Four-Ball Championship

BRETT CASEY AND GAVIN JOHNSON  BIRDIE FIRST PLAYOFF HOLE TO WIN THE 2006 LOUISIANA GOLF ASSOCIATION FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

July 23, 2006 -- The team of Brett Casey and Gavin Johnson captured the 23^rd Louisiana Golf Association Four-Ball Championship in dramatic fashion with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff.  Casey/Johnson turned in round of nine-under par 63 on Sunday to end regulation in a tie with first round leaders Jeff Calloway (Baker) and Kenley Jones (New Iberia).  After Calloway and Jones both missed their birdie opportunities on the first playoff hole, Johnson rolled in a twelve-footer to claim the pair's first LGA title.

After making birdie on their first four holes of the day and adding another at #7, Casey/Johnson made the turn in five-under par 31.  The team made a birdie at #10 and their lone bogey of the day on #12 before running off four straight birdies on #14-17.  A par on #18 put them at 15-under par 129 for the Championship.

Calloway/Jones got their round off to a fast start with a four-under par 32 which included birdies at #2, 3, 5, and 7.  However, the team was only able to make one birdie on the back side (#16) to close their round.  They also finished regulation at 15-under par 129.

Covington's Tommy Brennan and Baton Rouge's Gayle Sanchez finished two shots out of a playoff after a four-under par 68.  Brennan/Sanchez made birdie at #2 and then proceeded to run off seven straight pars to close out their front nine in one-under.  Three birdies on the back nine at #11, 13, and 16 were not enough in the end to catch the leaders.  They finished the Championship at 13-under par 131.

Brett Bergeron and Vernon St. Amant, both of LaPlace, bettered their first round score of 67 by one today with a score of six-under par 66.  They finished the tournament at 11-under par 133. 

Rounding out the top-ten for the Championship were: Nat Bhanthumachinda/Eddie Brescher (T-5th, 63--134); John Davis/Bill Land (T-5th, 70--134); Dennis Brown/Larry Daigle (T-5th, 68--134); Jack Abney/Hal Robichaux (8th, 66--135); Scott Haynie/John Henchy (T-9th, 70--136); and Mark Tolson/David Viviano (T-9th, 67--136).

Sunday's final round was brought to a halt at 8:35 a.m. due to severe thunderstorms in the area.  After a weather delay of almost five and a half hours, play resumed at 2:00 p.m. under mostly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures.  A total of 13 teams withdrew after play was stopped leaving 23 on the course when play resumed.  The final round was completed at 7:30 p.m., 12 hours after it started.

This year’s Championship was held at Ellendale Country Club in Houma, Louisiana.  The course, which has under gone renovations in since it last hosted this event in 1994, received rave reviews this week from the best amateur players in the state.  The course was played at 7,000 yards for the Championship. 

Play began off the first and tenth tees on Sunday at 7:30 a.m.  The leaders were scheduled to start their round on the first tee at 8:50 a.m., but due to the weather delay they teed off at 2:20 p.m.