MCC golfer, Garrett Westbrook, and So. Alabama golfer, Blake Kelley, take home the Louisiana State 4-Ball Championship

July 19, 2009 -- New Orleans, LA -- Garrett Westbrook of Baton Rouge and Blake Kelley of Mandeville survived a four-hole playoff on Sunday to take home the 2009 Louisiana Golf Association 4-Ball Championship. Finishing 36 holes in a tie with Darell Benoit of Belle Chasse and Scott Sterbcow of Mandeville at 14-under par 130, Westbrook sank a three-foot putt for birdie on the fourth hole at the TPC Louisiana to finally end the playoff that seemed as if it might never end.

Heading into the 17th hole in regulation, Westbrook and Kelley held a precarious one shot lead over Benoit and Sterbcow, both teams playing in the final group of the day. A birdie by Sterbcow on #17 brought them all even at 13-under par, then birdies by Kelley and Sterbcow on #18 necessitated the playoff.

Kelley hit his second shot to eight feet on the first playoff hole (#1), with Benoit hitting it inside him to three feet. After Kelley ran his putt into the middle of the hole, Benoit matched the birdie with the three footer to send the teams on to the second tee. Pars on the par five second hole set up four birdie putts on #3 that all burned the lip but none fell.

After Sterbcow’s second shot ended just short on the par four 4th, Kelley hit his second to the back of the green, then Westbrook knocked his to three feet, and Benoit hit his to about 10 feet. Benoit’s putt slid by on the high side, then Westbrook wasted no time in ending the suspense, hitting his putt firmly into the back of the hole.

Westbrook will be a sophomore at Meridian (MS) Community College for the upcoming 2009-2010 season and was named a 2009 NJCAA Div I All American after leading MCC to a 6th place finish in the NJCAA National Championship last season playing under head coach Sean Covich. Kelley will be a freshman at the University of South Alabama staring next season.

Rounding out the Top Five teams, and ending in a tie for third were: Dusty Green of Boyce and Justin Lowe of Ball, 66/66-132; Robert Shelton and Ben Thibeaux of Lafayette, 63/69-132; and Kevin Morvant and Mark Leblanc of Houma, 66/66-132.

The Pete Dye designed TPC Louisiana track was in great condition for this field of the top players in the state. It played to a par of 72 on Sunday at 6,858 yards and continued to draw rave reviews from the field. Sunday’s weather was unseasonably cool with a tad less humidity than normal for south Louisiana. A swirling breeze did make club selection somewhat more difficult than on Saturday.

TPC Louisiana will serve as host to the 2010 LGA Senior Amateur Championship in August of 2010. The 2010 LGA 4-Ball Championship will also be held in the New Orleans area, hosted by English Turn Golf & Country Club.