Travis Smith put his name on the list of Terre Haute Junior City Golf champions with a clutch performance in 2004.
Now, his memory will be honored with the newly established Travis J. Smith Outstanding Junior Golfer Award. The Terre Haute law firm Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin has initiated the award, and will sponsor annually its presentation to the outstanding male and female junior golfer each year at the conclusion of the Terre Haute Junior City Golf Tournament.
That new tradition will begin with the 2009 championships, scheduled for July 14-16 at the Rea Park and Hulman Links golf courses.
Smith, a 2006 graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School, won the Junior City’s top age division for 15- to 17-year-olds in the summer before his junior year at South. He went on to become a standout golfer at South and then Ball State University. He was killed in an automobile accident in January 2007 at Muncie.
“I watched Travis grow up and excel in every sport he played, especially golf,” said Tony Tanoos, a partner with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin. “I grew up with Travis’ father, Jimmy, and Travis was best friends with my youngest son, Anthony, and spent a lot of time at our home. He was like another son to me. I have no doubt in my mind that, had Travis lived, he would have become a professional golfer. He was that good, and the junior golf had a big part in his development as a golfer, so my law partners and I felt this was an appropriate way to honor Travis.”
With the new award, the outstanding male and female Junior City golfer will be given a crystal trophy that will be engraved and which they will be allowed to keep permanently. In addition, the winners get to keep, for only a year, a traveling trophy that is owned by the Terre Haute Golf Association.
