Mid-Amateur Championship

Round 1 Recap

HALF THE FIELD STILL ON THE COURSE AFTER THUNDERSTORMS POSTPONE FIRST ROUND OF 2006 LGA MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP; DEFENDING CHAMPION TOMMY BRENNAN LEADS THE FIELD WITH AN OPENING ROUND 66

August 4, 2006 -- Tommy Brennan of Covington carded a six-under par 66 on Friday to lead the first round of the 15^th edition of the Louisiana Association Mid-Amateur Championship.  Half the field was unable to complete their first round as thunderstorms moved into the area bringing play to a halt for the day. 

At 4:20 p.m., heavy thunderstorms caused play to be suspended and it was finally called for the day at 6:45 p.m. as there was no clearing in sight.  Players that were on the course when play was suspended will resume play at 8:00 a.m. (a meeting for these players will be held in the clubhouse at 7:30 a.m.).  Players that completed their opening round in the morning will play their second round in the same group, however they will start their second round one hour after their first round time (e.g. a player with a 7:30 a.m. first round starting time will start at 8:30 a.m. in the second round).  Those that started their first round in the afternoon, also will play in the same group, but will add a half hour to their first round starting time for their second round starting time.  In addition, players that started their first round on the first hole will start their second round on the tenth hole and vice versa.  For a copy of second round pairings, click here.

Brennan, a four-time champion of this event (1995, 1996, 1997, and 2005), got his round off to a fast start by birdieing three out of the first four holes he played (#10, 11, an 13).  He then added another birdie on the par-5 17th to make the turn in four-under par 32.  After a birdie at #2 and his lone bogey of the day at the par-5 third, Brennan rolled in two more birdies (#4 and 6) to cap off his round of six-under par.

Trailing Brennan by one shot is Monroe's Johnny Futch.  Futch, who partnered with Glenn Roscoe to win the 2006 LGA Senior Four-Ball Championship, shot an opening round score of five-under par 67.  Like Brennan, Futch also started his day on the tenth hole and used two birdies (#13 and 17) against one bogey (#18) to go out in one-under par 35.  Following a double-bogey on the par-4 second, Futch went on a tear by making birdie on six of his last seven holes (#3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9) to shoot a back nine score of four-under par 32.

Lurking two shots back of Brennan is the 2000 and 2003 LGA Mid-Amateur Champion, John Davis who fired a bogey-free round of 68.  Davis, a resident of Lafayette, used birdies at #3 and 7) to make the turn in two-under par 34.  He then made two more birdies on #13 and 18 to finish his round in four-under par.

Also opening with a round of four-under par 68 was Metairie's Scott Sterbcow.  Sterbcow made two birdies (#11 and 18) and a bogey (#14) on his opening nine for a one-under par 35.  He then went over to the front nine where he shot a three-under par 33 which included six birdies (#3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9), three bogeys (#1, 2, and 8), and no pars.

Other leaders midway through the first round include: Mark Fair, Mandeville (-3, 69); 2004 LGA Mid-Amateur Champion Jeff Calloway, Baker (-2, 70); and Chad Rittle, Covington (-2, 70).

The University Club of Baton Rouge, a Jim Lipe-designed course, is hosting this year's event.   The University Club, which is home to the LSU Tiger Golf Team, has received rave reviews from this field of the best players over the age of 25 in the state. The course is playing to a par of 72 and just over 7,000 yards.  The field will be cut to the low 60 and ties after the second round.