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Artieta and Cruse Lead After First Round of Louisiana Junior Amateur Championships

July 10, 2024 | Maili Bartz

A look into the first round of 59th Louisiana Girl’s and 67th Louisiana Junior Amateur Championships held at Mallard Golf Club in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.  

Championship Links: Second Round Pairings and Tee Times (Boys) | Second Round Pairings and Tee Times (Girls) |First Round Results (Boys)|First Round Results (Girls) | Photo Gallery

127 players competed in the first round of the 59th Louisiana Girl’s and 67th Louisiana Junior Amateur Championships held at Mallard Golf Club. Tee times began this morning at 7:30 AM off the 1st and 10th tee. The course played to a par 72 at 6,803 yards for the Overall Boys Championship, a par 72 at 5385 yards for the Boys 10-11 Championship, and a par 72 at 5,621 yards for the Overall Girls and Boys 12-13 Championships.

Lake Charles, LA – It was a hot and sunny day at Mallard Golf Club for the first round of the 59th Louisiana Girl’s and 67th Louisiana Junior Amateur Championships.  The day started bright and early with the Overall Girl’s Championship kicking off from the first tee. There were 11 players in the championship, with a clear front runner quickly emerging: Miss Evelynn Artieta of Denham Springs. Artieta, an avid golfer in LGA championships, finished today’s round with a 2-under par, 70.

Artieta started strong, making three birdies on holes 2, 3, and 5. She encountered a minor setback with two bogeys on holes 8 and 9 but regained her momentum on the back nine by birdieing hole 11, slipping in a quick bogey on 14, and finishing sweetly with a birdie on 18 to secure the top leaderboard spot. Sitting in second at four-over par is Vivian Volion of Springfield, and in third is our reigning champion, Maci Williams of Brusly, who shot a 5-over par, 77.

The shot of the day also came from the Overall Girl’s Championship, with Abigail McWilliams of Benton making her first-ever hole-in-one on the par-3 hole 15 at Mallard Golf Club. After a rough start, shooting 40 on the front nine, McWilliams had a major celebratory moment by sending the ball straight into the hole with one swing down the 125-yard hole using her 9-iron. Fresh off her recent win at the 96th Louisiana Women’s Amateur Championship, we are excited to see how McWilliams will perform in the upcoming rounds of this championship.

For the Boys 10-11 Championship, Landon Lotz of Slidell emerged as the top performer. Competing against some of the finest young golfers in the region, Lotz secured the first place with a stellar score of one-under 71. Lotz’s game was steady at the start, with five straight pars, before becoming more varied with birdies on holes 6, 8, 10, 15, 16, and 18, and bogeys on holes 7, 9, 12, 13, and 14.

Samuel Perrodin of Ville Platte and Crew Galambos of Shreveport tied for second place, each finishing with a score of three-over par 75. Billy Buzzell of Baton Rouge finished in fourth place with a score of twelve-over par 84.

Augustin Gros claimed the top spot in the Boys 12-13 Championship with a one-under par 71. Gros displayed consistent play, making mostly pars, with birdies on holes 7 and 16 and a single bogey on hole 18. Tied for second place at two-over par are Owen Lejeune of Baton Rouge and Grey Ramsey of Choudrant. Ramsey has had a successful season, winning the LJGT at Calvert Crossing and the LJGT at the Farm tournaments. It will be interesting to see how these players compete for the top spot in tomorrow’s final round. Just one shot behind, tied for fourth place, are Derby Everson of Shreveport and Nolan Osbourne of Gonzales.

After today’s first round, Ashton Cruse of Columbia took the lead in the Overall Boys Championship with a 3-under par 69. Cruse had a strong round, making birdies on holes 2, 7, 13, and 15, with just one bogey on hole 9. Tied for second place at 2-under par 71 are James Holtsclaw of Shreveport, Meyer Schopp of Broussard, and Drew Sliman of Lafayette, just one shot behind Cruse. Tomorrow’s second round is expected to be an exciting competition with such close scores. After tomorrow’s 18 holes, there will be a cut to the top 60 players and ties for the Overall Boys Championship due to the high number of participants.

Mallard Golf Club, with its well-maintained fairways and strategically placed hazards, is serving as the venue for this year’s championships. The course is in excellent condition and provides a good challenge for the players.

About the LGA

The Louisiana Golf Association (LGA) is a mission-driven organization dedicated to unifying the golf community across Louisiana. Since its inception in 1920, the LGA has expanded its scope to offer a variety of championships, including the Junior Amateur Championship and the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour. The LGA is committed to providing exceptional services in Championship Administration, USGA Handicap System oversight, and Rules of Golf authority, ensuring fair play and integrity throughout the state.

The LGA supports golfers of all levels through its Course Measuring and Rating services, comprehensive tournament management, and educational seminars on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status. By partnering with entities like the Audubon Golf Trail and Gulf States PGA, the LGA fosters growth and inclusivity in the sport.

As the authoritative body for amateur golf in Louisiana, the LGA maintains the WHS Handicap Index, crucial for assessing individual performance, and continues to uphold the game’s traditions and values. For more information, visit LGA.org or contact us at 337-265-3938.

For Media Inquiries:

Maili Bartz

Director of Marketing and Communications

maili@lgagolf.org