McWilliams wins Louisiana Senior with back-nine birdies
Robby McWilliams (LGA/Twitter photo)
Robby McWilliams of Benton, La., won his first Louisiana Senior Amateur in just his second attempt on Saturday, but it took a comeback to do it. McWilliams finished runner-up in last year’s event but is hardly a stranger to the winner’s circle. He claimed the Louisiana Mid-Amateur title at Southern Trace Country Club in 2016.
McWilliams went 3-under in the final round at Abita Springs (La.) Golf Club for a final-round 69 despite blustery afternoon conditions. That was good enough to move him ahead of defeat 36-hole leader Tommy Brennan by a shot.
McWilliams began his day in the next-to-last group, but was five shots back. He made his first birdie of the day on the par-4 fifth and turned at 1-under 35, which helped him close the gap on the lead.
McWilliams stumbled at the par-4 10th, making bogey. Meanwhile, Brennan holed out for eagle on No. 9 from 147 yards with a 9-iron, which seemingly shifted the momentum. When McWilliams stepped on the No. 11 tee, he was again five back. Back-to-back birdies followed, then Brennan made back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 13 and 14 followed by a double on 16.
McWilliams’ final birdie at No. 17 got him to 3 under for the round and 2 under for the championship. A par on the home hole was all he needed to secure the victory. McWilliams and Brennan, both highly decorated Louisiana players, were the only players in the field to finish under par for the championship.
Information from the Louisiana Golf Association used in this reportView 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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