McWilliams wins Louisiana Senior with back-nine birdies

Robby McWilliams of Benton, La., won his first Louisiana Senior Amateur in just his second attempt on Saturday, but it took a comeback to do it. McWilliams finished runner-up in last year’s event but is hardly a stranger to the winner’s circle. He claimed the Louisiana Mid-Amateur title at Southern Trace Country Club in 2016.

McWilliams went 3-under in the final round at Abita Springs (La.) Golf Club for a final-round 69 despite blustery afternoon conditions. That was good enough to move him ahead of defeat 36-hole leader Tommy Brennan by a shot.

McWilliams began his day in the next-to-last group, but was five shots back. He made his first birdie of the day on the par-4 fifth and turned at 1-under 35, which helped him close the gap on the lead.

McWilliams stumbled at the par-4 10th, making bogey. Meanwhile, Brennan holed out for eagle on No. 9 from 147 yards with a 9-iron, which seemingly shifted the momentum. When McWilliams stepped on the No. 11 tee, he was again five back. Back-to-back birdies followed, then Brennan made back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 13 and 14 followed by a double on 16.

McWilliams’ final birdie at No. 17 got him to 3 under for the round and 2 under for the championship. A par on the home hole was all he needed to secure the victory. McWilliams and Brennan, both highly decorated Louisiana players, were the only players in the field to finish under par for the championship.

Information from the Louisiana Golf Association used in this report