2015 LGA Senior winner Tommy Brennan (LGA photo)
LAKE CHARLES, La. — Tommy Brennan of Covington fired a final-round 67 Saturday at Lake Charles Country Club to win the 2015 Louisiana Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship by four strokes over Gayle Sanchez of Baton Rouge.
Brennan shot the low round of the Championship, a seven-under par 65 in the second round, which propelled him to the top of the leaderboard and gave him a three shot lead through 36 holes.
Brennan is a highly decorated LGA Champion, having won the state’s Mid-Amateur Championship seven times between 1995 and 2008.
This is Brennan’s first LGA Senior Amateur Championship, an especially sweet victory after having finished runner-up in this Championship in 2011. Brennan’s 54 hole total of 204 was the lowest in LGA Senior Amateur Championship history, besting Doug Farr of Monroe’s 205 at Lake Charles Country Club in 2009.
Brennan, a member of Tchefuncta Country Club, started his round at 10:21 AM. He made two consecutive pars and then his first birdie on the par 3 3rd hole, which was playing 162 yards on Saturday. He played steady and consistent golf and made par on his next six holes, making the turn at one-under par 35. At the turn Brennan had a one-shot lead over fellow competitor Gayle Sanchez, who had shot a 33 on the front nine. They were playing in the final group of the day together, so Brennan was well aware of the circumstances.
The back nine was where Brennan showcased true grit, incredible shot making abilities, and clutch putting. He made four consecutive birdies to start his back nine on holes #10 (par 4 / 400 yards), #11 (par 5 / 484), #12 (par 4 / 389), and 13 (par 4 / 385 yards). Once Brennan had separated himself from the rest of the field again, he cruised home with five straight pars. Brennan’s bogey free final round secured the four stroke victory. A well-deserved Champion and a record-breaking performance.
Seven players finished with a 54 hole total under par and there were a total of thirteen scores under par on Saturday. Other scores under par were shot by: Sanchez (68/208), Robert Shelton of Lafayette (68/213), Stan Humphries of Monroe (69/214), 2003 LGA Senior Amateur Champion Eddie Lyons of Shreveport (70/211), 2014 LGA Senior Amateur Champion Robert McCusker of Baton Rouge (70/216), Ben Thibeaux of Lafayette (70/218), John Justus of Baton Rouge (70/219), Bill Stevens of Lake Charles (71/211), James Bryan of New Orleans (71/219), Bill Land of Lafayette (71/220), Chad Soileau of Ville Platte (71/221).
As previously mentioned, this year’s Championship is being held at Lake Charles Country Club. LGA Senior Amateur competitors were treated to excellent conditions all week, both with the weather and the golf course which was in superb shape. The golf course drew rave reviews from this field of the top Senior players in Louisiana. The greens were smooth, rolling around an 11 and the bunkers, which were redone in 2014, were pristine.
View results for Louisiana Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE
Louisiana Senior Amateur
Eligibility: Entries are open to any Louisiana resident
(as of at least 90 days prior to the Championship)
who is an amateur golfer (as defined by the USGA)
holding membership in a LGA member club in good
standing (2017 club and individual dues must be
paid). Entrants must be 50 years of age and possess
a certified USGA Handicap Index of 15.0 or less.
Format: Overall Championship will be conducted
over
54 holes. In addition to the Overall Championship,
there is a Super Senior division for those
participants
who are 65 years of age and older. Super Seniors
will
play from a forward set of tees and compete only in
the Super Senior division. Any Senior over 65 may
elect to play in the Overall competition but, in doing
so, is precluded from participation in the Super
Seniors division. For the Senior Amateur, the Super
Senior division is a 36 hole event with a discounted
entry fee.
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