classic in 1990. He was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 2000.

Professional career In 1997, Smith became the first golfer on the Nike Tour to immediately move up to the PGA Tour by way of the "battlefield promotion," which is awarded to a player who wins three tournaments in one Nike Tour season. He was named the Nike Tour Player of the Year in 1997 and also led the money list.

Smith has won one tournament on the PGA Tour, the 2002 Buick Classic. Smith struggled on the PGA Tour after the win. Smith's best result on the PGA Tour since his sole win in 2002 was when he finished 3rd place at the 2004 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.

In 2013, Smith was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame for his successful career.

Smith held a share of the 54-hole lead at the 2015 Puerto Rico Open, but stumbled with a final-round 73 to finish T10. It was his first PGA Tour top-10 in ten years.

In 2018, Smith collected several professional wins on the Indiana Tour becoming the Indiana PGA Player of the Year. He also won the 2020 Indiana PGA Championship.

Personal life On June 21, 2009, Smith's wife was killed in an automobile accident. His two children were also critically injured.

Amateur wins 1985 IHSAA Boys State Championship 1985 Indiana (Boys) State Junior 1986 Indiana (Boys) State Junior 1988 Western Junior 1990 Indiana State Amateur, Big Ten Championship (individual) 1991 Robert Kepler Intercollegiate 1988-91 Six additional intercollegiate events

Professional wins (21) PGA Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jun 9, 2002 Buick Classic−12 (66-69-67-70=272)2 strokes David Gossett, Pat Perez, Loren Roberts

Nike Tour wins (5)

Nike Tour playoff record (1–3)

Hooters Jordan Tour wins (1)

Other wins (14) 1990 Indiana Match Play 1992 Ohio Open 1994 Ohio Open 2018 Indiana PGA Indianapolis Open, Indiana PGA Monticello Open, Indiana Section Tournament Series, Indiana PGA Southern Open 2019 Indiana PGA Pro-Am, Indiana PGA Senior Open, Indiana PGA Northern Open, Indiana PGA Monticello Open (2), Indiana PGA Team Championship 2020 Indiana PGA Championship 2021 Indiana PGA Senior Open (2)

Results in major championships Note: Smith never played in the Masters Tournament.

CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied

Results in The Players Championship CUT = missed the halfway cut

Results in World Golf Championships

"T" = Tied

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Ohio State University
Awards
Nike Tour Player of the Year
Also known as
Christopher McClain Smith

People in Chris Smith's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Chris Smith's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Chris Smith?

professional golfer from the United States

When was Chris Smith born?

Chris Smith was born on 15 April 1969 in Indianapolis.

What is Chris Smith's occupation?

Chris Smith is a golfer.

What nationality is Chris Smith?

Chris Smith is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Chris Smith

· Wikidata: Q5108103

· DBpedia: Chris Smith (golfer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Chris Smith. https://biography.guide/chris-smith-golfer/

MLA: "Chris Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/chris-smith-golfer/.

Chicago: "Chris Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/chris-smith-golfer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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