Sulphur’s Brooke Tyree signs with No. 30 Texas A&M

Published 7:13 pm Sunday, December 24, 2017

It’s been a good year already for local standout Brooke Tyree and more will be coming.

She capped the year by signing early with Texas A&M, making her the third girl in the past few years to be inked for college golf. Olivia Hansen signed with McNeese several years ago while Brooke Duzan signed with Lamar last year.

Tyree is thought to be only the third female prospect in the area to ever sign with a top 30 nationally ranked team.  A&M is ranked No. 30 heading into the spring season.

Deanie Wood, sister of Willie and daughter of Willard, was a signee of Texas when that team was nationally ranked while Shannon Hansen signed with then-ranked LSU.

“I like her chances to get in the mix immediately,” said her coach Bear Suarez. “Just from her work ethic it’s a go, go. She can compete, and in the last few years Brooke has played her way onto the national scene.

“Her fundamentals are good and even though there is a lot of hard work ahead of her I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see her up there.”

Tyree has dominated the state prep scene, helping Sulphur High win three straight team titles while she has also claimed two consecutive Louisiana junior amateur titles as well as the state four-ball crown with Carly Whittington.

An outstanding student as well, Tyree was named to the TransAmerica scholastic junior all-America team in the fall. 

As a member of the Southwest Louisiana Junior Golf Association’s travel team she has been on high ranked teams and won a statewide tournament in Texas.

She hold’s several area course records, one of which is a 10 under par 62 she shot this year at Koasati Pines.

“She has really helped to put girls golf on the map around here,” Suarez, who coaches the travel team, added.

Beginning in January — the 15th at the Woodlands in Houston — she will play in several tournaments with the SWLJGA travel team along with Whittington, Daphney Tilton, Abby Richard, Chloe Latnier and McKenzie Laduff. 

The travel team will play prior to the start of the prep season which will have Tyree looking to lead Sulphur to a fourth-straight team championship as well as take a stab at the individual crown.

And then next fall look for her as she begins competition for the Aggies.

l

Standout performances were made the past week by Collin Castille and Ryan Nettles.

Castille produced a double eagle on the 18th hole at Mallard Cove during a dog fight tournament. He punched an eight iron under tree limbs and into the hole from 150 yards, completing his round with a one under par 71.

Nettles went out of the country to claim his first hole-in-one.

He aced the 16th hole at the Cocotal Golf and Country Club in the Dominican Republic.

Into the wind, Nettles knocked in a five iron from 175 yards.

l

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