European Senior Tour Member Jerry Smith captured his first victory on the US Champions Tour, holding off South African David Frost to win the Encompass Championship.
The 51 year old American posted a two under par round of 70 at North Shore Country Club, in Glenview, Illinois, to finish on 16 under par, three shots clear of Frost.
A crucial eagle on the par five 16th hole ultimately sealed the victory for the Iowa native, who holed from the left-hand greenside bunker.
"Bunker play's not my forte, but I've worked a lot on it and I did like what I saw when I walked up to it," said Smith. "I didn't think it was a real difficult shot, so I felt like I could make four. Making three was obviously a bonus and probably helped me to get to the house the last two holes."
Smith came through the Senior Tour Qualifying School in 2014 and finished 29th on the Order of Merit, recording three top ten finishes.
He finished tied third in the Swiss Senior Open two weeks ago and took that form across the Atlantic. Prior to turning 50 he took two club professional jobs, having lost his playing privileges on the Asian Tour in 2007, and he called the victory “surreal”.
"In your career you don't really think about winning and so forth - at least a guy like myself, who's kind of been a so-called journeyman player all these years," said Smith.
Frost made five birdies and had three putts on the closing holes get to the edge of the cup without falling.
"But it was a good day," said Frost. "I'm happy for Jerry. He's quite a journeyman, so there's room for everybody out here."
