Mid-Amateur Championship

August 3, 2007             Choudrant, LA

 

Bossier City’s Robby McWilliams was as hot as the weather on Friday, shooting a five-under par round of 67 to lead Lafayette’s Robert Shelton by three shots and a pack of others by four heading into Saturday’s second round play at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, just northeast of Ruston. Playing in the morning and starting on Hole #10, McWilliams had six birdies (Holes 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, and 17) and a lone bogey on the par four 14^th hole. McWilliams is no stranger to this position, having finished runner-up in this Championship at Bayou DeSiard CC in Monroe in 2005.

 

Shelton, the LGA Amateur Champion as a collegian in 1972, fired a two-under par 70, shooting two-under 34 on the front nine (his back nine) to stay within striking distance of McWilliams. Two-time LGA Mid-Amateur Champion John Davis of Lafayette, Billy Gabbert of Sulphur, George Cestia of Lake Charles, and Ben Hargis of Alexandria all fired one-under par rounds of 71 to share third place after first round play on Friday. Davis hit 18 fairways and 18 greens but took 35 putts on the undulating greens at Squire Creek. Gabbert, playing one group behind McWilliams, had five birdies, but also had two bogeys and a double bogey on the difficult par four 18^th. Cestia, who qualified earlier in the week to participate in this year’s U.S. Amateur at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, got it to three under through 14 holes, but finished bogey, bogey, birdie, bogey for his 71, while Hargis had two bogeys and three birdies, including one on #18.

 

A huge logjam at one-over par 73 is tied for seventh, including two-time defending (and five-time) champion Tommy Brennan of Covington; local favorite, and Squire Creek member, Doug Farr of Monroe; two-time Champion Grady Brame of Hammond; Mike Ameen of Shreveport; Bryan Nugent of West Monroe; ULM golf coach Chris Wilson of Monroe; Eric Ankerson of Abita Springs; and Scott Morgan of Benton.

 

The Tom Fazio designed Squire Creek Country Club course, rated by Golf Digest as the top course in the state, drew rave reviews from this field of the top players in the state 25 years of age and older. It played to a par of 72 at just under 7,000 yards. The course, known for its generous fairways and difficult greens, is in top condition. Friday’s play took place under extremely hot and humid conditions.

 

Saturday’s play will again begin at 7:30 AM with the leaders scheduled to tee off hole #1 at 1:39 PM. At the conclusion of Saturday’s play the field will be cut to the low 60 scorers and ties.

 

All scores and pairings to follow:

 

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