“Great place to play golf and one of the best courses in the state” was the sentiment expressed by participants of the spring Baptist Golf Fellowship Tournament. The course received rave reviews from its 84 participants.
By Joanne Brechtel
Staff Writer
“Great place to play golf and one of the best
courses in the state” was the sentiment expressed by participants of
the spring Baptist Golf Fellowship Tournament. The course received rave
reviews from its 84 participants.
“The tournament attracts all levels of golfers from
high-handicappers to more accomplished players, and one pro,” Message
Editor Kelly Boggs said. He noted there are championship and five
flights for ministers and championship and four flights for laymen
during medalist play on the first day of the two-day tournament.
Although there was a possibility of threatening
weather, those who observed the golfers gathering at the course around
noon on Monday only saw the distinct blend of delicious casual humor
and gumbo of personalities ready to embark.
Carts were being readied, practice shots taken and sustenance for the trip consumed.
Some players had impressive credentials and others
not so impressive, but it wasn’t to be a trip where one could just lose
little white balls. There was much more excitement in store.
The ministers and laymen who took advantage of
the opportunity for the time of fun and fellowship were not
intimidated by the course’s terrain, rising temperatures or occasional
wind swirls. They did, however, show great sportsmanship and observe
the spectacular views of the lush landscape that added to the overall
positive experience.
The Monday evening awards banquet, emceed by former Message Editor Lynn Clayton, was one of the highlights of the total experience.
Message
Editor Kelly Boggs and Louisiana Baptist Foundation Executive Director
Wayne Taylor informed attendees of the changes in the joint sponsorship
and said they “hoped to enlarge the circle to include Louisiana College
and Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home participation in assisting with
future tournament sponsorship.”
Door prizes were in abundance and included a number of gift cards and certificates from sponsors and vendors.
Those who came away as winners in the ministers’
championship flight were David Newberry of Houston, Texas; Viktor
Roudkovski of Longview, Texas and Leland Boyd of Flower Mound, Texas.
Other medalist winners in the ministers’ division
were Jake Roudkovski, Ponchatoula; Randy Tompkins, Alexandria; Ken
Fryer, Zachary; Robert Spicer, West Monroe; Chuck Lowman, Luling; Gary
Palmer, Bethany; Floyd Davis, Shreveport; Mike DeRosier, Eunice; Eric
Harriman, Columbia; Joey Williams, Hornbeck; Robert Daniel, Ball; Buddy
Hampton, Eunice; Lynn Clayton, Alexandria; Al Marks, Eunice.
In the laymen’s championship flight, the honors went
to George McInnis, Lake Charles; Robert Dunwoody, Haynesville; Crawford
Williams, Haynesville.
Other laymen who competed for honors in first
through fourth flights were: David Harris, Bethany; Frank Kelly, Lake
Charles; Rowdy Michaud, Columbia; Frank Snyder, Westlake; Brad Tullier,
Sorrento; Frederick Stephens, Westlake; Julian Andrews, Luling; Michael
Powell, Hornbeck; C. R. McBride Jr., Lake Charles; Jerry Ware, Oakdale;
Steve Gordon, Shreveport; Gary Cobb, Shreveport; Byron McGee, Pineville.
Top honors in the senior division went to Jimmy
Nevils, Lake Charles; C. R. McBride Jr., Lake Charles and Al Marks,
Eunice.
In the spotlight again, George McInnis of Lake Charles came in as grand
champion, a repeat champion from past tournaments. McInnis, a pro from
Lake Charles, offered various players on his second-day scramble
team helpful tips to improve their game.
Frontrunners for team play were George McInnis, Joe
Kirk, Florien; Shelly Wiggins, Many; Christin Thompson of Waco, Texas
followed by Ken Anderson, Westlake; Bob Braly, Alexandria; Jamie Cooke,
Shreveport; Robert Daniel, Ball for second place. Third place winners
were Francis Jordan, Oakdale, Chris Trombatore, Oberlin; John Carroll,
Columbia; David Shaw, Alexandria.
Tony Manuel of Oberlin and John Carroll of Columbia
won longest drives. Closest to the pin trophies were awarded to Eric
Harriman, Columbia and Shelly Wiggins, Many.
Jim Nevils won the super seniors longest drive and C. R. McBride Jr. won the seniors closest to pin.