By todd traub
Leader sports editor
Cabot’s Hunter Smith birdied four of his final seven holes to win the boys 7A state golf championship at Cabot’s Greystone Country Club on Wednesday.
Smith, a senior, shot a 3-under-par 69 on his final round to finish the two-day tournament with a 4-under 140 on Greystone’s Mountain Springs course.
Little Rock Catholic’s Matt Mabrey was second with a 148.
Behind Smith’s effort, Cabot won the team championship with a 623 score, nudging out Catholic, which shot a two-day 635.
Cabot’s Colby Benton shot a 75-78—153 to finish fifth.
Smith’s steady play early helped him move ahead of or stay in front of Mabrey and Fort Smith Southside’s Drew Comer, who took double bogeys on the opening hole. Smith, on the other hand, started the second day with three straight pars.
Mabry was 6-over after four holes Wednesday and Comer was 3-over after three holes.
Smith suffered a bogey on No. 11 but he birdied No. 12, 13 and 14. Mabry, who rallied back to 1-over with birdies on No. 5, 9, 10, 11 and 13, had his third double bogey on No. 14, a 500-yard par 5 which allowed Smith to pull away.
Smith was at his best on the par 5s, shooting 6-under on the big holes, and he only three-putted twice.
Smith hasn’t put Mabrey or Comer completely in his past. All three have qualified for Thursday’s Overall Tournament at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock.
