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A family affair will continue for a few more years on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun golf team.
Following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Stephen “Petey” Smith inked a national letter of intent with the Cajuns this week and became UL’s first golf signee of the year.
“It’s really nice to get another top player out of our own back yard,” said Cajun coach Bob Bass. “Petey comes from a quality golf background, he’s been successful and he’s had tremendous support and backing from his family.”
The St. Thomas More standout won the state’s Tournament of Champions — an invitational for the high finishers in each of the state’s prep championships — one year ago, and has two top-ten individual finishes in Class 4A in his sophomore and junior seasons.
Older brother Michael Smith is a sophomore on the Cajun team and was the squad’s top finisher in the recent “Battle on the Bend” tournament at Toledo Bend that wrapped up UL’s fall season. Older brother Matt Smith was also a Cajun squad member before graduating two years ago.
The younger Smith becomes the fourth Lafayette player to sign with the Cajuns in the last two seasons. Michael Smith, Morgan Landry and B. C. Thibeaux III all were part of Bass’ 2004 signee class.
“I’m good friends with all those guys,” Smith said. “I think it’s going to be fun (playing on the same squad with Michael). We had fun in high school doing that, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Smith’s STM squad, coached by his father Dennis Smith, finished second in the Class 4A team tournament last spring. The Cougars won the state title for the second straight year in 2004 when Stephen
Smith was a sophomore and Michael Smith was a senior.
“I think he’s got his most outstanding golf in front of him,” Bass said. “He’s growing and getting bigger and stronger, and that size and strength will be nothing but good for us.”
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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com
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“I’ve been working on becoming more consistent,” Smith said. “I’d like to gain some distance, too. That’ll help in college golf.”
Smith said he never considered other schools.
“I like Lafayette way too much to leave,” he said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere.”
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