The nearly 500 golfers that took part in this week’s "Mike Open" may have had all the fun, but it’s a handful of youth groups that will reap all the benefits from one of the area’s biggest golf tournaments.
The annual event staged by district attorney Mike Harson and a handful of volunteers was postponed several weeks ago when sheets of rain hit and flooded the Les Vieux Chenes course. The two-day tournament, which includes four different shotgun starts to accommodate the huge field, was moved to this week, and even with the delay a course full of players packed all four tourney segments.
"We may have lost a few," Harson said, "but most of the teams stayed with us and we also picked up some more players. We’re really happy that everyone here was able to work it out and come back out this week."
The tournament is in its 17th year, and last year went over the $1 million mark in charitable contributions raised through the event.
"When we started off we made around $40,000 and we were thrilled to do that," Harson said. "Over the last three we’ve been over $100,000. To see it growing like that says something about everyone that gets involved."
Virtually all of the proceeds from the event goes to groups such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Children’s Museum, the Boy Scouts and other youth-based charities. The Senior Olympics and Acadian Village have also been beneficiaries. "If someone comes to us with a special need, we’ll try to help," Harson said. "But mostly, it’s the youth groups in Acadia, Lafayette and Vermilion Parishes that we try to help."
John Davis, the former standout at then-USL who has also won numerous regional and state amateur titles, makes a point every year to participate despite a busy work schedule.
"It’s special because of where the money goes," Davis said. "Plus, me and Mike are both Teurlings Catholic graduates and friends for a long, long time."
Harson has so many friends playing that he can’t tie himself to one group. Instead, for two days, he camped out at Vieux Chenes’ ninth green and hit putts with every group that came through. One 60-footer in Tuesday afternoon’s final rotation found the bottom of the cup — one-handed, no less.
Of course, being district attorney has its perks. If Harson’s first putt didn’t roll in, he’d hit a few more. Nobody was really counting too much "» once the prizes are awarded, the results don’t really matter, anyway. The only things that matter to the small group that stages the event are that players enjoy themselves (they had 10 food locations to choose from on the course) and that the charities get those badly-needed funds.
"Everyone pretty much knows this tournament by now," Harson said. "We’ve been doing it long enough where people call us to help now, and that means we can do even more for all those groups."
"Making the Turn" appears each Wednesday. Clubs, courses and individuals with information about local golf events may email Dan McDonald, editorial director at Golfballs.com, at danmcdonald@cox.net, FAX to (337) 857-8763 or call (337) 857-8754 and leave a message with phone number. Listen to the "Making the Turn" radio show each Wednesday from 8-9 a.m. on ESPN ¬Sports Radio 1420.
BASS OPEN
Start saving the date for the Bill Bass Open, UL’s annual Homecoming golf tournament, which should draw a large crowd this year considering the Ragin’ Cajuns will be meeting rival Tulane in the Oct. 6 Homecoming contest.
The four-person scramble tournament, which raises funds for the Bill Bass Scholarship Fund and the Cajun golf team, is set for Friday, Oct. 5, at Les Vieux Chenes. LVC hosted the event for many years before its closure for renovations moved the tournament to Acadian Hills, and now that Acadian has ceased operation the popular event returns to Vieux Chenes.
Players may enter as four-person teams or as individuals, with handicaps used to determine winners. Entry forms will be available at all local courses in the next few days as well as at the UL athletic complex and the UL alumni office, and entries will also be available on line this year. Full entry information will be available in the near future.
LGA MID-AMATEUR
Kenley Jones of Avery Island posted a 71-73-73"”217 score, one over par, to lead local players at the Louisiana Golf Association’s Mid-Amateur Championships held Saturday-Sunday at Squire Creek in Choudrant.
Jones finished two strokes behind defending champion Patrick Christovich of New Orleans, who rallied for a 74-73-68"”215 score to win by one stroke over Grady Brame of Hammond and Dean Mijalis of Shreveport. Jones was in solo fourth place in the event for male amateurs age 25 and over.
Four Acadiana-area players also finished in the top 10, led by seventh-place John Talley of St. Martinville with a three-over 219 score that included a pair of one-under 71’s sandwiched around a 77. Cade Hebert of Rayne was one stroke back in ninth place at 220, while B.C. Thibeaux of Lafayette and Toby Zeringue of Youngsville were in a six-way tie for 10th at 221.
James "T-Boy" Hamilton tied for 22nd at 225, Mark Bradshaw of Carencro tied for 30th at 227 and Robert Shelton of Lafayette tied for 37th at 230. All earned automatic berths in next year’s event as a top-40 finisher and will not have to go through the regional qualifying.
Next up for the LGA is the rescheduled state Four-Ball, which was postponed two weekends ago because of rain and is now set for Aug. 18-19 at the University Club in Baton Rouge. Several Acadiana-area teams are slated to take part. Then, one week later, the state Senior Amateur is Aug. 23-25 at Oak Wing in Alexandria, with the state’s 50-and-over championship taking entries through Aug. 14 online at www.lgagolf.org or at (337) 265-3938.
ALSO AT SQUIRE
One day after the conclusion of the LGA’s Mid-Amateur, Scott’s Brad Landry went back on the Squire Creek course and claimed medalist honors at the USGA’s Mid-Amateur Sectional Qualifier held Monday. Landry posted an even-par 72 to qualify for the USGA’s national Mid-Amateur event, set for Sept. 8-13 at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Ill., near Chicago.
John Talley of St. Martinville also has a shot at getting in that event. He tied with Gregory Flanagan of Texarkana, Texas, for the second and final qualifying spot after both shot one-over 73 on Monday, before Flanagan won a playoff for that spot and Talley became the first alternate from the region.
In Lake Forest, 264 players will play 36 holes on Sept. 8-9 before the low 64 move into match-play rounds that culminate in a championship round Sept. 13.
ABBEVILLE WINNERS
Mick Huffman of Maurice posted a solid 73-71"”144 score over two rounds Saturday and Sunday to win the club title at Abbeville Country Club by an eight-stroke margin.
Huffman, heading into his junior year at McNeese this fall, led Colby Berberich (77-75"”152) and Aaron David (74-79"”153) in the championship flight. Johnny Hollier won the first flight at 78-78"”156 ahead of Mitch Arceneaux (81-82"”163) and Hunter Frith (89-83"”172), while Gerald Broussard won the second flight at 78-78"”156 with Weston Reed and Sanford Suire tying for second both at 82-85"”167.
A total of 30 players took part in the club championship.
CITY TITLE AGAIN
The Lafayette City Golf Championship was also rained out two weekends ago, and is rescheduled for Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 25-26, at Hebert Municipal and The Wetlands.
The event, which dates back to 1928, had drawn a field of 63 players on its original opening dates, and most of the field had made it through nine holes at Hebert (the two women’s groups had actually completed their opening 18 holes).
Players who were originally entered are automatically be re-entered unless they request a refund of entry fees, and that players who had not originally entered because of conflicts or other reasons may take part with entries available from any city course including The Wetlands at 291-7151. The City Championships are open to men and women, with the men’s division played in flights to allow players of all ability levels to take part.
ACADIANA PRO-AM
The team of Scott Backstrom, Allen Jones, Nolan Granger and Bob Armentor teamed for a plus-16 score to win the August stop on the Acadiana Pro-Am Tour sponsored by Community First Bank.
A total of 105 players took part in the monthly event held at Spanish Trail last Thursday.
Doug Bulliard, Keith Price, Wayne Guidry and Pete Pharr finished second and Bobby Delaunay, Ernest Brew, Ray Bellow and Al Oubre finished third, both at plus-15. Brent Indest carded a three-under 69 to take low amateur honors and Mark Popp posted a 68 for the low pro title, while David Hays was low "A" (�5), Glenn Romero was low "B" (�11), Melvin Oubre was low "C" (�12) and Doug Bulliard took the pro points chase at plus-2.
Next outing for the Pro-Am Tour is Thursday, Sept. 6, at Squirrel Run. All golfers are invited to take part, and players may begin calling for tee times on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 367-0863.
USSSA TOUR
The USSSA Junior Tour hosts the Lafayette Open on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 18-19, at The Wetlands. The event is open to boys and girls age 9-18 with the 12-14 and 15-18 age groups playing 36 holes and the 9-11 age group playing 18 holes (nine daily).
Entry fee is $150 for the two older age groups and $75 for the youngest group which includes both days of play and themed tee gifts. Deadline for entering is next Thursday, Aug. 16, and information and entries are available online at www.usssa.com or from Robert Boudreaux at (337) 278-8431.
NICKEL INVITE
The ninth annual Lloyd Nickel Memorial Tournament is this Saturday-Sunday at Bayou Bend in Crowley. The tournament will raise a minimum of a $500 scholarship to be awarded to a local high school graduate, with Crowley native and former state prep champion Ali Lucas earning the scholarship in each of the past two years.
The tournament will play two-person best ball in the championship, first, second, third and fourth flights and two-person scramble in all other flights. Entry fee is $130 per player including food and drinks both days, a Calcutta and meal Saturday night and all other fees. Prizes will range to $850 per team in each flight.
Entries are due today, and information and entries are available from Jeffry or Randy Nickel at (337) 783-3763 or at bayoubendcc@gmail.com.
ACES
Sandy Judice of Scott used her Rescue 7 club and a Srixon ball to hole out on the 120-yard eighth hole at The Wetlands last Sunday. Judice recorded her first-ever hole-in-one while playing with Ricky Judice and Chi Chi Lemaire.
LAGNIAPPE
The monthly Vieux Chenes Men’s Senior Golf Association tournament is today at Les Vieux Chenes beginning at 8 a.m. Players may sign up before the event, and information on how to join the senior group is available from the course or at 837-1159 "» Catholic-New Iberia’s high school and junior high teams host their annual Big Red Classic fund-raiser on Saturday, Aug. 25, at Squirrel Run. The three-person scramble has a $375 entry fee per team including lunch and beverages, and information is available online at www.geauxbigred.com or from Vivian Brown at (337) 277-7151 "» The Arrowhead Junior Golf Tour will host its Copper Mill Classic Aug. 25-26 at Copper Mill in Zachary. The event is open to boys and girls ages 11-18, and entry deadline is Aug. 22. Information is available online at www.arrowheadjgt.com or at (318) 402-2446.
