Sulphur final city event of season

Published 6:45 pm Sunday, October 1, 2017

The final chapter of this year’s local city championships comes up Saturday and Sunday, and the field could be one of the most talented to ever play in the Sulphur event.

It’s one that will feature defending champion Matt Nicholas, who is also the reigning Westlake city champion, defending Lake Charles city champ Gage Primeaux and Neithan Allen, the lone player to have won all three city titles in one year.

George McInnis, pro at hosting Frasch Park and tournament director, said, “We always expect a strong field and the one this year could be among the strongest. At this stage (Sept. 28) the field is still filling as most of the golfers will wait until the week of the event to sign up.

“The course is in real good shape and will play to about 6,300 yards.”

Nicholas won last year by five shots and he will probably be the one to beat. He’s coming off a victory at the Westlake city, which he also won by five shots.

Primeaux has also put up outstanding numbers during the summer in other tournaments.

Some of the former Sulphur city title holders and/or standout players who could be in the field are Kade Hagan, Chris Vallette, John Morrissey, Craig Trosclair, Hank Shaheen, Blake DeReese and Doug Quienalty.

As for a winning score, McInnis wouldn’t make a prediction but said, “Sometimes a little under par wins and sometimes it goes lower. Back in 2010 a 2-over-par won. I think than anyone who comes in with a plus or zero handicap will have a chance.”

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Two former McNeese State golfers — Adrien Mork and Robert MacIntyre — recently experienced career-making moments.

Mork, a 2004 graduate, signed on as an assistant golf coach at Texas Christian after spending two seasons as the assistant at Central Florida, helping that team win a NCAA regional title a year ago.

At McNeese, Mork, who is a native of France, was a four-time team MVP and all-Southland Conference performer, an all-Louisiana performer, competed in the NCAA regionals twice and posted a 73.7 career average.

During his professional career Mork gained fame as being the first player to shoot a 59 in any European tour event. He did it in the 2006 Morocco Classic on the Challenge Tour. He also won another Challenge Tour event and four times won on the Alps Tour. He had a top-10 finish in a PGA European Tour event.

MacIntyre, who spent a year and a half on the Cowboys golf team (leaving to work on becoming a professional), recently competed for the Great Britain/Ireland team in the Walker Cup. His play accounted for two of his team’s nine points in a loss to the United States.

At McNeese he set a school-record 71.78 single-season scoring average, was named the SLC Freshman of the Year and placed ninth in the league tournament.

MacIntyre is No. 14 in the world golf amateur rankings and is working towards making his pro debut.

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Brooke Tyree and Daphney Tilton recently helped Louisiana beat Mississippi 30-10 in the Junior River Cup Matches at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant.

They were the only local players on the squad.

The girls won all of their points in their matches and in a four ball in which they were partners, combining for a double eagle. It came on the par-5 No. 2 hole. Tilton hit the tee shot and then Tyree knocked in a 7-wood from 190 yards for the albatross.

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The 18th annual Chamber Southwest Louisiana golf tournament will be played Oct. 27 at Gray Plantation. It’s a four-person scramble with a $525 entry fee per team.

There will be morning (8 a.m. shotgun start) and afternoon (1:30 p.m. shotgun start) tee times. For information, contact Michelle McInnis at 433-3632.

Upcoming

Friday — Bishop’s Golf Classic, The National (Westlake).

Saturday — Mallard Cove Red Skirt two-person scramble (benefits Abraham’s Tent).

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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