Senior Amateur Championship

Round 1 Recap

A TRIO OF 70s SIT ATOP THE LEADERBOARD AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2006 LOUISIANA GOLF ASSOCIATION SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 17, 2006 -- Three players are tied for the lead after the opening round of the 17^th annual Louisiana Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship.  Sid Harp of Donaldsonville, John Davis of Lafayette, and Eddie Lyons of Shreveport all turned in rounds of two-under par 70 on Thursday and will play together in the final group of the second round on Friday afternoon. 

Harp opened his round with two quick birdies at #4 and 5 and added a bogey (#8) and another birdie (#9) to make the turn in two-under par 34.  On the back nine, Harp was steady with a birdie at #14 and a bogey at #18 to come in at 36.  Davis, the 2000 and 2003 LGA Mid-Amateur Champion, made three birdies (#10, 14, and 18), two bogeys (#11 and 13), and a double-bogey (#16) on his first nine to go out in one-over par 37.  Coming in, Davis had four birdies (#2, 4, 5, and 8) against one bogey (#9) to shoot three-under par 33.  Lyons, who is the 2003 LGA Senior Amateur Champion, made a bogey on his second hole of the day (#2), but rebounded on the next hole with an eagle three at the par-5 third.  After another bogey at #7, he made the turn in even-par 36.  Lyons then shot a bogey-free two-under par 34 on his inward nine with birdies at #11 and 16.

Alone in fourth place and two shots back of the leaders entering Friday's round is Monroe's Doug Farr who posted an even-par round of 72.  Six players shot a round of one-over par 73 to round out the top-ten including: Todd Lusk of Baton Rouge, Joe Ollar of LaPlace, Dennis Smith of Lafayette, Roy Holloway of Monroe, Ben Hargis of Alexandria, and Frank Maxwell of Delhi.

This year's event is being held in Lafayette at Oakbourne Country Club.  The course was designed by Dick Wilson in the early 1950's and is playing to a par of 72 at 6,700 yards for the championship.  This field is the largest in the history of this event and the course is in immaculate shape for this  of the best senior players in the state.  Play will get underway on Friday morning at 7:15 a.m. off the first and tenth tees.  The leaders will start their round on the first tee at 1:54 p.m.  The field will be cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes. 

Todd Lusk leads the 60-64 Age-Group after the first day, shooting a one-over par 73.  Duke Truby of Mandeville is alone in second one shot back after a 74.  Leading the 65-69 Age-Group is Corky Yates of Pineville with a three-over par 75, and Paul Fredrickson of Baton Rouge is right behind him with a 76.  The 70 & Over Age-Group is led by Eugene Hartenstine of Denham Springs who opened with an 82.  One shot back is Berwick's Elmer Tatum who shot an 83.

The 60-64 and 65-69 Age Groups are playing from the same tees as the Overall Championship and are competing concurrently in the Overall Championship.  The 70 & Over competitors are playing from a forward set of tees and, consequently, are only competing for their Age-Group Championship.  The Age-Group Championships will complete play tomorrow with the Overall Championship concluding play on Saturday. 

Age-Group leaders after 18 holes are as follows: