Golf: More state titles come in for Acadiana area – Devin Carrey (UL) 44th in NCAA

Dan McDonald • Daily Advertiser Golf Writer • May 27, 2009

The Acadiana area claimed two more state golf championships last week when Teurlings Catholic’s Dillon Robin and Notre Dame’s Ali Lucas swept the field in the Cox Communications Louisiana Champions Invitational at Marksville’s Tamahka Trails.

Robin, who got into the event as an alternate, shot an even-par 71 in the 18-hole event and finished three strokes up on the 30-player boys’ field. Invitations to the tournament went to the top five finishers in each of the state’s six high school state championship divisions – Division I (Class 5A), II (4A), III (3A), IV (2A), V (1A) and VI (B and C).

Robin had finished sixth at the Division II meet the previous week and got into the field when one of those top five finishers did not participate. He responded by carding two birdies and only two bogeys in a round that included only 32 putts.

"It’s nice to win," said Robin, who had not won an individual title in his TCHS career. "It’s kind of like my last tournament since I’m a senior. It’s good to go out with a bang."

Logan LaJack of Opelousas Catholic tied for second, three strokes back at 2-over 74 in the all-class field.

Lucas, the two-time winner of the state Division II girls title after winning that honor in April at Links on the Bayou, shot a 5-over 76 but still finished one stroke ahead of the 10-player girls’ field. The top five finishers in both of the state tournament girls’ divisions were invited to take part.

Lucas finished one shot ahead of defending champion Heather Lott of St. Joseph, holing a five-foot par putt on the 18th hole to secure the title.

Lucas birdied two holes on the front nine but had a string of five straight bogeys that left her two shots behind Lott after 12 holes. However, Lott bogeyed 13, 14 and 15 to put Lucas in front by one, and Lucas kept that lead with a five-foot par putt at the 16th hole.

"Considering last year I shot a 51 here (nine holes, rain shortened), I’m very glad to renew myself," Lucas said. "Shooting 76 makes me feel much better. It feels good, too, because this was against the best girls in the state."

TEAM LOUISIANA: Lucas will also be one of three locals who will play for Team Louisiana in next week’s Junior Girls Tri-State Championships at Oak Wing in Alexandria. The event matches teams from Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas as rotating hosts, and the Louisiana Women’s Golf Association selects eight of the state’s top under-18 players each year to play in the event.

Joining the 17-year-old Lucas on the state team are 18-year-old Sydney Martien of Lafayette and 16-year-old Hannah Schorr of Broussard. They will play four-ball matches in the morning and alternate-shot in the afternoon Wednesday, June 3, and will play individual matches on Thursday, June 4.

The Louisiana team had won three straight titles before Mississippi won last year’s event in Hot Springs, Ark.

TUFF AT NCAA: UL senior and team captain Devin Carrey found the going tough in the final two rounds of the NCAA Division I Regionals at the Karsten Creek Club in Stillwater, Okla., last week. Carrey, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ lone invitee to the event, stood in fourth place individually after an opening 71 but finished at 80-84 in his final two rounds.

His 19-over 235 score tied for 44th out of the 75-player field. Oklahoma State won the team title – insuring its 63rd straight appearance in the NCAA national meet – with a 17-over 881 score. The top five teams – OSU, Arkansas, Chattanooga, Northwestern and TCU – advanced to the nationals along with the top individual not on one of those teams – Cody Paladino of Baylor, who beat LSU’s John Peterson in a playoff for that slot.

LSU finished sixth after standing tied for second after the first day and fourth after the second day, finishing three strokes behind Northwestern and TCU in the race for the final team slot.

Carrey and the rest of the field struggled with weather and wet conditions – not to mention a rugged course setup. No player broke par, and the course played at a 78.02 average including a 78.57 on Friday and an incredible 79.05 on Saturday.

"It was tough," said UL coach Theo Sliman, "but it was tough for everybody. Devin was playing pretty well and hit a couple of bad shots and started pressing. But if everyone’s struggling, you have to keep your composure and let the bad shots go and concentrate on the next one."

ALL-LOUISIANA: Carrey got some solace from the La. Sports Writers Association over the weekend, as one of two Cajuns named to the All-Louisiana collegiate golf team. Carrey was a first-team selection while freshman teammate Philipp Fendt was named to the second team and was runner-up for state Freshman of the Year honors to LSU’s Sang Yi.

PATRIOTS ALSO THERE: Apologies to North Vermilion High, which was left out of last week’s list of Acadiana schools competing in the LHSAA state boys’ golf championship meets. The Patriots finished sixth in the Division III (Class 3A) meet at Links on the Bayou in Alexandria.

AREA ACES: Elwood Reed of North Fort Myers, Fla., made a trip to Acadiana memorable last week by acing the 115-yard fourth hole at The Wetlands. His 8-iron shot was his first-ever hole-in-one and came on his first tour around The Wetlands, and was witnessed by Errol Benoit and Clyde Lemaire.