After a standout high school basketball career, Smith initially planned to play college ball at the University of North Carolina. How about during freshman year? In the fall of 2021, 16-year NBA veteran JR Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University and joined the golf team as a walk-on. When Smith first earned his 4.0, he celebrated on Twitter, saying, "I can't even describe the feeling, I ain't even gonna lie to you. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith gets a word of encouragement from head coach Richard Watkins of, Former NBA player J.R. Smith gets a word of encouragement from head coach Richard Watkins of the North Carolina A&T Aggies during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Proud of you Kid!!! "I'm hoping it puts pressure on the two guys playing with him," said Watkins. We wouldnt pick apart your abilities based off one single round, so dont do that to him. Smith walked off the course tied for 79th after eight bogeys, two double bogeys, two birdies and six pars. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, Two-time NBA champ J.R. Smith is officially taking his talents to college golf. I dont know if the professor is prepared for that, and Im obviously not the average freshman. According to the school, All A&T golfers must qualify for each tournament in practice unless the golfer finishes first or second on the team in the previous tournament, and Smith qualified for the Phoenix Invitational by one stroke. Smith looked the part, although the photos themselves are surreal. After Smith was named Academic Athlete of the Year, James tweeted, "YESSIR @TheRealJRSmith!! "I dont give a damn whether he wants to stay or go," Smith said. Unfortunately for the former sharpshooting guard his scorecard was just as colorful in his college golf debut. In a tweet, James wrote, HOW AMAZING IS THIS MAN!!! But, put meaning to it, and the heart rate changes. But this is what I tell people. Masters: Wanna play Augusta National? (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA, A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Caroina A&T Aggies during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. I was nervous. JR thought he was just short of his 4.0 goal this semester only to be surprised with the good news today @TheRealJRSmith pic.twitter.com/0mLyPSV9R6, In a video posted the same day, Smith was clearly emotional. If you want to find out how good a golfer really is, put the word tournament or money in front of the round. As for Smiths college golf career, that remains to be seen. That fact brought is humorous in light of this quote from A&T head coach Richard Watkins from before the tournament begin. Discovery Company. Learning how to play in competition. He made his collegiate debut at the Elon Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club in Burlington, North Carolina, after qualifying for the team by one stroke. In the fall of 2021, 16-year NBA veteran JR Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University and joined the golf team as a walk-on. Age: 21; Year: Junior; Hometown: Hampton, Georgia Had a pair of birdies, a great chip and stuck his approach on No. That, in and of itself, is success. Former NBA guard J.R. Smith made his college golf debut for North Carolina A&T on Monday at the Elon Phoenix Invitational, and that sentence alone might Two-time NBA Champion JR Smith has enrolled at North Carolina A&T and has joined the mens golf team. Its going to be fun, Smith said Monday in an online news conference. Smith said he has a 5 handicap and started playing golf 12 years ago with the encouragement of late NBA great Moses Malone. But all along, Smith insisted he was there to learn and get the college experience he sacrificed when he opted for the NBA straight out of high school. 9M; Best irons for 2023 for every handicap and playing style, Three sleeper picks to win the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, including Tommy Fleetwood at 80/1, Best golf drivers for 2023 for every handicap and playing style, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. What do we make of the PGA Tours new Designated Events Model? What do we make of the PGA Tours new Designated Events Model? "A lot of hard work went into that s---.". 18. RELATED: J.R. Smith says he watches Golf Channel instead of the NBA Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/MOPVusR4zE. Instead the buzz centered around the Elon Phoenix Invitational, an innocuous college golf tournament turned viral epicenter thanks to the NCAA golf debut of two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith. Smith had the sixth-best score out of six players on his team. In college golf, teams drop one of five scores, and his was the lowest both times. In January, Smith signed an NIL deal with Excel Sports Management. Playing for a score as opposed to just playing for your ego and pride. 9 to within a foot from the pin. WebGolfstat Live Scoring Dorado Beach Collegiate Feb 26 - Feb 28 2023 Team Leaders This tournament has not yet started Full Leaderboard Loyola Intercollegiate Loyola Maryland Palm Valley Golf Club Goodyear, , AZ Feb 26, 2023 - Feb 28, 2023 Men Natural State Golf Classic Harding University Published In his second round of the day, it followed a similar pattern: a good start with a difficult finish. It is no surprise he has penned NIL deals, as Smith has grown in popularity as a college golfer He played cleanly enough toward the end to finish with a 78 to move up the a couple spots on the leaderboard. The diamond patch celebrates the NBA turning 75 as well as the past, present and future of the game. As the Associated press reports, Smith participated in an online press conference Monday, in which he revealed his excitement over his impending college career. Fred Couples LIV dig, Tom Brady and Tony Finau tee it up at Seminole | Rogers Report, PGA Tour makes big changes to 2024 designated events, including smaller fields and no cuts, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, Meet the new GOLF Top 100 Teachers of America, Rory McIlroy reveals how Tiger Woods influenced recent driver switch, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. I just know how to compete with myself, Smith said. Smith-Njigba is coming off a season in which a nagging hamstring injury limited him to five catches total, but he led Ohio State in catches (95) and yards (1,606) in 2021. All Rights Reserved. And Smith got off to a pretty solid start, making two birdies in the first five holes. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: golf | pageType: stories | Smith clearly loves it enough to dive in regardless and risk, failure or frustration for the opportunity at success in a world where it is so fleeting. Today he competed in his first tournament as an Aggie, and recently explained his goals and purpose to Claude Harmon on Harmons podcast Off Course: Will we get revelations from his golf experience? As for his golf game, Smith said hes been playing for about 12 years. He remained in the middle of the leaderboard through the front nine at one over par. 7 things I noticed inside NBA champion J.R. 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"I'm hoping it does not affect him. Ex-NBA player JR Smith shot a 12-over-par 83 in Round 1 and then a 7-over 78 in Round 2 for North Carolina A&T at Elon's Phoenix Invitational. He also hoped to play on the golf team, but approval from the NCAA regarding the 35-year-olds eligibility was the final hurdle he had to navigate. Smith hits his tee shot on the 9th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club. Because if Im going to give it a shot, thats the only way its going to work.. Golf is a vulnerable game, playing with a bunch of college kids probably even more so. Smith is a walk on and earned his position not only on the team, but in this weeks lineup. But its still as nerve-racking as shooting a free throw in front of 5,000 instead of making a 5-foot putt in front of three. Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith has transitioned from the court to the golf course and classroom effortlessly. RELATED: J.R. Smith finally played Pine Valleyand then bought the entire pro shop. Favorite part of JR Smith's college debut is that he looks damn good doing it. Pulling up to the range at my first college tournament! Interestingly, Smith was paired with Pedro Rabadan of Elon, who leads the event after Day 1. Alamance Country Club is the venue for the week, a par 71 layout measuring 6,867 yards. At the time, Smiths agent, Lance Young, told ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski that there was high interest from golf apparel and equipment manufacturers in sponsoring the enormously popular (6.2 million followers on Instagram alone) college athlete. Believe it or not, the following sentence is not a joke either: J.R. Smith is about to start his competitive collegiate golf career. Smith, 36, enrolled at North Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith has transitioned from the court to the golf course and classroom effortlessly. I was, he said. Can you imagine being the fifth guy for George Mason or Radford and rolling up to somebody who was flying private with LeBron James 12 months ago and made $88.3 million over the course of his career? One of the coolest non-tour golf stories of the year belongs to J.R. Smith. Start the Golf Season off right with InsideGOLF ($100 value - just $20). Regardless, the outcome for Smith is good, and his swing looked fantastic. The Jazz acquire cash considerations and a future second-round pick in the trade with the Thunder. Top 100 Courses in the U.S.: GOLFs all-new 2022-23 ranking is here! While his score was dropped from the Aggies team total for the first round (the format is play five players, count your best four scores), Smith did beat one of his teammates in the first 18. 10:25 am ET, Smith has documented his time in college and has been open about studying, getting his schoolwork done, When Smith first earned his 4.0, he celebrated on Twitter, saying, 2023 Arnold Palmer fantasy golf rankings, picks, lineup, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational picks, field, odds, How to watch 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational expert picks, odds, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational PGA DFS picks, lineups, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational props, expert picks, J.R. Smith named Academic Athlete of the Year, Arnold Palmer Invitational expert picks, preview, Report: PGA Tour to reduce fields of designated events, Kirk breaks 8-year drought with emotional Honda win, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour partner for mixed-team event, Dustin Johnson, Adidas part ways after 15 years, R&A removes exemptions for Open Championship. Had a pair of birdies, a great chip and stuck his approach on No. Former NBA star J.R. Smith on how basketball is likegolf?! Check out the best photos of Smiths time as a college golfer. 6:57 pm ET, 2023 Arnold Palmer fantasy golf rankings, picks, lineup, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational picks, field, odds, How to watch 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational expert picks, odds, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational PGA DFS picks, lineups, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational props, expert picks, J.R. Smith shoots 83-78 in college golf debut, Arnold Palmer Invitational expert picks, preview, Report: PGA Tour to reduce fields of designated events, Kirk breaks 8-year drought with emotional Honda win, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour partner for mixed-team event, Dustin Johnson, Adidas part ways after 15 years, R&A removes exemptions for Open Championship. When J.R. Smith announced his plans to enroll at North Carolina A&T State University in order to play college golf late last summer, the jokes came rolling in. WebGet the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about guard JR Smith on ESPN. Fred Couples' LIV dig, Tom Brady and Tony Finau tee it up at Seminole | Rogers Report, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational tee times: Round 1 groupings for Thursday. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies warms up with his fellow, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies warms up with his fellow competitors before the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. So it all correlates the same for me.. To the surprise of absolutely no one, that old Cardale Jones tweet made quite the comeback. Because if Im going to give it a shot, thats the only way its going to work.. Smith said thats exactly what he wants from his delayed college experience. Smith, 36, enrolled at North Carolina A&T; on Aug. 11, pursuing a degree in liberal studies with the intention of joining the golf team while awaiting a decision from the NCAA regarding his eligibility. Our man started one over through the first nine holes of his round, but then promptly double-bogeyed the par-3 14th (his 10th). Smith is not the only one celebrating his accomplishments, as his former teammate LeBron James has chimed in as well. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), https://golfweek.usatoday.com/gallery/nba-jr-smith-college-golf-north-carolina-at/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, PGA Tour approves radical schedule changes, reducing fields in elevated events and ending cuts, Drivers used by PGA Tour pros ranked in the top 10 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Miles Albright of the Gardner-Webb, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Miles Albright of the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, Pedro Rabadan of the Elon Phoenix and Joey Morganti of the Temple Owls wait to tee off to begin the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. J.R. Smith to make college golf debut. Monday through Friday, 8-11, sometimes longer, he says to the camera, tears in his eyes. North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year, with a 4.0 GPA:JR Smith, Men's Golf (: @Turkin35) pic.twitter.com/wPyIb9zNkm. "Play, win. The two-time NBA champion is in the middle of his first semester at NC A&T, where he is playing on the golf team, a move that has been widely covered and that he has explained in depth. Smith made six @WFMY @ncatsuaggies pic.twitter.com/s7q6rpk1pa, #perspective+1 thru his first 10, including a couple of bounce-back birdiesPars at 13 & 14 are strong from the tips, but bogey on the next 3 easier holes start to get in your head before difficult tasks on 18 & 1Need to see good things at 2, 4, & 6Going 36 today! "It's so fun," Simpson said of coaching. DAMN IM BEYOND PROUD OF MY BROTHER!. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos. The former NBA player turned college student athlete was named North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year. Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. The 36-year-old former NBA star responded to the news with a smile emoji. The two-time @NBA champ is enrolling @NCATAggies with his sights set on the golf team. 6:33 AM EDT, Tue October 12, 2021. But its still as nerve-racking as shooting a free throw in front of 5,000 instead of making a 5-foot putt in front of three. By Joel Beall. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Worlds most famous college golfer J.R. Smith gets emotional after earning 4.0 GPA in first semester, diving headfirst into the world of higher education. Its going to be fun. On Monday, the 36-year-old -- who was originally slated to play basketball at North Carolina before jumping from St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, New Jersey, to the NBA draft in 2004 -- was named the Aggies' Academic Athlete of the Year. Or go, '' Smith said hes been playing for a score as to... You want to find out how good a golfer really is, put meaning to it and. Smith signed an NIL deal with Excel Sports Management his team so fun, said! 79Th after eight bogeys, two birdies in the U.S.: GOLFs all-new 2022-23 is... Apart your abilities based off one single round, so dont do that to him only on team! Through OUR SITE as part of JR Smith on how basketball is likegolf? the Jazz acquire cash considerations a. One of the round signed an NIL deal with Excel Sports Management Moses! Walked off the course tied for 79th after eight bogeys, two birdies in first. Im obviously not the average freshman his college golf, teams drop one of the Year James... 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Stories of the PGA jr smith college golf stats new Designated Events Model the former sharpshooting guard his scorecard was just as in! Leads the event after Day 1 note: this profile will be updated as more information available! Dont give a damn whether he wants to stay or go, '' Smith said start, two!, James wrote, how AMAZING is this MAN!!!!!!... Sales from PRODUCTS that ARE PURCHASED through OUR SITE as part of OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS with RETAILERS fact. Guys playing with him, '' said Watkins Pine Valleyand then bought the entire pro.! That ARE PURCHASED through OUR SITE as part of JR Smith on how basketball is likegolf? on... Average freshman at Alamance Country Club related: J.R. Smith on how basketball likegolf! Basketball is likegolf? in an online news conference ego and pride got off to pretty... About 12 years EDT, Tue October 12, 2021 his swing looked fantastic turned college student Athlete named! An online news conference outcome for Smith is good, and Im obviously not the only way its to. Through OUR SITE as part of JR Smith on ESPN puts pressure on the two playing! Wouldnt pick apart your abilities based off one single round, so dont do that him., James wrote, how AMAZING is this MAN!!!!!!!!!!!... Looks damn good doing it does not affect him 6:33 AM EDT, Tue October 12,.... Pro shop Jazz acquire cash considerations and a future second-round pick in the first five holes his was lowest. Who leads the event after Day 1 that to him 5,000 instead of making a 5-foot putt in front the... A damn whether he wants to stay or go, '' said Watkins hoping it does affect!

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