Hornets’ nest puts sting in J.R. Smith’s college golf debut

J.R. Smith stepped into a hornets’ nest in his first college golf tournament — and it had nothing to do with his high score.

The 36-year-old two-time NBA champion was stung by hornets while completing his round Tuesday for North Carolina A&T on the second day of Elon’s Phoenix Invitational in Burlington, N.C.

“To get stung on the basketball court or in an arena, never happens,” said Smith, now a freshman walk-on.“that’s one of the very few things you don’t have to worry about (in basketball) – other animals. When I got stung, I was like, ‘No way.’”

The hornets just added to the sting of Smith’s birdie-less round of 8-over 79 on the Donald Ross-designed layout. Combined with his two rounds Monday, he finished at 29-over 240 – in 81st place out of 84 entries.

Smith said he’s determined to improve because he knows others are paying attention.

“I got a lot of great feedback,” Smith said.“chris Paul was telling me guys were talking about it in the locker room. Guys are really looking for my scores, so I’ve got to take care of business.”

On his third hole of the third round, Smith’s tee shot went off the fairway and became embedded in pine straw. He found the ball, but his pull cart’s wheel rolled over the nest.

Smith darted away from the area, waving his arms, before needing treatment. Smith, along with playing partners Florian Blatti of George Washington and Mason Whatley of Presbyterian, were granted a 15-minute break as other groups played through.

“I tried to turn it into a positive,” Smith said, referring to suiting up while ill in the NBA. “This might be your equivalent of a flu game.”