Hamilton and Ortego win first
state championships
by Ian Auzenne
Girls: (L-R) Abbie Richard, Girls 15-18 2nd Place; Janie Morrison,
Grils 15-18 Champion, Rayne; Carly Whittington, Girls 12-14,
Champion, Kinder.
Boys 15-18: (L-R) Michael Travasos, Lafayette, 3rd Place; Cameron
Mouton, Lafayette, 3rd Place; Taylor Morton, Broussard, 2nd Place,
Conner Hamilton, Breaux Bridge, Champion.
Boys 12-14: (L-R) Chance Queen, Alexandria, 2nd Place; Eli Ortego,
Lafayette, Champion; Ryan Dupuy, Baton Rouge, 3rd Place.
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Steady, consistent play. That’s the recipe
Conner Hamilton and Eli Ortego used to
win their first state championships this past
weekend at the USSSA/Mizuno Governor’s
Games at Le Triomphe Country Club.
Despite the sweltering heat, Hamilton of
Breaux Bridge and Ortego of Lafayette
played spectacularly to claim state titles in
their respective divisions.
Hamilton survived a few hiccups in the
first round of the tournament en route to the
Boys 15-18 championship, shooting a 148
in the 36-hole event, holding off runner-up
Taylor Morton of Broussard by four strokes.
Cameron Mouton and Michael Travasos,
both of Lafayette, and Brayden Wright of
Sulphur all shot 156 to share third-place
honors.
Ortego played the best golf of anyone
participating in the tournament. He finished
at -2 (142) to win the Boys 12-14 group title.
Chance Queen of Alexandria took second
place, finishing at +2 (146). Ryan Dupuy
of Baton Rouge finished at +3 (147) to take
third-place honors.
Janie Morrison of Rayne claimed the
state championship in the Girls 15-18
division by shooting 173. Abbie G. Richard
of Sulphur took second place by shooting
185.
Carly Tietje Whittington of Kinder won
the state title in the girls 12-14 group by
shooting 186.