Dan McDonald’s Chip Shots – Nelson Stokley and More

November 26, 2008

A SPECIAL ACE: When one of Acadiana’s best-known athletic figures reaches a pinnacle outside his sport, it’s news.

For Nelson Stokley, though, he was just playing catch-up.

Stokley, the second-winningest football coach in UL history and a former standout quarterback at LSU, recorded the first hole-in-one of his golf career Monday when he aced the 147-yard 13th hole at Farm d’Allie.

"I’ve done this for a long time, and just to be able to get one … you never know," Stokley said. "When it got there it hit the flag and went straight down. That was a first."

Stokley, who coached the Cajuns from 1986-98 after serving as offensive coordinator for Clemson’s national championship squad in 1981, used a 7-iron and a Titleist NXT Tour ball while playing in a group with George Reynolds, Frank Boudreaux and Henry Longcrier.

During Stokley’s stint at UL, the Cajuns claimed what is still the school’s signature win, an upset of nationally-ranked Texas A&M in 1996. A total of 11 players were NFL draft picks during his career, after only two had been tabbed the previous 10 seasons, and he also tutored free-agent pick Jake Delhomme, at graduation the state’s all-time leading passer and now a Super Bowl quarterback with the Carolina Panthers.

He also coached his son Brandon during a collegiate career that included a couple of NCAA career receiving records. It was Brandon, now a regular with the Denver Broncos and a UL Hall of Fame selection at this year’s Homecoming festivities, who got the family’s first golfing ace when he recorded a hole-in-one during last year’s off-season.

"I had to go all this time, and Brandon already had one," Stokley said. "But this one felt great."

MORE LADIES: Phyllis Douglas and Pat Frederick teamed for a two-under-par 70 to win the top flight’s top honors in last week’s Squirrel Run Ladies Invitational. A total of 20 teams took part in the two-woman scramble, with Dot Barron and Billie Ault (63) and Tammerlyn Dial and Sammye Crawford (64) finishing first and second in the top flight’s net division.

Nina Wagner and Jeanette Guilliams were gross winners in the second flight with a 75, while Annette LeBlanc and Paula Landreneau (64) and Dixie Saucier and Margaret Fontenot (67) went one-two in the net chase.

Top gross honors in the third flight went to Judy Tourne and Carmen Thibodeaux with an 84, while Barbara Langley and Lorenda Poncho (72) and Beverly Thibodeaux and Betty Moore (73) were the top two in net.

ARROWHEAD AT THE FARM: Anna Heim and Lauren Aillet, both of Lafayette, took top honors in the two girls’ divisions and and Arnaudville and Teurlings Catholic’s Kelsey Angelle was the area’s top boys finisher in the Arrowhead Junior Golf Tour’s annual Farm d’Allie Junior Classic last weekend.

Heim carded an 82-77-159 score to win the girls age 15-19 division, posting a one-over-par 37 in Sunday’s final-round front nine on the way to winning by four strokes over Zachary’s Allison Kippers (163). Crowley’s Ali Lucas (85-82-167) finished third in that division including a two-over 38 on Sunday’s back nine.

Aillet carded 102-98-200 in the two-day meet at Farm d’Allie to win the girls 12-14 division.

Angelle carded an 80-72-152 score, shooting two-under over the final nine holes, to finish in sixth place behind Winnfield’s Will Dearmon (74-70-144). Greg Maher of Carencro was one stroke back in seventh place at 78-75-153, posting four final-round birdies.

Other top local finishers included Logan LaJack of Opelousas and Mister Estes of Lafayette, tied for 11th at 158; Eustin Corrigan III of Lafayette, tied for 14th at 159; Austin Richard of Lafayette, 17th at 164; and Ross Robichaux of Lafayette, tied for 18th at 165.

Earlier in the month, Angelle, Heim, Lucas and Hannah Schorr of Broussard all took top-10 finishes at the Tour’s Kelly Love Showcase Classic in Destin, Fla. Angelle tied for fifth in a 47-player field in the boys 15-19 division with a 79-77-156 score. Heim and Lucas both shot 80-83-163 to tie for third in the girls 15-19 division, while Schorr finished seventh at 88-84-172.

COMEAUX MEET: The Comeaux High Academic Enrichment Program hosts a four-man scramble tournament on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Spanish Trail. The event raises funds for the academic program.

Entry fee for the 8 a.m. shotgun start is $100 for single players and $400 for four-man teams, with lunch and door prizes after play. Sponsorships are available from $40 to $2,000. Deadline for entries is Thursday, and more information is available from program moderator Lisa Ranney at 501-0140 or lranney2@cox.net.

ACADIANA PRO-AM: The Regions Bank Acadiana Pro-Am Tour wraps its year on Thursday, Dec. 4, with the December stop at Acadian Hills. Players of all ability levels are invited to take part with tee times available beginning Tuesday by calling 232-1979.

The November stop was won by the team of Brody LeBlanc, Jason Popp, Corey Landry and Paul Broussard, who teamed for a plus-9 score. That group finished tied with LeBlanc, Bobby Delaunay, Sully Berard and Preston Byron and won a scorecard playoff.

Douglas Bulliard, Jude Latiolais, David Soileau and Herman Hebert finished third, Teddy Sliman, Fred Thomas, George Bulliard and Richard Broussard fourth and Charlie Dugas, Ron Naomi, Duane Perry and Harold Martin fifth. Eric Indest (66) was low amateur and LeBlanc (69) was low pro.

WINTER DEALS: Both Acadian Hills and Farm d’Allie will begin winter specials next week.

Acadian Hills will offer to the general public a combined green fee, cart and range ball package of $30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The special is valid through Feb. 28 and is valid for up to four people with e-mail addresses in a group. Information and tee times are available at 232-1979.

Farm d’Allie will run a "winter rate special" on Thursdays, with the general public getting green fee, cart and tax for $30. The special begins on Dec. 4 and will run through March 5, and information and tee times may be obtained at the pro shop at 886-2227.

LGA NEWS: The Louisiana Golf Association has extended its application period for the 2009 USGA P.J. Boatwright Internship in Golf Administration to next Monday. The internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in the golf administration field and will work out of the LGA office in Lafayette.

The post includes working with tournament administration, course ratings, handicapping and other duties for the state association, and includes a one-week national seminar at USGA headquarters in New Jersey. Information is available from Kevin Jones at 265-3938 or at kjones@lgagolf.org.

The LGA also announced an expanded partnership with Golfweek magazine for 2009, with LGA individual members participating in the Handicap Network getting an 86% discount ($24.75 instead of the regular $79.95 subscription or the $3.95 weekly cover price) and a sleeve of Nike One Platinum balls. Gold and Silver LGA sponsorships can earn free subscriptions and other benefits, with information available on the LGA web site at www.lgagolf.org.

ACES: Shane Miller of Church Point used a wedge and a Callaway ball to ace the 135-yard 11th hole at his Cajun Pine home course in Branch. His first-ever ace was witnessed by Adam Duplechin, Brodie Mouton and Ervis Istre.

Duncan Johnston of Chataignier used a 9-iron and a Callaway ball to hole out on the 134-yard fourth hole at The Wetlands on Oct. 25, playing in a twosome with Dennis Soileau.

No tricks, just a treat for Lafayette’s Bill Finley on Halloween, when he aced the picturesque 140-yard 13th hole at Acadian Hills using an 8-iron and a Titleist Pro-V I ball. Jay O’Conner, Leonard Marks and Ronnie Melancon were witnesses for Finley’s first-ever hole-in-one.

Lafayette’s Richard Judice recorded his first-ever hole-in-one last Saturday and did it playing with son Mike, acing the 157-yard 13th hole at The Wetlands with a 7-iron and a TaylorMade ball. Clyde "Chi Chi" Lemaire was also witness to the shot.

Wilbert Anderson of Lafayette also had a Saturday hole-in-one, acing the 165-yard 12th hole at Hebert Municipal with a 6-iron and a Maxfli ball. George Faulk, Al Davis and Paul Taylor were witnesses.