Golf: Chip Shots – Bill Bass Wrap and UL Golf Program

BILL BASS WRAP: Thanks to all golfers and Ragin’ Cajun fans who took part in last Friday’s Bill Bass Open, UL’s Homecoming golf tournament held at Les Vieux Chenes.

A total of 110 players took part in the tournament, which is held annually on the Friday of Homecoming week, one day prior to the football game. All funds raised through the event go directly to support the Cajun golf team.

FALL WRAP: Speaking of the Cajun squad, UL battled weather in its final fall tournament, which was eventually reduced to one day and 36 rain-drenched holes. The Cajuns finished seventh in the Intercollegiate at The Grove hosted by Middle Tennessee early last week, posting a 598 score on the first 36-hole day.

Freshman Triston Elston had his first-ever top-10 finish in the rain-shortened event, posting a three-over-par 147 to finish seventh in the field. Junior Fernando Cruz Valle extended his streak of consecutive top-25 finishes to seven dating back to last spring, tying for 21st with a six-over 150 score.

That tournament was the only one this fall that the Cajuns finished outside the top five, after finishing second at the Sam Hall event in Mississippi, fourth at Cabo Del Sol in Mexico and fifth at both the Sun Belt Preview at Sandestin and the David Toms Intercollegiate at the University Club in Baton Rouge.

In every tournament this fall, UL improved its scores and its team finish on the tournament’s second day, not including the rain-shortened one-day finale.

“If this team continues to play like it did in the fall, I believe this is a postseason team,” said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. “We had a lot of players show what they’re capable of at different points in the fall, and all we need to do is pull that together when we start the spring season.”

Haraldur Magnus had a string of four straight top-10 finishes snapped in the abbreviated event in Tennessee, including three fourth-place finishes after a seventh at the Sam Hall. Cruz Valle also had a third and eighth individually during the fall season.

The Cajuns open their spring season Feb. 8-9 at the Oak Hills Invitational in San Antonio.