Louisiana State Amateur: John Sams leads early
BROUSSARD, La. (June 5, 2014) -- John Sams of Coushatta fired a five-under par 67 on Thursday to take the lead after first round play at the 2014 Louisiana Golf Association Amateur Championship at Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club in Broussard. Sams’ brilliant effort was nearly matched by four others who trail by just one stroke at three-under par 69: Brandon Aydlett of Metairie, Grady Brame Jr. of Hammond, Myles Lewis of Baton Rouge, and defending champion Eric Ricard of Shreveport.
Sams, a rising sophomore who plays golf at Louisiana Tech, began his round at 7:39 AM and wasted no time getting his round jumpstarted with a birdie at the par 5 first hole. He made par at the par 4 2nd hole and followed that with a birdie at the par 3 3rd hole. Another par at the par 4 4th hole was followed by consecutive birdies at the par 5 5th hole and the par 3 6th hole. Sams made three consecutive pars to finish his blistering front nine and make the turn at four-under par 32. Sams started his back nine with a par at the par 4 10th hole, and made his only bogey of the day at the par 3 11th hole. He bounced back with a birdie at the par 5 12th and finished the rest of the round with all pars and one birdie and the par 3 16th. Sams made three of his six birdies on par 3’s, showcasing just how dialed in he was with his irons on Thursday. There is still a lot of golf to be played, and with such a stout leaderboard and some of the best Amateur golfers in Louisiana within a few shots of the lead, the final three rounds of the 95th edition of the LGA Amateur Championship should be exciting and full of drama.
Other scores under par Friday were shot by: Jeff Lorio of New Orleans (69), Matt Nicholas of Lake Charles (69), Chris Donaldson of Metairie (69), Hayden Bigby of Baton Rouge (69), Ryan Desormeaux of Broussard (69), Ross Davis of Baton Rouge (69), Drew Kirby of Baton Rouge (70), Mick Huffman of Maurice (70), Ken Buchan of Monroe (70), Chuck Spears of Pineville (70), Eamon Bradley of Hammond (70), Connor Cavin of Baton Rouge (70), Micah Goluas of New Iberia (71), John Talley of St. Martinville (71), John Justus of Baton Rouge (71), Dillon Mathies of Baton Rouge (71), Blaine Patin of Greenwell Springs (71), and Garrett Theriot of St. Martinville (71).
Round 2 play will begin Friday morning at 7:30 AM off both #1 and #10 tees. The field will be cut to the low 60 scorers and ties after the second round is completed. The Le Triomphe grounds crew, led by Superintendent Michael Frantzen, did a fantastic job in getting the golf course ready and in Championship condition following the heavy rains that hit the Lafayette area last week. More rain drenched the Le Triomphe golf course Wednesday afternoon and evening and upon arrival Thursday morning, the Tournament Committee decided that it was in the best interest of the field to play under the “lift, clean, and re-place” condition of competition.
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ABOUT THE Louisiana Amateur
The Louisiana Golf Association Amateur
Championship
is the most prestigious of the organization's
championships, having been conducted every year
since 1920. Entries are open to any Louisiana
resident
(as of at least 90 days) who is an amateur golfer
holding membership in a LGA member club in good
standing. 72 hole stroke play championship.
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