Junior Amateur Championship

Round 2 Recap

THREE PLAYERS SHARE THE LEAD HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND OF THE LGA JUNIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

July 13, 2006 -- Three players will start Friday's final round tied for the lead in the 49th edition of the Louisiana Golf Association Junior Amateur Championship.  First-round leader Andrew Noto of Luling, Greg Berthelot of Baton Rouge, and Garrett Westbrook of Baton Rouge all finished Thursday's second round at one-over par 145.  They will all play together in the final group off the first tee tomorrow morning.

Noto started his day with the same steady play that carried him through yesterday's round by making par on his first six holes.  After bogeys at #7 and 8, Noto turned in two-over par 38.  A birdie (#12) and two bogeys (#16 and 17) completed his round of three-over par 75.

Berthelot got his round off to a fast start with birdies at #2, 3, and 6, but bogeys at #4, 8, and 9 kept him at level par at the turn.  After a bogey (#13) and a birdie (#14), he closed his round with a double-bogey at the par-3 17th to shoot a two-over par 74.

Westbrook made two birdies (#1 and 5) against three bogeys (#6, 8, and 9) to make the turn in one-over par for his round.  After two bogeys on #10 and 12, Westbrook rebounded with three birdies in a row at #14-16.  A closing bogey at #18 capped his round of one-over par 73.

Trailing the leaders by two shots is West Monroe's Clinton Shepard who carded the low round of the tournament with a three-under par 69.  Shepard birdied #5 and 7 to make the turn in two-under par 34 and was able to make two more birdies (#14 and 16) against one bogey (#11) to finish his round.  He will play in the group in front of the leaders at 8:51 a.m. off the first tee tomorrow morning.

Other players in the top-ten heading into the final round include: Ben Adams, Baton Rouge (+5, 149); Cody Santone, Bossier City (+5, 149); Ken Looper III, Mandeville (+6, 150); Patrick Blunt, Ruston (+7, 151); Tanner McDonald, Sterlington (+9, 153); and Robert Rodgers, Monroe (+9, 153).

Friday’s final round of play will begin at 7:30 a.m. off the first and tenth tees.  The leaders will start their round on the first tee at 9:00 a.m..  Age-Group participants completed their play on Thursday with awards being presented upon completion of play Thursday afternoon.

This year’s Championship is being played at Bayou DeSiard Country Club in Monroe.  The Perry Maxwell-designed course continues to receive rave reviews from this field of the best junior players in Louisiana.  Thursday’s play was conducted under extremely hot and humid conditions.  The Bayou DeSiard course is playing to a par of 72 and approximately 6,800 yards for the Championship.

In addition to the Overall Junior Amateur Championship, the LGA also conducted Age-Group Championships. 

Age-Group Champions are as follows: