Mid-Amateur Championship

 

August 8, 2009             Lafayette, LA

 

 

Matt Nicholas of Lake Charles fired his second straight sub-par round on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round of play in the Louisiana Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship at Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette.

 

Nicholas, who was one of three co-leaders after shooting a four-under par 68 on Friday, finished his round just before dark Saturday, firing a one-under par 71, one of only five rounds under par on Saturday. He is at five-under par 139. Kevin Morvant of Houma, one of the first round co-leaders is alone in second after a 73 on Saturday. He stands at three-under par 141

 

Rounding out the Top Ten through two rounds of play are: T3. first round co-leader Doug Quienalty of Lake Charles, 68-76/144, and Robert Shelton of Lafayette, 71-73/144; T5. Garrett Theriot of Broussard, who shot the day’s best round, a five-under par 67, 78-67/145, John Davis of Lafayette, 72-73/145, and John Mendell of Lafayette, 70-75/145; and T8. John Henchy of Baton Rouge, 73-73/146, Burt Allen of Shreveport, 72-74/146, Bo Stewart of Lake Charles, 75-71/146, Grady Brame of Hammond, 70-76/146, Rod Baronet of LeCompte, 69-77/146, Patrick Christovich of New Orleans, 69-77/146, and Brett Guillot of Broussard, 69-77/146.

 

Other rounds of par or better on Saturday were turned in by David Fulco of Shreveport (71), Ryan Gore of Bossier City (71), Robby McWilliams of Bossier City (72), and Billy Gabbert of Sulphur (72)                                                                                                                                   

 

The field was cut to the low 60 scorers and ties after Saturday’s play with 63 players making the cut at 11-over par 155. Final round play on Sunday will begin at 7:30 AM off #1 with the leaders scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.

The Dick Wilson-designed Oakbourne CC track continues to draw accolades from this field of the best players 25 years of age and older in Louisiana. Playing to a par of 72 at just under 7,000 yards for this Championship, the course is known as an extremely challenging, but fair test. Saturday’s weather was again hot and humid, although not quite as stifling as first round play on Friday had been. Afternoon play was suspended on two occasions, once for 40 minutes at 2:40 p.m., and again at 4:05 p.m., the second time for 50 minutes, as typical south Louisiana summer afternoon thunderstorms passed close by the Oakbourne course.

 

All scores and third round pairings to follow.

 

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