Do you know what you will be doing Sunday, April 8 of next year?

Probably not. Probably haven’t even given it much thought.

Morris LeBleu knows what he will be doing. In fact, he’s thought about that day for the past seven years.

He’ll be among thousands watching the final day of the 2018 Masters, and he will be doing it live, right there on the grounds, probably on the 16th hole.

LeBleu, who has been playing golf for 51 years and was one of the first to play Mallard Cove after it was constructed (the back nine which was first completed), was one of the lucky ones (out of approximately 10,000) to come out on top in a random drawing for a ticket to the Masters.

“It’s something that I have been casting my lot since 2011,” he said. “I’ve never been to Augusta, but have watched several PGA tournaments in Houston. I found out about six weeks ago that I had been picked to receive the right to buy tickets for the 2018 Masters.”

He explained that the yearly procedure — a lottery to obtain the rights to purchase Masters tickets — begins right after the Masters is played. Fans wishing for tickets can put their name into the pot by going online to the tournament website and signing up.

“You can ask for up to four tickets for the practice days — one lottery — but only two tickets for the tournament days — the second lottery — and if you win, you are only allowed the two tickets for only one day. I asked for the practice day tickets and the tournament day tickets.

“About six weeks ago I received an email that, first of all, congratulated me on being chosen to receive tickets and then later in the message noted that I had been awarded two tickets for Sunday’s final round.

“To be chosen to receive two tickets for the final day was almost, but not quite, as nice as winning the lottery.”

The tickets, which he will not receive until he picks them up that Sunday in 2018, cost him $115 each.

Traveling with him to Augusta next year will be friend Ron Hayes, who has also entered the Masters lottery draw since 2011. The two formed a partnership for the tickets.

LeBleu said that on that Sunday he and Hayes will get to the course as early as possible, follow some of their favorite players and then in the afternoon will station themselves at the par-3 No. 16 hole to watch the leaders come in. 

He added that “This is an experience I had often hoped to have.” 

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The Westlake city championship tournament will conclude today at The National with Neithan Allen attempting to defend the men’s title he won last year. Among the top contenders were Matt Nicholas (also a former champion), Hank Shaheen, Blake DeReese, Cade Hagen, Kyle Channing and Jevon Perry. 

Pam Fossett is the Westlake ladies city champion for the third consecutive year after her five-shot victory last week. She posted rounds of 78-77 for a 155. Chris Stout finished second with 85-75—160.

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Billy Gabbert and Shaheen teamed up to win the recent Prien Lake Four Ball at the Lake Charles Country Club.

A birdie putt by Gabbert on the first playoff hole (No. 1) gave the team the win over Gage Primeaux and John Henry Faulk. The teams had tied with 127 scores with Gabbert-Shaheen shooting 63-64 and Primeaux-Faulk posting 64-63.

Robbie Going and Bo Stewart placed third (64-65—129) and Shane Heinen and John Morrissey finished fourth (63-68—131).

Brett Lalor and Rob Carr won the first flight (68-64—132), Brandon Nicholls and Mike Davenport the second flight (68-65—133), Jody Lormand and Chris Cain the third flight (67-68—135), David Miller and Larry Holdorf the fourth flight (71-74—145) and Ricky Norwood and Todd Mathis the fifth flight (64-66—130).

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The team of Craig Trosclair, Jacob Hathaway and Dan Conrad took the top prize in the J.T. Mitchell Memorial three-person scramble at the Country Club. Second place went to Jeff Ardoin, George Cestia and John Gregory and low net honors were taken by Ryan Boyd, Robert Bennett and Joe Busby.

The event is an annual fundraiser for the Southwest Louisiana Junior Golf Association.

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Andrew Castle and Jared Pousson were the top performers in the last tournament of the summer for the Southwest Louisiana Junior Tour. Castle won the boys 15- to 17-year-old division with an 81 at Mallard Cove. Pousson shot 85 to take the boys 13-14 division.

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Pat Comeaux reached a milestone last week when the 72-year-old golfer shot a 2-under-par 70 at Mallard Cove.

Upcoming

Sept. 16 — Two-man four ball, Mallard Cove.

Sept. 29 — McNeese Cowboy Rally, Lake Charles Country 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