Nicholas wins season’s last city event

Published 8:19 pm Sunday, October 15, 2017

In winning last week’s Sulphur city golf title, Matt Nicholas became Southwest Louisiana’s winningest city champion.

He now has 10 city crowns to his credit, four Lake Charles (2016, ’14, ’04, ’01), three Sulphur (2017, ’16, ’04) and three Westlake (2017, ’15, ’14).

Three times he has won two of the three — in 2017, 2016 and 2014.

His victory in last week’s Sulphur city was one of his most competitive as he won the title by a single shot over this year’s Lake Charles city champ Gage Primeaux.

“It was the most fun round that I have played,” he said.

The two had been tied after the opening round at 69, and they were tied after the front nine in the final round.

On the 12th hole, Primeaux had his shot embedded close to a sand trap. He dropped and the ball rolled into the sand. There was a question about the rule for that, and he dropped another ball that didn’t go into the sand.

He hit both balls as a precaution. The ball he hit from the sand rolled into the hole for an eagle. The other ball did not. Tournament director George McInnis noted that the second shot was the legal one because a dropped ball from outside the sand cannot roll into a sand bunker (rule 20-2c). It has to be re-dropped.

Nicholas posted a birdie on the hole and the one-shot edge held up the rest of the way.

He said there were no winners or losers in the match. It was just that he posted one shot less than Primeaux.

“My hat is off to him (for his play),” he said.

The Sulphur event was the final city tournament of the year, Nicholas taking both that one and Westlake and Primeaux winning the Lake Charles.

Teams have started to form for the Lake Charles Cup matches ,which are scheduled to run Nov. 4-5.

The match will pit defending champion Gray Plantation, Mallard Cove and The National in a two-day competition. The first round will be played at Gray and the second at Mallard Cove.

Teams are compised of 12 amateurs and the club pro from each course.

Last year Gray won its fourth title (2016, ’14, ’13, ’09), one shy of the record of five that is held by now-defunct Pine Shadows (2010, ’06,’04, ’03, ’02). The National has three titles (2015, ’12, ’11) and Mallard Cove has two (2010, ’07).

The matches were not played in 2005 because of Hurricane Rita.

Gray won last year’s event by 6.5 points, having rallied after entering the final day tied with The National.

Players wishing to compete in this year’s Cup can contact their club pros for information.

The players for the Louisiana Junior Cup matches have been selected and six of the members come from Southwest Louisiana.

Named to the team were Brooke Tyree (for the third straight year), Daphney Tilton, McKenzie Leduff, Dez Reich, Brayden Wright and Austin Stewart.

Selected members are divided into two teams — a west and east squad, and competition will use the Ryder Cup format.

The Lake Charles Country Club will host the event Nov. 4-5.

Upcoming

• Oct. 25 — Brighton Bridge hospice scramble, Koasati Pines, Kinder.
• Oct. 27 — Chamber Southwest Louisiana scramble, Gray Plantation.