Mid-Amateur Championship

Round 3 Recap

TOMMY BRENNAN CAPTURES HIS RECORD FIFTH LGA MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 6, 2006 -- Tommy Brennan successfully defended his title at the 2006 Louisiana Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship with an impressive three-shot victory on Sunday.  Brennan's final round score of even-par 72 put him at 11-under par 205 for the tournament.

The two storylines at the 15th edition of this Championship were the impressive play of Brennan and the inclement weather that marred each day of the tournament.  Successive three-hour rain delays on Friday and Saturday forced competitors to complete their rounds on Saturday and Sunday mornings respectively. 

After the second round was completed at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, the field was cut to the low 60 and ties with the cut line falling at seven-over par 151.  The final round started at 10:30 a.m. off the first and tenth tees with the leaders starting their rounds at 11:51 a.m. on the first hole. 

Approximately three hours and fifteen minutes into the final round, another batch of thunderstorms rolled into the area forcing play to be suspended at 1:45 p.m.  After a two hour rain delay, players went back out on the golf course to complete their round at 3:45 p.m.  The final round concluded at 6:15 p.m.

Brennan, now a five-time champion of this event (1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, and 2006), started his day with pars at the first four holes before making back-to-back birdies at #5 and 6.  After two more pars, Brennan's group had to head back to the clubhouse for the rain delay while on the ninth hole.  After the re-start, Brennan made back-to-back bogeys at #9 and 10 and his lead fell to just three with eight holes remaining.  However, a tap-in birdie at the par-3 13th built his lead back up to four shots and was enough for his second straight title.  

The 2004 LGA Amateur Champion, Garrett Prather of Baton Rouge, started the day five back of Brennan, but used birdies at #6 and 9 to turn in two-under par 34.  After Brennan's bogey at #10, Prather found himself two shots closer than when he started the day, but was not able to make up any more ground along the way.  He finished off his round in two-under par 70 and finished at eight-under par 208 for the tournament.

Rounding out the top-ten for the tournament were: Gayle Sanchez, Baton Rouge (-7, 68--209); Jeff Calloway, Baton Rouge (-4, 71--212); Rod Baronet, LeCompte (-4, 72--212); George Cestia, Lake Charles (-3, 69--213); Chad Rittle, Covington (-3, 72--213); John Davis, Lafayette (E, 70--216); Scott Foreman, Mandeville (E, 70--216); and Mark Fair, Mandeville (E, 77--216).

The University Club of Baton Rouge, a Jim Lipe-designed course, played host to this year's event.   The University Club, which is home to the LSU Tiger Golf Team, received rave reviews from this field of the best players over the age of 25 in the state. The course played to a par of 72 and just over 7,000 yards.