Champ, Smotherman, and Gibbs started their golf journeys at a very young age. The First Tee of Greater Sacramento was just the beginning for these three golfers.
Age 8
Age 17
Where are they now?
The three men are now in their late 20s and have all taken different golf paths.
Cameron Champ, age 26
Champ, a former Texas A&M star and a 2018 Korn Ferry Tour graduate, turned professional in 2017 and joined the PGA Tour in 2019.
He started his own foundation, The Cameron Champ Foundation, which is focused on accessible STEM education and golf development programming that fosters an environment for academic achievement and healthy living for children/youth from under-served communities.
Austin Smotherman, age 27
In his four years at Southern Methodist University, tallied seven top-fives and an additional nine top-10s. His best finishes were three runner-up performances. He joined PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in 2017, the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, and finally the PGA Tour for the upcoming year, 2022.
Alex Gibbs, age 26
Gibbs went on to play golf in college at Sacramento State University. He competed in two tournaments as an individualâŠshot 78-77-71-225 to tie for 38th place at the Sacramento State InvitationalâŠcarded rounds of 84-80-76-240 at the Fresno State Classic.
