Golf: Chip Shots (UL Golf) + Webers go to sudden death playoff in Lafayette City Golf Championships

Dan McDonald, Oct. 9, 2018

Chip Shots

BILL BASS OPEN: Last-minute entries are still being accepted for the Bill Bass Open, UL’s Homecoming golf tournament that benefits the Ragin’ Cajun squad. The tournament is set this Friday at its traditional Les Vieux Chenes home, as part of the university’s Homecoming activities that culminate Saturday with the football contest against New Mexico State.

Registration and lunch begin at 10:30 a.m. with the four-person scramble featuring a noon shotgun start. The early time allows participants to take part in Friday evening Homecoming and Hall of Fame activities.

The tournament will feature members of the Cajun golf team scattered across the course to hit shots with each participating team, as well as other special features. The tournament provides a chance for Cajun fans to connect, but it is not limited to UL alumni or Cajun fans and is open to all golfers.

Players may assemble their own four-person team or may enter as individuals to be placed on teams, and a handicap index will be used to insure all teams and players with equal chances of winning. Drinks and snacks will be available on the course courtesy of Acadiana Bottling Co. and Schilling Distributing, and each player will receive a full packet of tournament gifts courtesy of Golfballs.com. Turbo-Chem and Lowry’s Printing are also major tournament sponsors.

Spots remain open for four-player teams or for individuals to be paired up into teams. Entry fee is $150 per player or $600 per four-player team, with RCAF members and Vermilion Links Club members get a $25 discount from those entry fees. Players wishing to enter should contact Dan McDonald at danmcdonald@cox.net or phone (337) 857-8754.

CAJUN GOLF: UL’s golf team had its best finish of the fall season over the past weekend, taking a runner-up spot at the David Toms Intercollegiate hosted by LSU at the University Club.

The Cajuns posted a 7-over-par 871 team score over the 7,220-yard par-72 course, finishing well back of host and winner LSU (21-under 843) but ahead of the rest of the 14-team field. UL finished seven shots ahead of its nearest competition for second place.

“It was good to see the competitiveness among our whole group,” said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. “Baton Rouge is a hard place to play, especially with us being a part of the feature group the whole tournament. But for the first time this fall we played without any hesitation and we came out hot in the first round.”

The Cajuns had a five-under 283 score in the first round and were one shot out of the lead and nine shots ahead of the rest of the field.

Baton Rouge native Triston Elston had his second career top 10 with an eighth-place finish at even-par 216. Sophomore Peter Hinnant, who had a sterling 66 in the opening round, and junior Micah Goulas also had top-10 finishes in ninth and 10th respectively at one-over 217 and three-over 219. Goulas, a native of New Iberia who played junior college for two seasons, was making his Cajun debut.

Colin Troxler tied for 13th (220) and freshman Hudson Dubinski tied for 18th (222). 

UL EVENTS: Along with the Bill Bass open listed above, Ragin’ Cajun athletic fans have two other chances to support the program and individual teams at golf fundraisers during October.

The Wetlands will host the softball program’s fundraiser Monday. That four-person scramble has a 1 p.m. shotgun start, with prizes going to the top three teams and individual prizes for closest to the hole on all par-threes and a long drive contest. Entry fee is $125 per player or $500 per team that includes food and drink in the clubhouse and on the course. Registration forms are available online at ragincajuns.com/SBgolf, by e-mailing softball@louisiana.edu or by calling the softball office at (337) 851-6238.

The Cajun men’s basketball program will hold its inaugural Tip-Off Classic on Oct. 19, with a 1 p.m. shotgun start at The Wetlands. The four-person scramble tournament is sponsored by NSI Nursing Specialties and has a $125 entry fee ($500 per team) that includes prizes on the course and to the top team finishers. Sponsorship opportunities are available from $150 to $1,500, with the top sponsorship level including a team entry, membership in the Rebounders Club and a social at coach Bob Marlin’s home. Information is available online at ragincajuns.com on the men’s basketball page.

“Making the Turn” appears Wednesday in the Daily Advertiser. 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.

Dan McDonald, The Advertiser, Oct. 8, 2018

Thad Weber claimed the Lafayette City Golf Championship after winning a sudden death playoff against nephew Matt Weber on Sunday at The Wetlands. (Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network) 

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It’s never a bad bet to pick a Weber finishing atop the scoreboard at the Lafayette City Golf Championships. After all, the family now has nine championship-flight winners in the tournament’s history.

But Sunday’s final round was different. This time, two members of the Weber clan — Thad and Matt — tied for top honors and went to a sudden-death playoff to determine the city champion.

This time, age and experience won out over youth, as uncle Thad birdied the second playoff hole to win over his nephew Matt and claim his third city title.

“This one was definitely more fun than the other two,” said Thad Weber, who won the title in both 1998 and 2013. “I knew if I’d lost to Matt, he’s an up-and-coming star, and I would have been really happy for him.”

Matt, a senior at St. Thomas More and a commitment to UL’s Ragin’ Cajun golf program, posted the low round of the day with a three-under 69 over a rain-drenched 6,831-yard The Wetlands layout. The last of his four birdies came at the par-four 18th to force the playoff — only after his uncle rolled in a tricky five-footer for par minutes later in the final group.

“That was fun,” Matt said. “It was hard watching him play 18. I know it only took a few minutes but it felt like an hour, and he made a good putt there.”

The elder Weber also made a good putt on the second playoff hole, rolling in a 10-footer for birdie after Matt had chipped to inside three feet after missing the green long with his second shot on the par-four second hole. He had four birdies and two bogeys in a two-under 70 after shooting a 71 in Saturday’s first round at Hebert Municipal.

“When I made that knee-knocker on 18, nobody was there shaking my hand,” Thad said, “so I knew someone had gone pretty low. I knew there were a couple of people that I’d have to worry about in front of me, and Matt was definitely one of those.”

First-round leader Ron Hardin, who posted a 69 at Hebert on Saturday, struggled to a 77 and tied for third with former city champion James “T-Boy” Hamilton. Down the stretch, though, it was only a question of which member of the family would add to the five titles won by Matt’s father Todd Weber and the one that Ted Weber claimed in previous city events.

The competition was just as close in the senior (age 62 and over) division, where defending champion Wes Angelle posted a one-over-par 73 for a two-day 109 total after Saturday’s rain-marred opening round as cut to nine holes. Angelle holed out a wedge on his second shot on the par-three 15th hole for an eagle that provided the eventual margin of victory over five-time senior champion John Broussard (110) and Herb Boasso (111), who held the lead before a bogey at that same 15th hole.