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Dufrene outlasts weather and Christovich to win LGA Mid-Amateur
Seth Dufrene of Luling won the 2017 LGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Bayou Oaks at City Park ( South Course ) in dramatic fashion .
Dufrene had to wait 28 hours from the time he putted out on the final hole of the second round until the time he teed it up in a sudden death playoff against fourtime LGA Mid-Amateur Champion Patrick Christovich of New Orleans .
Second Round play was suspended at 1:50 p . m . on Saturday due to the torrential rainstorm that hit New Orleans , and the total amount of rainfall on Saturday and Sunday morning was approximately 9 inches . LGA staff said it is a testament to the well-constructed golf course and especially to the grounds crew , led by Superintendent Ryan McCavitt , that play was able to resume at noon on Sunday with playable conditions .
The Tournament Committee determined that there was no chance of completing 54 holes , so the Championship was cut to 36 . That left two men , Christovich and Dufrene , atop the leaderboard at 6-under par 138 through 36 holes . Once the second round was complete , a sudden death playoff commenced to determine the champion .
The playoff started on the par 4 16th hole which was playing 275 yards on Sunday , making it drivable for both Christovich and Durfrene . If competitors attempted to hit the green with their tee shot , it would be a 258-yard carry directly over a water hazard to a back left hole location . This hole would play a crucial role later in the playoff , but the first time Christovich and Dufrene played it , they both made par .
Next up was the par 3 17th hole , which was playing 170 yards . Both competitors had a putt for birdie to win , but each just missed the hole and would make par .
Continued on Page 35 .