Golf: Petts, Noto Join Pritchard at Pub-Links

Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com Thomas Petts and Andrew Noto each claimed first place finishes at US Amateur Public Links Sectional Qualifiers to advance.

LAFAYETTE-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns golf team continued its off-season
success as two more golfers qualified for the US Amateur Public Links to be
held on July 13-18 at the Jimmie Austin Golf Course at the University of
Oklahoma.  Thomas Petts and Andrew Noto each claimed first place finishes at
US Amateur Public Links Sectional Qualifiers to advance.

The duo joins Kyle Pritchard, who qualified at the Pecan Valley Golf Course
in San Antonio, Texas, at the US Amateur Public Links. 

"I couldn’t be happier right now," head coach Theo Sliman remarked.  "We have
had three golfers qualify to compete in one of the top amateur events in the
country.  I am extremely proud of all of them. 

"I think Kyle, Thomas and Andrew, along with Philipp Fendt who will be
competing in the Austrian Open, are playing extremely well this summer.  I
wish them luck throughout all of their summer tournaments and hope that they
can carry the momentum they are gaining into next season."

Petts qualified in Dupont, Wash. at The Home Course.  Petts shot back-to-back
rounds below par to win the event by one stroke.  He opened the event with a
one-under par round of 71 and shaved three strokes off of his second round to
shoot a four-under par 68 to claim the title.  Petts was one of two players
to advance from the field of 40 at The Home Course. 

Noto competed at The Bridges in Bay St. Louis, Miss.  He shot even for the
tournament finishing the first round at one-under par (71) and one-over par
in his final round (73).  After two rounds, Noto was tied with ULM’s David
McKendrick for the lone qualifying spot.  The duo competed in a playoff that
lasted nine holes.  Noto posted nine consecutive holes of par, while
McKendrick faltered bogeying the final hole of the playoff. 

"I think it is awesome that all three of us qualified for the tournament,"
Noto said of advancing to the US Amateur Public Links along with Petts and
Pritchard.  "I think it shows the UL golf program’s potential and the fact
that we can compete at a high level despite losing two seniors off of last
year’s team.

"I worked hard this semester with Coach Sliman and Craig Perks and the
results are starting to show.  I think it is very rewarding that all of the
effort is starting to result in lower scores.  I am really happy."

The winner of the US Amateur Public Links will earn an automatic spot in The
Masters in Augusta, Ga. 

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

Chris Whitehead
Louisiana Sports Information
201 Reinhardt Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 482-6329
www.RaginCajuns.com
whitehead@louisiana.edu