Smith heads to state tourney

BY MARTY MYERS
Times-Shamrock Writer

Finding a comfort zone quickly will be important for Montrose’s Austin Smith and the other four District 2 players at the PIAA golf championships.

The opening round of the state tournament began Monday at Heritage Hills Resort in York. It will be the first time Smith, a junior, will be seeing the course.

Smith didn’t finish well at regionals, bogeying three of his last four. It’s an experience he hopes to turn into a positive for the Class AA tournament.

“I’ve been thinking about what I need to do better than what I did at regionals,” Smith said. “I just need to finish my round and stay focused, hit better shots toward the end of the round.

“I think regionals helps me. It makes me stronger for the coming event.”

Smith is also the first Montrose player to make it to the state event since Mike Stranburg in 2003.

“A lot of people have been congratulating me for making it to states,” Smith said. “It’s a great experience for me for the future.”

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t see this as an opportunity.

“I think I can shoot a good score if I’m focused the whole round,” Smith said. “I grind it out. I don’t make a lot of birdies. I don’t make that many mistakes.”