KANSAS CITY, Mo. --Nathan Woolard is among five players tied for fourth place entering the final round of the MSHSAA Class 4 golf championships at Swope Memorial Golf Course.
The Poplar Bluff senior shot 1-over-par 73 Monday and is six shots behind the leader while in the hunt to earn his third career all-state medal.
"He was sharp," Mules coach Billy Pyland said. "Just made two mistakes, two bad swings cost him."
Poplar Bluff's Justin Pierce is tied for 53rd at 81 but ended his round by playing 1-over-par over the final seven holes.
Making his first state appearance, the senior was 5-over after six holes before his lone birdie of the day.
"Justin just had nerves," Pyland said. "First time ever being at state --nerves --that's understood.
"He's going to be alright."
Pierce's birdie came on the par-3 16th hole, his seventh after starting on the back 9 Monday. Pierce played the four par-5 holes even and was 1-over on the four par-3 holes. His round featured nine pars.
Woolard also finished strong, playing his final six holes at 2-under.
His round started with five straight pars before a bogey on the par-4 15th. He got back to even-par with a birdie on the par-5 17th but made the turn 1-over after a bogey on the par-4 18th. Consecutive bogeys at Nos. 2 and 3, both par-4 holes, put Woolard at 3-over.
A birdie on the par-3 sixth and another on the par-5 ninth, his final hole, got Woolard back to 1-over-par.
"You just got to play smart," Pyland said. "He just has to have them fall because he's hitting well."
Chaminade junior Zach Walsh leads by two shots after a 5-under 67 while Ross Steelman of Rock Bridge finished at 69 and Glendale's Dawson Meek shot 2-under 70.
All three will be trying to help their school win the team title Tuesday.
Woolard can become Poplar Bluff's sixth three-time all-state player, joining Tom Hoover, Craig Caringer, Colby Robertson, Tyler Hillis and Trent Hillis. Woolard is already one of 11 Mules to finish in the top 15 at state more than once. A Poplar Bluff golfer has earned medalist honors at state five times, the last in 2004 when Tyler Hillis became the first freshman medalist in state history.
As a freshman, Woolard finished 28th, improving his score by two shots on the second day but missing all-state honors by five shots. The Mules placed sixth as a team at state that year but have not qualified as a team since.
Last year, Woolard shot 6-over-par 150 to tie for fifth. He finished four strokes behind medalist Joe Terschluse of Chaminade. As a sophomore, Woolard tied for 15th.