Backspin aug_2017 | Page 35

Continued from Page 33. The par 5 18th hole was playing 583 yards downwind on Sunday. Christovich safely hit the fairway but went for the green with a 3 wood and ended up in the rough left of the greenside bunker in a downhill lie. Dufrene’s tee shot faded right of the cart path in the rough but he was able to safely hit an iron to the middle of the fairway and then hit his third shot to 15 feet, just on the ridge in the middle of the green. Christovich flopped his chip over the back of the green but recovered well with his next shot which stopped three feet from the hole. Dufrene’s putt to win came up a foot short, and he tapped in for par. Christovich made his putt as well for 5, and the playoff continued on to the 16th hole once more. On Hole #16, Christovich faded his drive right, just short of the greenside bunker while Dufrene hit a driver over the back-left edge of the green. Christovich hit his wedge to 16 feet, and Dufrene showcase the short game he’s worked so hard on recently and chipped his ball to 8 feet. Christovich missed his birdie putt which set the stage for Dufrene who poured in his 8-footer to win. It was certainly fitting that an event shortened to 36 holes took extra holes to complete, said LGA staff. Dufrene fired a first round 71, having not been able to play the golf course prior to that day and then posted the course record, a five-under par 67 in the second round that included eight birdies and one triple-bogey. This is Dufrene’s second LGA Championship, having just won the Four- Ball at English Turn two weeks ago with his partner Justin Lowe of Alexandria. This is Christovich’s third time to finish runner-up in the Championship that he won four times in a row from 2010-2013. Both competitors showcased mental fortitude after battling weather delays all weekend, LGA staff said. The Rees Jones designed Bayou Oaks at City Park South Course played to a par 72 at 6,838 yards on Sunday. The golf course drained newsspin exceptionally well following the heavy rains over the weekend, and it was a real treat for LGA Mid-Amateur participants to compete in the first tournament back at City Park following Hurricane Katrina, said LGA staff. The Louisiana Golf Association is excited about returning for the 2018 Net Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Qualifier. For course statistics, click here. Next year’s LGA Mid-Amateur Championship will be conducted at Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club in Broussard, home of the Web.com Tour’s Louisiana Chitimacha Open. Click here for complete results. 35