JOURNAL STAFF
Defending state champion C.E. Byrd brings a seven-shot lead into today’s final round of the LHSAA Division I boys’ golf championship, on the strength of three Yellow Jackets carding one-under 71s in the first 18 holes Monday.
In Division III, Loyola is second, but 21 shots behind the pace set by Ascension Episcopal, with three Flyers in the top 10 individually.
At the 6,536-yard Farm d’Allie layout in Carencro, Byrd got 71s from Ethan Dial (35-36), Duke Bowen (34-37) and Grant Reagan (35-36), along with a 76 (40-36) by Shep Smith to fill out the scorecard. James Holtsclaw shot 79 (35-44) for the Jackets.
Benton’s Noah McWilliams also posted a 71, with a strong 31 on the front nine, to fit into a five-way tie for third chasing first-round leader Carter Schmitt of Catholic (Baton Rouge), who shot 33-34 – 67. McWilliams was fourth in last year’s state tourney.
Other Benton scores: Miller Davis, 73 (37-36) for 13th individually; Kade Bryant, 77 (36-41, 19th); Colton Halverson, 81 (40-41) and Cason Toms, 82 (41-41).
Airline’s Madden Sawrie is in a 19th-place tie at 77 (41-36).
Byrd’s 289 team score tops St. Paul’s at 296, with Benton and Catholic tied for third at 302.
LOYOLA BOYS IN D3 MIX: Loyola’s team card of 306 trails only the 285 by Ascension Episcopal heading into the final 18 holes of Division III boys’ play today at the Cane Row Golf and Turf Club in New Iberia. Dunham is third at 318. Calvary Baptist stands seventh at 385 at the 6,291-yard, par-72 course.
The Flyers were paced Monday by Jack Gilmer at 75 (39-36), good for a third-place tie behind Ascension Episcopal’s Kale Fontenot (65). Loyola’s Ross Alford was tied for fourth at 76 (40-36) while Connor Cassano is in eighth at 77 (37-40), Charlie Bell sits in 11th (78, 37-41) and Charles Valiulis is at 80 (40-40).
Calvary’s top score was a 95 from Ezra Smith, while Trip Jones (96), Noah Wassom (96) and Hunter Harris (98) completed the Cavaliers’ card.
SHREVE, HAUGHTON GIRLS BATTLING: Captain Shreve and Haughton are separated by only six shots going into today’s Division I girls’ competition at Les Vieux Chenes Golf Club in Youngsville. Barbe is running away with the team title at 156, while Shreve (191) stands sixth and Haughton (197) is eighth.
Jade Neves of Sacred Heart-New Orleans shot a one-over 75. Benton’s Abigail McWilliams was the low local golfer with her seventh-place 84, which started with a 38, the second-best nine-hole score of the day on the front side.
Shreve’s Addison Montoya is 11th at 88 (43-45). Haylee Crowder of Haughton is 16th (94) while teammate Morgan Davison (103) stands 21st and Shreve’s Margaret Shamburg (105) is 26th. Ainsley Thompson of Haughton (118) is 31st.
LOYOLA GIRLS SIXTH IN D2: The Lady Flyers posted a 216 team total, sixth in Division II, Monday at Farm d’Allie, with Ursiline Academy soaring with a 158 card. Loyola’s April Williams (101) was 13th individually while Kathryn Jackson stood 22nd Monday at 115.
