Teams with something in common

Published 6:27 am Sunday, April 30, 2017

There could be something going on with the McNeese State Cowboy golfers and those at the Lake Charles Country Club.

LCCC assistant pro Greg Sonnier thinks so.

Teams from both chalked up their consecutive straight victories last week in their major events, the Cowboys winning the Southland Conference title, and the Country Club’s six-man team winning the Louisiana Golf Association’s club team championship.

“Maybe we have a little something in common,” Sonnier said, who added he would certainly like the two teams to put a third straight title in the books next year.

There is some familiarity with the teams.

Two of the players for the LCCC — Billy Gabbert and Robby Going — were standouts on the McNeese golf team during their college careers and Gabbert is a member of the McNeese Hall of Fame as well as an assistant coach for the Cowboys team.

The Cowboys practice at the Country Club and conduct functions throughout the year at the course, including fundraising tournaments, such as Tuesday’s Ray Dingler Memorial.

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McNeese won its second consecutive SLC title with a strong performance during stiff winds, a condition that coach Austin Burk said he was looking forward to.

“I think that we play a little better that way,” he had said prior to tee off.

“Everyone played a big part in this one,” the coach said, adding, “it’s tough to win but even tougher to repeat. It (the win) showed the depth and fight these guys have.”

McNeese was seven shots out of first place after the opening day but rallied and owned a three-shot led after 36 holes and won by four shots.

Blake Elliott led the team with a fifth-place showing (76-71-81—228) while Andreas Krokeide was 11th (72-80-79—231), Ian Berrigan was 15th (75-81-77—233), Daniel O’Loughlin was 19th (83-74-78—235) and Duncan McNeill 30th (79-85-76—240).

The Cowboys await their destination for the opening round of the NCAA playoffs, which is expected to be announced this week.

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As for the LCCC’s victory in the state’s club team championship, it marked the first time since the early 2000s that a team put together back-to-back titles, and they won this year’s crown (played at the Contraband Golf Club) by 15 shots.

Team captain Sonnier said, “We played well as a team the first day and then we turned in the two low scores the final day.”

Other members of the team were Gabbert, Going, Hank Shaheen, John Henry Faulk and Doug Quienalty.

The first day — a four ball — Gabbert led the way with seven birdies while on the second day (stroke play) Shaheen tied for the day’s low score with a 68 and Sonnier shot 69.

Two teams from The National in Westlake also competed. The National No. 2 tied for sixth and The National No. 1 placed ninth. Neithan Allen, a member of The National No. 2, tied Shaheen for the low score in the second round.

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One of the longest running McNeese State golf program fundraisers — the Ray Dingler Memorial — will be played Tuesday. In its 24th year, the tournment is a four-person scramble and carries a 1 p.m. shotgun start at the Country Club.

Proceeds from the event — which have raised more than $420,000 — go to both the men and the women’s golf programs.

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Ryan Boyd and Jason Corkran teamed to win last week’s member-member tournament at the Country Club. The duo — who won the fourth flight — claimed a shootout for the overall title on the 18th hole over other flight winners.

Those other winners were: Chris Walling-Bo Stewart (first flight), Reed Fontenot-Phil Kramer (second), Tim Boreing-Chuck Ward (third), Michael Brown — Mel Gehrig (fifth) and Bob King-Larry Stewart (sixth).

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Outstanding shots were made last week by local golfers Greg Ardoin, Elodie Pruitt, T.A. Wier and Seth Cox.

Ardoin, Pruitt and Wier posted holes-in-one. Ardoin aced the 130-yard eighth hole with a 9-iron at Gray Plantation, while Pruitt knocked in a 98-yard shot with a pitching wedge on the 11th hole at The Clubs of Prestonwoods (Dallas). Wier, from DeQuincy, made a hole-in-one on the 143-yard third hole at Koasati Pines in Kinder with a 9-iron.

Cox, a freshman on the McNeese golf team, made a double eagle (albatross) on the 13th hole at Augusta Pines CC (Houston) while playing in a memorial benefit tournament.

He knocked in a 7-iron from 180 yards out on the 537-yard par-5 hole.

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The deadline to enter this week’s Mallard Cove men’s championship is 5 p.m. Wednesday. The two-day tournament will run Saturday and Sunday with Gage Primeaux as the defending champion.

Upcoming

May 9 — Contraband women’s tournament, Mallard Cove.

May 12 — Fellowship of Christian Athletes tournament, Lake Charles Country Club.

May 20 — Mac Burns Tournament, Frasch Park.

May 27 — Johnnie Thibodeaux Jr. Memorial, Mallard Cove.

June 3-4 — Plantation four ball, Gray Plantation.

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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