The Lake Charles men’s city golf championship tees off a three-day run beginning Friday and this year’s edition could feature one of the most talented fields.

It’s expected to be the final city championship ever played at the present Mallard Cove location since Mallard Cove (at Morganfield) could be ready by June of next year,

A full field is what tournament director Virgil Haley, the assistant golf professional at Mallard, said he is hoping for this week.

“I would think that everyone would want to play this year since it could be the last one,” Haley said. “We would like for it to go out with a bang.”

He also said Dave Kaspar, a PGA member and the former head golf professional at The National in Westlake and Lake Charles Country Club, would be on hand to help run the tournament.

Haley said because this will probably be the final city event at the present Mallard Cove site, the deadline for entering was extended until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The playing condition of the course is expected to be at its best as Haley said superintendent Robert Fray and his staff have been working overtime to get it in perfect condition.

The par-3 16th hole, which has had to use a temporary green in recent weeks, has had its green reworked and will be ready and in play for the tournament.

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Neithan Allen is the defending champion and will be one of numerous former champs in the field.

“Since this will theoretically be the last city tournament there, I’m expecting quite a few more guns to come out with everyone playing well,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be harder to pull off a win.”

Allen’s last competitive appearance came in the state four-ball championship that was played at the Lake Charles Country Club a week ago, and he said his game began to come around in that event.

Besides last year’s crown, Allen also won the tournament in 2013 and 2015. He’s the only player to have won all three area city events (Lake Charles, Westlake and Sulphur) in one year.

Among other former champions who will be playing are Matt Nicholas, Gage Primeaux, Jason Horn and Philip Hoffpauir. Nicholas last won the title in 2016 and also won in 2001, 2004 and 2014. He has 10 area city crowns to his credit, having won the Sulphur title in 2004, 2016 and 2017 and Westlake in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Nicholas has been active in four-ball play this summer, having played in the recent USGA men’s national championship in Oregon and then in the Louisiana Golf Association’s state event last week.

In the national tournament he and partner John Henry Faulk made it to the round of 16 before bowing out and last week with George Cestia as his partner the team placed 10th.

Primeaux won the city in 2017 and was the winner of the Sulphur tournament last year while Horn is the 2009 Lake Charles city champ as well as the 2010 Sulphur title holder. Hoffpauir won the city in 1998 and 1999 as well as the Sulphur crown in 1998.

Also in the field will be Hank Shaheen who won last year’s state mid-amateur title and teamed with Billy Gabbert to place 14th in last week’s state four ball tournament.

The tournament will also crown a senior champion for the second time. Jimmy Guidry won last year.

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In winning last week’s state four-ball championship at the Lake Charles Country Club, the team of Shane Heinen and John Henry Faulk became the third local entry to win a state tournament played on a local golf course.

Billy Gabbert and Larry Aillet had won the four-ball at Gray Plantation in 2001 and Mike Heinen and Mike Genovese won the title at the Lake Charles Country Club in 1987.

In 2017 the team from the Lake Charles Country Club won the state club team championship in play at L’Auberge’s Contraband Bayou.

Two local players were runners-up in state tournaments played on local courses, Bo Stewart in the men’s amateur at the LCCC in 2008 and Tommy Elkins at the men’s amateur in 1966 and the junior amateur in 1963, both at the LCCC.

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The date for the annual McNeese Petrochem Golf Classic has been set for Oct. 4 at Mallard Cove, probably the new Mallard Cove at Morganfield.

It will be the 30th edition of the event that has raised more than $500,000 for McNeese State athletic facility projects and equipment. The tournament is a four-man scramble with morning and afternoon tee times.

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Marion Landry knocked one stroke off his age in a round the past week at Mallard Cove. The 78-year-old golfer shot a 77, the round including two birdies.

Upcoming

Friday-Sunday — Lake Charles men’s city championship, Mallard Cove.

Saturday-Sunday — Frasch Park men’s club championship.

July 12-14 — Westlake men’s city championship, The National (Westlake).

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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