February 25, 2023 Choudrant, Louisiana
The side of Caden Lester from Bastrop, Louisiana and Gray Kingrea of West Monroe, Louisiana and the side of Jay Mendell and Kale Fontenot of Lafayette, Louisiana, both carded incredible rounds of nine-under par 63. These two talented teams lead a strong field at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, Louisiana.
Lester and Kingrea combined for 11 birdies on the day, with Kingrea rolling in eight of them on his own. Lester had the highlight of the round with a lengthy chip-in for birdie on the par-four fourth hole. Fontenot and Mendell capitalized with their length off the tee on Saturday to combine for 10 birdies and an impressive one lone bogey on the day. Preston Giroir and Preston Paulk of Slidell, Louisiana are in solo second sitting just one shot off of the lead. The side shot an impressive 28 on the back-nine at the challenging Squire Creek to climb up the leaderboard, including a 30-yard hole out for eagle from Paulk at the par-five 17th hole. There are two teams tied for third place at seven-under par, Adam Trahan of Crowley, Louisiana and Ross Anderson of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Bowen Ballis of Houston, Texas and Kristoffer Kuvas of Shenandoah, Texas.
Evelynn Artieta of Denham Springs, Louisiana and Maci Williams of Brusly, Louisiana lead by two strokes after firing an opening round of five-under par 67. Krysta Loftin of Pearland, Texas and Mattie Purgahn of Lake Charles, Louisiana sit in lone second place at three-under par. Artieta and Williams carded an impressive six birdies and only one bogey in round one. Ashlyn Crimmins of Covington, Louisiana and Samantha Schultz of Mandeville, Louisiana are in sole third place.
The side of Hudson Greene from Bossier City, Louisiana and Slayte Guidry of Shreveport, Louisiana are tied atop the Boys’ 11-13 Division with brothers, Luke and Mason An of Houston, Texas after both teams carded a four-under. The side of Caden West of Tyler, Texas and Reid Habermehl of McKinney, Texas are tied for second at two-under with the side of Parker Greene and Wayne Kabrich of Mandeville, Louisiana.
Conditions were chilly and cloudy in Choudrant, Louisiana, with temperatures starting in the low 50’s and reaching the low 60’s with a very light mist in the mid-morning after all the groups in the field teed off. The mist quickly stopped to set the first round up for a cloudy and slightly chilly day. The Tom Fazio designed Squire Creek Country Club drew numerous compliments from competitors, parents, and spectators. The Squire Creek course played to a par of 72 at approximately 6,600 yards on Saturday for the Overall Boys competition and 5,450 yards for the Girls and 11-13 Boys Division. The greens are pure and the course is in excellent condition.
For full First Round results, please click here.
For Final Round pairings and starting times, please click here.