ZANESVILLE — Like a couple of greyhounds chasing down a dying rabbit, Blake Hartford and Ian Smith took turns trying to gain a head up on each other on Sunday.

Hartford, the Spring, Texas, native now living in Norwich, and Smith, the Cambridge grad now starring at Mount Union, gave little room for the other to breathe. In a classic afternoon duel, they shot matching 67s to take command during the second round of the Zanesville District Golf Association Amateur tournament at par-71 Zanesville Jaycees.

After much contention, Hartford left with a two-shot lead at 7-under 136 entering the final round on June 18 at Zanesville Country Club.

Hartford and Smith with join 2014 Tri-Valley grad Michael Rozsa, who is six back at 142 after a second-round 72, in the final group that tees off at 11:50 a.m.

"I missed a couple of short putts, but all around it was a pretty good day," Hartford said. "Ian and I were going at it, trading birdie for birdie, blow for blow the whole day. It was pretty fun."

While Smith is one of the top players in the Ohio Athletic Conference, Hartford has tried to find something to satisfy his competitive thirst since his playing career at Texas A&M-Commerce ended. 

Days like Saturday are what keep him competing for something other than a friendly member-guest event.

"That's why I wanted to play in this and why like to play in tournaments," Hartford said. "I never really get the competitive atmosphere anymore. I get to play after work or get to play on the weekends. Anytime I get to play in a tournament it's really enjoyable. I like feeling the nerves and I was definitely feeling them. I was standing over some short putts and it was getting a little sketchy. My heart was working."

Both players had moments of truth. For Hartford it came on the par-5 16th — formerly the seventh — when he blew his drive right and faced an impeded approach.

It was officially decision time. Was it time to play safe like Don Johnson, or gutsy like Kevin Costner? This time, the voice on his shoulder was "Tin Cup."

"I basically had the option of chipping out 30 yards left or hitting this low slice 2-iron," Hartford said. "I looked at (tournament chairman) Greg McKenzie and was like, 'this is where you win and lose golf tournaments.'"

He executed the unorthodox shot masterfully, hitting a low cut that easily cleared the rivulet that splits the fairways and ran up the hill some 30 yards short of the green. He got up and down for a birdie, while Smith and Rozsa made their pars.

Two holes later, after Smith sank a 12-foot putt for par on the par-3 17th, the two sat in the middle of the 18th fairway after mammoth drives.

Smith flew his short approach over the elevated green, and the ball bounced and rolled on to the cart path. The ball came to rest just inches from rolling down a steep hill and likely into the hazard.

Instead, he got a free drop along the high grass and turned it into a two-putt par. Hartford, who left his approach on the front fringe, failed to convert his up-and-down and made par.

Smith's title aspirations were officially saved.

"That was interesting. It made it look good coming in," Smith said of his final hole. "I thought it stayed behind the green. That ball jumped at least 15 yards on me more than it usually goes. That happened to me a couple of times today and I didn't play for it. There was a little bit of adrenaline. I knew when I hit it that I juiced it. I was just hoping to have a second shot and I did."

Smith reached 6-under through 11 holes as he and Hartford traded counterpunches on a day they combined for 14 birdies and only five bogeys. He echoed Hartford's sentiments about the enjoyment of the competitive nature of the round.

Both players shot 4-under 31 on the front and combined for nine birdies. Smith said the group fed off each other's stellar play.

In addition to his unlikely par on the 18th, he also ran in a sweeping birdie to a back-left pin on the difficult par-4 11th — the green slopes severely from back to front. If the birdie putt didn't go in, he was facing a 20-foot uphill par putt and a likely bogey.

"I took that and ran," Smith said.

Instead of trying to rebound for the stretch run, he kept the heat on his counterparts. 

"It's fun to play with Blake and Mike — having two guys who can rattle off several birdies in a row, going back and forth — I think we had a fun match," Smith said. "I knew where (Blake) was coming into today, two shots ahead of me, and I knew what I had to do.

"Looking at a few shots where I picked up two on him on one hole, he'd come back and make birdie on the next hole," Smith added. "It was like that most of the day. It's nice to see young guys up here playing well."

Rozsa, who played on teams that competed in multiple club national championships at Alabama, is lurking in the weeds after two strong rounds. He closed with a birdie on the 18th after an impressive approach shot to inside 10 feet.

He faces an uphill climb against two players on top of their respective games, but he doesn't mind his positioning. He overcame early nerves with a birdie on the first hole.

A member at North Star Golf Club in Sunbury, one of the longest and most challenging layouts in Central Ohio, Rozsa said being accustomed to bent grass fairways and greens will allow him to be more prepared for ZCC.

"Obviously I want to win," said Rozsa, who works as an appraiser for CentiMark Roofing in Reynoldsburg. "Realistically, if I can get a round under par I think I have a chance. Obviously I have to make a few more putts."

River View middle schooler Gavin Gress shot 72 and is at 144, Tri-Valley and Ohio Dominican product Dalton Crowley had 70 and stands at 146, along with defending champion Brad Baker, who followed his 75 with a 1-under-par 71.

Gress and Baker are among three River View products in the top 10 — Jake Moore is tied for seventh at 150 with Zanesville's Justin Adair (76-74) after a second-round 72.

John Glenn and West Liberty product Derek Graham, who followed an 80 with a 1-under 71, is ninth at 151 and McConnelsville resident Joe Lemon (76-76—152) and and Tom Crowley (74-78—152) tied for 10th.

Others making the cut to ZCC were John Glenn sophomore Noah Dever (78-75—153), West M and Ohio Northern grad Teddy Loewendick (73-81—154), West M senior Jack Porter (78-77—155), Ethan Miller (81-76—157) and Sheridan and Muskingum grad J.J. Mickey (77-80—157).

The final round figures to be must-see entertainment.

"I think my game sets up well (for ZCC)," Smith said. "I seemed to play well on courses like that throughout the college season, so it's about making good swings and putting it in the right spots and see what happens."