juniorspin
By Jimmy Headrick
CARENCRO, La. – The Jesuit Blue Jays went up
against the best in high school golf in Louisiana and
with a consistent team effort for two days brought the
Division I boy state title back to New Orleans.
Jesuit last held the state title in 2010 and 2011.
Their two day team scores of 294 and 299 for 593
(counting best four of five scores each day) over the
par 72 Farm d’Allie Golf Club gave the Blue Jays a
convincing eight-stroke victory over Catholic of Baton
Rouge at 601. Powerhouse C.E. Byrd of Shreveport,
champions in 2015 and 2016, came in third at 607.
This close knit team of Jays under the direction of
coach Owen Seiler and assistants Dr. Monty Glorioso
and John Weirich had the entire team in attendance in
their blue and white. Jesuit held a lead and expanded
it in cruising to victory.
Nolan Lambert, the only senior on the team, was
quite emotional on the significance of the victory.
“This means everything to me, I am so proud of
the whole team,” Lambert said as tears of joy ran
down his face.
Lambert, who will be attending UNO on a golf
scholarship, follows the tradition of his uncle Tommy
Moore, the late legendary golfer of New Orleans who
was a member of the dominant state champion De
La Salle Cavaliers in the early 1980s before becoming
an NCAA Champion at Oklahoma State.
“Feels great seeing our team work hard and reach
their goal of being state champions,” said Seiler.
The 2017 Jesuit team brings yet another state title
to the the oldest male high school in New Orleans,
founded in 1847.
Team members who will return to defend in 2018
include junior J.T. Holmes, low scorer for the Blue
Jays. He put the day in perspective.
“Going into the final 18 was the most pressure I
have ever experienced and the most exciting round of
my life,” Holmes noted.
Junior Jake Kuebel is another key contributor who
will bring back championship experience next year
for the Blue Jays. “We knew we needed to perform,”
Kuebel stated. “And we did and it is really satisfying.”
Jesuit benefited from a deep, focus group to make
up a winning team.
“We set our goals and if we stuck to our game plan,
we knew we could win state,” said junior Grayson
Glorioso.
Sophomore Britton Khalaf, “Our work paid off
and to achieve this goal is special.”
Congratulations to Jesuit. You make the New
Orleans golf community proud!
Jesuit Team Scores
J.T. Holmes – 71-75 – 146
Jake Kuebel – 75-74 – 149
Grayson Glorioso – 73-76 – 149
Nolan Lambert – 75-74 – 149
Britton Khalaf – 75-77 – 152
Division 1 LA State High School Championship
Results
Jesuit – 593
Catholic – 601
Byrd – 607
West Monroe – 612
Sulphur – 613
St. Paul’s – 622
Brother Martin – 627
Barbe – 629
Individual Champion – Gage Primeaux, Barbe
(Lake Charles) 68-73 – 141
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Headrick