SUNY Adirondack's Smith earns All-American honors

North Creek native places fourth at NJCAA Division III Championships

QUEENSBURY, New York (June 16, 2022) — SUNY Adirondack is proud to announce that Rory Smith of North Creek won fourth place in the NJCAA Division III Championships, earning her All-American status.

The right-hander shot 366 (94, 91, 90, 91) in the four-round tourney at Chautauqua Golf Club outside of Jamestown, New York. 

“Those girls from North Carolina and Georgia are very, very good,” said Smith, who was the only woman on the Timberwolves’ seven-person squad. “I wasn’t expecting to place fourth.”

Smith had a stellar second season for SUNY Adirondack, attending preseason training in Virginia, winning two in-season tournaments and taking first at Regionals. Perhaps most impressive, she shaved around 15 strokes off her game since her first season at the college. 

“I usually shoot around a 94, 95, but definitely saw a lot of progression,” she said. “When I first joined the team [last season], I shot around 110, 112 and the lowest I shot this year was an 86. I felt really accomplished.”

Her gains led to her being named SUNY Adirondack Athletics Female Athlete of the Year, and earned her Region 3 Athlete of the Week honors twice in May.

Smith has only a semester left at SUNY Adirondack, but isn’t ready to end her golfing career just yet. The Individual Studies major is hoping to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program and stay on the links for another two years.

“Golf definitely added to the college experience,” Smith said. “It was really fun to go to school all day, then go out on the course with the team.”

SUNY Adirondack’s Liam Baldwin also competed at the NJCAA Division III Championships, placing 44th out of a field of more than 70. He shot 357 (89, 92, 85, 91) in the wet, rainy tournament. 

“Head Coach Mike Carpenter and his staff did a tremendous job this season helping their student athletes continue to grow not only as golfers, but as people,” said SUNY Adirondack Director of Athletics Zach Schwan. “We are thrilled for Rory and Liam, and the entire Timberwolves golf program. They are a great group of individuals who are terrific ambassadors for SUNY Adirondack.”

About SUNY Adirondack

SUNY Adirondack is a community college with a growing campus that is part of the nation’s largest university, the State University of New York. With locations in Queensbury, Glens Falls and Wilton, SUNY Adirondack offers courses in person and online; on-campus housing at the Queensbury campus; and serves students via credit and continuing education programs. Learn more at sunyacc.edu.