Shreveport, La. – July 8, 2023
Kale Fontenot of Lafayette fought back from being three down after 36 holes to defend his Louisiana Junior Amateur Championship by four strokes over Noah McWilliams at East Ridge Country Club. Needing a big round to make a comeback and defend his championship, Fontenot played absolutely lights out in round three shooting a seven-under par 64, the lowest round of the championship. If not for a bogey on hole number 9, Fontenot would have carded a bogey free final round. The Georgia Tech commit bested his competition, runner-up Noah McWilliams of Benton, and third place finisher James Holtsclaw of Shreveport, to become the first player win back-to-back Junior Amateur Championships since Chuck Spears in 2010-2011, and only the fourth Louisiana junior amateur player ever to accomplish that feat. Fontenot surprisingly has another year of high school and junior eligibility and could look to defend his championship yet again in 2023 and be the first player to ever three-peat.
Fontenot received the “Past Champions’ Award” in the form of a $400 gift certificate that may be utilized in the Golf Shop at East Ridge Country Club. He will have his name engraved on a beautiful plaque that honors each of the past LGA Junior Amateur Champions dating back to 1958, and it will be displayed at his home club, Oakbourne Country Club until the 2023 Championship. Fontenot also received a new Jones Sports Company golf bag embroidered with the LGA logo signifying his victory. Fontenot earned full exempt status with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). Other AJGA Performance Based Entry Stars were awarded to the boys as follows: Top 5 (12 Performance Stars), Top 10 (8 Stars), Top 15 (4 Stars).
Adam Trahan of Crowley shot a final round 68 and a 54-hole total of 221 to win the First Flight over Marko Radovic of New Orleans. Garrett Trahan of Sulphur, Thomas Oubre of Lafayette, and Drew Silman of Zachary, all tied for first place in the Second Flight with a 54-hole total score of 242. John Hunter of Shreveport shot a 54-hole total of 258 to win the Third Flight over Charlie Jackson of Baton Rouge.
Sydney Moss of Shreveport led the 57th Louisiana Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship wire to wire and is now a two-time champion in this event after winning in 2020. The Memphis commit wins this championship at her home course of East Ridge Country Club making the victory extra special. Moss stated that the last time her home club, East Ridge Country Club, hosted the Junior Amateur in 2018, she played poorly and wanted to make up for that in 2022. Moss did that defeating the field going away and winning by ten strokes over Sarah Meral of Abita Springs. Moss finished with a total score of nine-over and 54-hole total of 222. Moss is playing tremendous golf as of late winning both the Women’s Amateur and Girls’ Junior Amateur in a span of only two weeks.
It was an extremely hot day and week at East Ridge Country Club with with the temperature hitting triple digits for the first time this summer in Shreveport. The course played to a par 71 at approximately 6,600 yards for the Championship.
Click here to view final Girls’ results.
Click here to view final Boys’ results.