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Former Golf: Cut line agony hits locals – Brent Delahoussaye and Michael Smith one stroke shortDan McDonald, Daily Advertiser, March 24, 2012 BROUSSARD — The agony of the cut line wasn’t lost on two of the local-connection players competing in this week’s Chitimacha Louisiana Open. Breaux Bridge native Brent Delahoussaye and Lafayette’s Michael Smith both finished Friday’s second round sitting at three-under-par 139 — and both had an idea that they needed to be one shot better. That’s exactly what happened. The cut line wound up at four-under 138, the lowest it’s been since the Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club course was redesigned following the 2003 tournament. Prior to Friday, the lowest cut line since that time was two-under in 2004, and last year’s cut line was even par. But with the lack of wind and perfect weather conditions, Smith and Delahoussaye both knew that —3 might not get them to the weekend even though both finished their rounds early Friday. "I think it’s going to be at four," Smith said when he completed play in the morning wave at 70-69. "I figured it would be close." Smith could have gotten to minus-four several times over his last few holes, but burned the lip on two birdie chances at the fourth and sixth holes after starting at No. 10. He also had a 15-foot birdie chance on his wrapup ninth hole, but it slid by the left side. It marked the second time in four years that Smith had missed the cut by one stroke. He missed a long birdie putt on his final hole in 2009 that would have put him into the weekend, before he made the cut in 2010. "For two days, I missed a lot of putts," he said. "I couldn’t seem to get it in the hole." Smith also played the eight par-fives in the two rounds in even par, with all of Le Triomphe’s par-fives figuring to be birdie chances. "This was the easiest it’s going to play out here," he said. "The greens are smooth, there’s no wind and we’re playing the ball up. There’s going to be some low scores." Delahoussaye finished even earlier in the morning wave and ran in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to wrap up a 69-70 first two rounds. At that time, there was a possibility that minus-three would be playing on the weekend. "I kinda knew what I needed to do," Delahoussaye said. "I was talking with my caddie on 18 and I said we’ve got to birdie to have any chance." Delahoussaye pumped his fist when the final putt rolled in to give him his second subpar round "» albeit one shot short of making the cut. "It felt good to make that putt," he said. "The course was there for the taking .. when you put the ball in these guys’ hands, there are going to be low scores." CLAXTON HOT: Paul Claxton, who won the 2001 Louisiana Open title, continued his hot streak. The 18-year Tour veteran finished tied for 13th (68-70-71-71—280) in the season-opening Pacific Rubiales Colombia event and finished third (70-66-66-68—270, 18-under-par) at the Chile Classic two weeks ago when he had two bogey-free rounds. After Friday’s six-under 65, he;s tied for third and now has four bogey-free rounds in his last six on Tour. He had four birdies in Thursday’s 67 and had six more on Friday when he took advantage of the benign wind conditions. "I’ll take days like this any time," he said. "You can shoot at some flags and try to play a little more aggressive than normal. You’re going to see low scores, so you just have to keep your foot on the gas and keep making birdies." OTHER CHAMPS: Other than Claxton, Fabian Gomez and Bubba Dickerson, it was a rough day for the seven former champions in the Louisiana Open field. Both Gomez, the 2010 winner, and Dickerson, the 2009 champion and 2011 third-place finisher, posted five-under 66 scores on Friday. Gomez jumped into the top 20 at 69-66—135 (tie 16th),while Dickerson is at 71-66—137 and is tied for 38th. Defending champion and two-time Open winner Brett Wetterich, who stood in third place with a 64 after Thursday’s opening round, struggled to a two-over 73 and is tied with Dickerson in the group at 137. The other three former Open champs won’t be around for the weekend. 2002 winner Steven Alker finished at 72-68—140 (-2), 1996 champ Paul Stanskowski posted a 69-72—141 (-1) and 2008 winner Gavin Coles rebounded from his opening 77 with a 68 but still finished at 3-over 145. THEY’RE IN: Baton Rouge’s Andrew Loupe and sponsor exemption Travis Wadkins both safely made it into the field for the weekend. Loupe posted a two-under 69 after his opening 67, and is tied for 27th at six-under 136. Wadkins, son of World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins — who was on hand for the second straight day to watch the action — made a par-saving putt on his wrapup ninth hole Friday to finsh right on the cut line at four-under. He had a one-under 70 on Friday and is tied for 54th. ACES: The Open had a first in its 21-year history Friday. Philip Pettitt, Jr., of Murfreesboro, Tenn., holed out his 9-iron on the 150-yard eighth hole during the morning wave on Friday, recording the 17th hole-in-one in tournament history while playing with 36-hole leader Brenden Pappas. It didn’t take long for No. 18 to happen. A few hours later, PGA Gulf States Section qualifier Tim Yelverton of West Point, Miss., matched that shot, acing the hole with a 9-iron. The two aces marked the first time ever that two players had holes-in-one on the same hole in the same round. LAGNIAPPE: Carl Paulson withdrew during the second round with a wrist injury and Benjamin Alvarado withdrew during the round due to illness "» The course played at a 69.19 average on Friday. nearly two strokes below par. Once again the par-four 14th was the most difficult hole on course, playing at a 4.248 average and allowing only nine birdies — six more than it gave up in Thursday’s first round. Playing downwind, the par-five 12th was the easiest, playing at a 4.404 average with 10 of the day’s 17 eagles, and many more birdies (71) than pars (55). ![]()
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