Mid-Amateur Championship

August 4, 2007                         Choudrant, LA

 

Robert Shelton of Lafayette made up three shots on Saturday, firing an even par 72 to vault into a tie for the lead with first-round leader Robby McWilliams of Bossier City. McWilliams, who shot a five-under par 67 on Friday, fell back with a three-over 75 on Saturday. Shelton turned in two-under 34 with birdies on #4and #7, but gave it back on the backside with bogeys on #10, #13, and #14, making his lone birdie on the back on the par five 11^th hole. McWilliams had six bogeys on the day in an up-and-down round that found him not making a par after the 13^th hole, finishing with bogeys on #17 and #18, letting a number of players back into the hunt. 

 

Shelton and McWilliams lead two-time defending champion Tommy Brennan of Covington and UL-Monroe golf coach Chris Wilson by one shot. Brennan and Wilson are tied for third at one-under par 143 after firing two-under par rounds of 70 on Saturday, Brennan birdieing three of his last four holes, with Wilson making birdie on three of the four par fives. West Monroe’s Preston Tuberville had the day’s best round, a four-under par 68, making seven birdies total including four in a row on holes eight through eleven. He stands at even par 144 through 36 holes, tied for fifth with former champion John Davis of Lafayette. Davis had a one-over 73 on Saturday.

 

Sulphur’s Billy Gabbert is alone in seventh at 71-75/146, while Bob Cooper of Monroe holds 8^th place by himself at 75-72/147. Rounding out the Top Ten are Bo Stewart of Lake Charles, Rod Baronet of LeCompte and Eric Lavespere of Monroe. Stewart had a one-under par 71 on Saturday, coupled with a 77 on Friday for his 148, while Baronet and Lavespere had identical scores of 76-72/148.

The Tom Fazio-designed Squire Creek track continues to draw accolades from this field of the top 25 and older players in Louisiana. Playing to a par of 72 at just under 7,000 yards, the course is gaining a reputation as an extremely challenging, but fair test. Saturday’s play was conducted under extremely hot and humid conditions again, with the afternoon players gaining some relief with some intermittent cloud cover.

 

Sunday’s play will begin at 7:30 AM off the first tee, with the leaders going off at 10:21 AM. The field was cut to the low 60 scorers and ties with exactly 60 players making the cut at 13 over-par 157.

 

All scores and Sunday’s pairings to follow.

 

# # #