APT pros expertly dissect The National
Published 6:14 am Sunday, March 19, 2017
The recent professional tournament (formerly Adams Tour but now known as APT) played at The National in Westlake could be the most competitive of any on that tour this season.
Club pro Dave Kaspar certainly thinks that after seeing his target score of 20-under par demolished by five golfers. Champion Steven Fox shot 28-under par to win by a single shot.
“It was definitely the strongest field we have ever had,” Kaspar said. “These guys were throwing darts at the green and were never scared of a putt. The greens were soft and the putts ran good.”
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Kaspar noted that more than a dozen current or former Web.com players were in the field, including Fox.
The 28 under was a tournament record and there were numerous players taking a crack at the course’s 18-hole record of 62 (owned by current Web.com player Andrew Landry).
Fox had one of a half dozen 63s shot during the four days, as did runner-up Kyle Jones, third-place finisher Brett Lederer, Riley Arp (fifth), Andrew Presley (tied for sixth) and Vaita Glillliaume (tied for 15th).
Ben Suarez, the lone local pro in the tournament, rallied the final day to tie for 22nd place.
“He got his game going his final nine holes and shot a 31 (5-under par),” Kaspar said.
Suarez’s final nine holes the final day were actually the front nine where he made birdies on Nos. 1, 4 and 9 and took an eagle on No. 8.
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The tour is off this week, returning March 29 at Victoria, Texas. Then its three straight in Louisiana, April 5 at Ellendale in Houma, April 26 at The Bluffs and May 3 at Beau Chene in Mandeville.
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High school golf in the area appears to be as strong this season as it has been with Logan Kuehn of St. Louis Catholic and Gage Primeaux of Barbe leading the boys and Brooke Tyree and Brooke Duzan, both of Sulphur, leading the girls.
Kuehn now has three tournament victories to his credit and Primeaux, Tyree and Duzan two each.
In statistical averages of this year’s prep tournaments compiled by St. Louis High coach Pat Neck, Kuehn has a 69.7 scoring average and Primeaux a 70.3. Rounding out the top five are Sulphur’s Brayden Wright (71), Hamilton Christian’s Eric Brown (73.7) and Barbe’s Nick Guillory (74.5).
Tyree leads the girls with 72.8 followed by Duzan (74), Carly Whittington (78.9) and Daphney Tilton (79.5) of Lacassine, and St. Louis’ Lauren Anderson (82).
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Outstanding golfing efforts were produced the past week by Robby Going at the Lake Charles Country and by Robert Crader and Darrell Bennett at Mallard Cove.
Going, a former two-time Lake Charles city champion, aced the 14th hole at the Country Club by knocking in an 8-iron from 139 yards.
The 76-year-old Crader shot an even-par 72 at Mallard, posting nines of 33-39.
And, Bennett made a hole-in-one on Mallard’s No. 16, knocking in an 8-iron from 147 yards.
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Registration for the Louisiana qualifying for the Optimist International Junior golf championships is open. Qualifying will be played June 14-15 at The Wetlands Golf Course in Lafayette.
There are divisions for boys and girls from 10 to 18 years of age. The entry fee is $120 and the entry deadline is June 2.
The local contact is Diane Gaines, the local Optimist club president. She can be reached at P.O. Box 23, Lake Charles, LA 70602. The state chairman for the event is Cynthia Canezaro, who can be contacted at cynthia.canezaro@gmail.com.
Upcoming
March 26 — McNeese fundraiser, Lake Charles Country Club.
April 21 — Sheriff Tony Mancuso/LHSAA scramble, Frasch Park.
April 22 — LGA Club team championship, Contraband Bayou Golf Club.
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Louis Bonnette has written about local golf for the American Press since 1971. His column appears each Sunday. Contact him at 274-5689 or lbonnette@mcneese.edu