Chip Shots

BILL BASS WINNERS: The Thib’s Trailers team of Shane Thibodeaux, Kellie Thibodeaux, Danny Murphy and Jason Thibodeaux took top honors Friday at the Bill Bass Open, UL’s annual Homecoming golf tournament that raises funds for the Ragin’ Cajun golf team.

That foursome carded a gross 55 and a net 46 score to win over an 18-team field at Les Vieux Chenes. Finishing as runners-up were the Home Bank-sponsored team of Lee Tatford, Rick Young, Barry Johnson and Craig Thibodeaux, that finished at gross 55 and net 48, while the Schilling Distributing team of Todd Weber, Ike Leprette, Karl Thevis and Ken Wiggins had a gross 59 and net 49 score for third place. All teams won UL-themed prizes.

Craig Thibodeaux and Bryant Thibodeaux won closest to the hole honors on No. 3 and 7 respectively, both winning a $50 Charley G’s gift certificate, while Matt Goulas won a UL pullover by taking long drive honors. Bob Braun was winner of the putting contest.

The most notable winner was the Cajun golf team, which finished its COVID-abbreviated fall season in October. The tournament brought in more than $4,000 to support the UL squad, which will open its spring season in the All-American Intercollegiate Feb. 14-16 at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.

Major sponsors for the tournament included Acadiana Bottling, Schilling Distributing, Lowry’s Printing and Forms and Michael and Jovette Mosing.

ASSIST CLUB WINNERS: UL’s women’s basketball program was finally able to stage its weather-delayed Assist Club Open tournament Monday at Le Triomphe, and the team of Jason Doherty, Jacob Melancon, Mark Leger and Bryce Godwin took top honors in the four-person scramble.

The team of Jack Davidson, Lindy Broussard, Chet Schwing and Johnny Schexnider finished second, while Greg Granger, John Mendell, Jason West and Caleb Guillory took third place.

Keith LeLeux and Jack Davidson earned closest to the hole honors on the 3rd and 16th holes respectively, while Jeremy Walkdrop won the longest drive competition.

The event raised funds for the Ragin’ Cajun program, which opens its 2020-21 season Nov. 25 against New Orleans as part of a doubleheader with the Cajun men’s squad.

LGA MEN’S FINALE: Lafayette’s Bill Land took a top-five finish over the past weekend at the Louisiana Golf Association’s rescheduled Men’s Senior Amateur, the final LGA competition on the 2020 calendar.

Land carded a 70-70-74—214 total over three rounds at Koasati Pines in Kinder and finished fourth overall. Robby McWilliams won his third straight state Senior Amateur title with a 67-66-70—203 score, winning by four strokes over the field.

Chad Soileau of Ville Platte also finished in the top 20, posting a 75-72-79—226 score to tie for 19th in the 59-player field. Other Acadiana-area players finishing in the top 50 included Dwight Prudhomme of Lafayette, tied for 23rd at 76-75-78—229; Douglas Hobbs of Lafayette, tied for 23rd at 75-77-77—229; James “T-Boy” Hamilton of Lafayette, 27th at 75-79-76—230; Larry Verret of New Iberia, 30th at 78-82-73—233, Dewey Thevis of Broussard, 31st at 83-71-80—234; Craig Falgout of Lafayette, tied for 36th at 83-80-78—241; Joe Landry of Lafayette, 41st at 86-77-82—245; Roy Vanhaverbeke of Lafayette, 42nd at 81-77-91—249; Lee Cahanin of Opelousas, 43rd at 77-86-88—251; and Barry Henry of Lafayette, 45th at 88-88-91—267.

LGA WOMEN’S FINALE: The LGA’s Women’s Mid-Amateur (25 and over) Championship was held concurrently with the Men’s Senior Amateur last week at Koasati Pines in Kinder, and Lafayette’s Lauren Aillet came within a whisker of claiming the title.

Aillet carded a 77-72—149 score to finish second by one stroke behind defending champion Julie Harrison of Baton Rouge, who had an opening round 76 and matched Aillet’s final-round 72 for her second LGA title of the season (she won the Senior Amateur in October). Harrison has won 16 all-time LGA state titles in four different divisions.

Aillet had four birdies in her final round including a pair of deuces on the par-three 3rd and 12th holes, and recorded five birdies in a 16-hole stretch spanning her Thursday and Friday rounds. She held a one-stroke lead going into Friday’s final nine holes but Harrison birdied three of the first four holes on the back side and parred in for the title.

ACADIANA PRO-AM TOUR: The team of Alvin Bergeron, Robert Burton, Johnny Hollier and Gary Kidd posted a plus-12 score to take top honors at the Acadiana Pro-Am Tour’s November tournament at Eagle Ridge in Cade.

That foursome finished atop a huge 124-player field that was greeted by two perfect fall days last week, with the Tour once again holding its monthly event over a two-day period due to pandemic restrictions.

The team of Boyd Boutte, Marshall Broussard, Kevin Landry and Pam Meadows finished second at plus-10, Johnny Bourque, Roger Cook, Bobbie Delaunay and Doug Hunter were third at plus-9, Ty Burdett, Armand Castille, Phil Mouledous and Curley Romero were fourth at plus-7, Mark Hooks, Brock Hulin, Brent Manuel and Dale Menard were fifth at plus-7, Michael Barrilleaux, Ann Bourgeois, Russell Fowler and Roy Poche were sixth at plus-5 and Tim Oubre, James Fontenot, Cort Lee and Al Moss were seventh at plus-4. The big turnout allowed payment to the top seven teams.

Bobby Delaunay took low “A” honors at plus-6, Gary Kidd was low “B” at plus-7, Mike Zirlott was low “C” at plus-7 and Carter Owens was low “D” at plus-6. For the third month in a row, Curley Romero took top pro division honors with a plus-3 score.

The next outing for the Tour, sponsored by Community First Bank, is set for Dec. 8-10 at Cane Row in New Iberia. Tee times and other information are available by calling the Cane Row pro shop at (337) 367-0863.

VIEUX CHENES SENIORS: Next outing for the Vieux Chenes Senior Men’s Golf Association is Thursday at its regular Les Vieux Chenes site.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Burgers will be served after play. All seniors are welcome and entry fee is $6 (correct change is appreciated). Officer elections for 2021 will also be held after the event, with president, vice president and secretary positions up for election (and 270 electoral votes not needed). Curtis Stewart will remain as treasurer. More information on the group is available at the clubhouse or at (337) 837-1159.

“Making the Turn” appears each Wednesday in the Daily Advertiser through November. 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.