BY MARTY MYERS
Times-Shamrock Writer

There were some stumbles on the way to the clubhouse.

Montrose’s Austin Smith and Holy Cross’ Tom Dzwonczyk would like nothing better than to replay a couple of holes late in the inward nine of their rounds Monday at the PIAA Class AA golf championships.

But both seniors are pretty happy to be where they are — in the top 10 — heading into this morning’s final round at Heritage Hills Resort.

Smith played the final two holes of his round at 3-over par, yet finds himself alone in fourth place, six shots back of leader Nate Merion of Wyomissing, who posted an even-par 71.

“It’s a good score for the first day,” said Smith, who birdied the first hole of both the front and back nine. “I could have done better.”

Smith was at ease after knocking his approach shot on No. 1 to 6 feet and draining the putt, and he had a second birdie attempt lip out on the par-5 second.

Smith found trouble on the short, narrow par-4 sixth, making double bogey.

“I wish I’d ripped a 3-wood instead of playing it safe,” Smith said. “I was trying to just make pars. I was just trying to play it safe.”

Smith’s tee shot on the par-3 eighth led to one double bogey. He hit balls into the hazards on Nos. 17 and made double bogey and bogey for his final two holes.

“I was playing good and making pars after (No. 8),” Smith said. “Then on 17, I hooked one into the hazard and made double. I hit one in the hazard on 18 but made bogey with a good sand shot.

“They’re very difficult holes. Your drive has to be in the perfect place or you are going to be in a hazard.”

But Smith is in the thick of it entering the final round.

“I have to come out and play solid again, putt good again,” Smith said. “I putted good today except for a couple of 3-putts.”