Amateur Championship wire
to wire
Chad Belanger of Zachary fired a two-under
par 69 on Sunday to win the 2017 LGA Net
Amateur Championship at Koasati Pines at
Coushatta by four shots over Ken Alexander of
Lafayette.
This was Belanger’s first time to compete
in an LGA Championship, but he played like
a seasoned veteran to win the tournament
wire-to-wire. Belanger was tied for the lead
with Alexander after both players carded a
four-under par 67 on Saturday, but Belanger
distanced himself from the rest of the field with
his stellar play in the final round.
He was the only player to finish under par
in both rounds of competition, and his total of
six-under par 136 is tied for second lowest score
all time in the LGA Net Amateur. Belanger is a
member of Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary.
Belanger got off to a steady start on Sunday,
making par on his first two holes. He stumbled
at the par 3 3rd hole, making a bogey 4. He
responded with back-to-back pars, and then
caught fire with three consecutive birdies on
holes six through eight. He capped off his front
nine with a par at the par 5 9th hole, making
the turn at two-under par for the day.
Belanger kept the momentum going on the
par 4 10th hole, making an incredible eagle. He
took his foot off the gas after that however, and
made a par-bogey-par-triple bogey sequence
on his next four holes. He realized he needed
to have a strong finish to win, which is exactly
what he was able to accomplish.
Belanger bounced back with a birdie at the
par 4 15th hole, and then added another par
at the par 3 16th hole. He tacked on another
47