2015 Louisiana Mid-Am champ Brandon Aydlett (LGA photo)

This victory was especially sweet for Aydlett because it was achieved at his home club, TPC Louisiana in New Orleans, and because it was his first LGA Championship victory. He has come close to winning a number of times, including a runner-up finish last year after losing a six hole playoff at Squire Creek Country Club. Aydlett finished with a 54 hole total of four-under par 212.

It was an exciting finish that came down to the 54th hole. Aydlett and Christovich were in the final pairing of the day that teed off at 10:21 a.m. Christovich, a four-time LGA Mid-Amateur Champion, had a one stroke lead over Aydlett to start the day, and when the duo stepped on the 18th tee, they were tied for the lead at four-under par. Christovich had the honor and hit his tee shot in the lateral water hazard to the right of the fairway, leaving the door open for Aydlett to capitalize.

Christovich did the same thing in the second round, but he was able to make par after proceeding under rule 26-1c, so Aydlett was not guaranteed a victory simply by making par. The 18th hole is a picturesque par 5 that was playing 548 yards on Sunday. Aydlett hit his tee shot in the fairway, laid up short of the green, hit his approach shot to within 15 feet. Christovich was on the green in 4, but he missed his par putt to the back left hole location and tapped in for bogey. Aydlett two putted for par to secure the victory.

Aydlett, a former golfer at LSU, was the low medalist at the 2014 USGA State Team Championship, and this win bolsters his chance of making Team Louisiana again in 2016. Aydlett got off to a slow start, making bogey at the par 4 1st hole. He then proceeded to make 8 consecutive pars, making the turn at one-over par 37. He brought himself back to even par for the day after making birdie at the par 4 10th hole.

He added another birdie at the par 5 11th hole, which was playing 575 yards on Sunday. He would make par at the 12th hole, then another birdie at the par 4 13th hole. After making par at the par 3 14th hole, Aydlett stumbled with a double-bogey at the par 4 15th hole, giving Christovich an opportunity to get back in the mix. Aydlett made par on the final three holes to win after an epic day in the New Orleans heat at TPC Louisiana, home of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic.

It should be noted that 36 hole leader, Robert Merrill, Jr. withdrew after 15 holes due to illness. He had a gutsy performance wanted to finish, but the Tournament Committee made the decision, in his best interest, for him to stop playing and seek medical attention.

Rounding out the top 5 are: 3.) Hank Shaheen of DeQuincy who shot the low round of the day on Sunday, a two-under par 70 to finish at 214. T4.) Ben Suarez of Sulphur (218), T4.) Ken Buchan of Monroe (218).

There were only four total scores under par on Sunday and they were shot by: Shaheen (70), Phillip Frazier of Baton Rouge (70), B.C. Thibeaux of Lafayette (71), and Grady Brame of Hammond (71).

The Pete Dye designed TPC Louisiana golf course played to a par of 72 at 6,894 yards on Sunday.

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