After missing the cut at the 2016 Alabama Buys State Junior Championship by a single stroke, Matt Smith’s goal at this year’s tournament was simply to not have that happen again. But after a scintillating second round that included six birdies and an eagle, Smith made the cut and is in contention for the win at the three-round event.

One day after shooting an even-par 72 at the Lake Course at Goose Pond Colony Resort in Scottsboro, Smith, a rising senior at Clements High School, carded a 68, putting him at four under par after two rounds, just four shots off the lead.

Athens High School rising senior Justin Vincent, the other local golfer competing in the event, also made the cut for the tournament, carding two consecutive rounds at even par.

Smith had a relatively quiet even-par first round, racking up 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey, but he had much more of a roller coaster second round, especially on the back nine.

Smith played the back nine first, teeing off on the 10th hole to start his round. His first eight holes of the day consisted of two bogeys and a birdie, and he stood at one over par for the tournament as he walked to the 18th hole. It was there when his round took off.

Smith proceeded to play the next four holes at five under par, making birdies on 18, 1 and 3 while holing a 50-yard fairway shot for eagle on the second hole.

“I just went out there today and tried to have fun with it,” Smith said. “I tried not to have any bogeys and let the birdies fall. I got hot out there for a little bit.”

Smith’s momentum was stunted when his tee shot on the sixth hole hit a tree and caromed into the water. He wound up making a double bogey on that hole to fall back to two under par. However, he birdied the seventh and ninth holes to recover and finish 4-under.

“(The double bogey) was just an unlucky break,” Smith said. “I try and stay positive after something like that happens. I just needed to play smart golf and finish out my round. I was able to birdie two of the last three holes to get those two shots back.”

Smith said the difference of his par-filled first round and the second round where he was able to pour in six birdies and an eagle was ball striking from the fairway.

“(Wednesday) I was hitting it really close to the hole,” Smith said. “I didn’t have to stress about making long putts. (Tuesday) I was hitting greens but it wasn’t close to the hole, and I would two putt a lot. (Wednesday) I was hitting it real close and having tap-ins.”

While Smith’s second round consisted of a lot of birdies, Vincent’s second round was basically the same as his first, with lots of pars.

Vincent also began his round on the 10th hole, and started with a birdie. Unfortunately for him, that was the only birdie he would make all day. He bogeyed the second hole (his 11th hole of the day) and made par on every other hole to finish his round at even par. In Tuesday’s first round, Vincent made 14 pars with two birdies and two bogeys.

“Both rounds were just really boring and frustrating,” Vincent said. “I hit a lot of fairways but most of my approach shots weren’t too close to the hole. I was leaving myself with some lengthy birdie putts that I just couldn’t get to fall.”

Even Vincent’s lone birdie of the day was a bit of a disappointment, as he lipped out a 15-foot putt for eagle that would have gotten his round off to a blazing start. It was a sign of things to come for Vincent, as he said he missed several makable birdie putts throughout the round.

“That kind of set the tone for the day,” he said. “I was striking (my putts) well and getting them on line, but I couldn’t read them too well.”

Despite his frustrating day, Vincent said he was pleased to make the cut at the prestigious tournament.

“This is such a great event, and everyone that runs it is awesome,” he said. “It’s really nice to make the cut here.”

Four players are tied for the lead at eight under par, including Florence’s Ike Alexander. The final round will tee off today, with the top 60 players and ties from participants in the 14-18 age group advancing to play.