JOURNAL SPORTS
NEW ORLEANS – Shreveport native and Class of 2024 Loyola College Prep graduate Connor Cassano knew his game was primed when the Louisiana State Amateur golf championship teed off Thursday.
Honing his game and his mental approach during his freshman year at LSU had paid off. That was borne out when he shot a career-low 7-under in a practice round Wednesday on the 7,073-yard track at Bayou Oaks at City Park – and when he repeated it in Friday’s second round.
He knew it when he teed off on the final hole one shot back, needing a birdie to have a chance.
Cassano got that birdie, hitting a wedge to gimme range, and forced a playoff with third-round leader Landen East of Sulphur after both carded 19-under scores over 72 holes in the 106th state amateur. On the second extra hole, the par-5 18th, Cassano got up and down out of a greenside bunker for a birdie that gave him the crown.
Those career-low rounds confirmed what he was feeling entering the week.
“I knew my game was in a great spot. I learned a lot this year about how to take care of my business,” he said.
“This was probably one of the first times I’ve truly stuck to, and it’s very cliché’, but stuck to the actual process of golf for a full tournament. I hung in there for 72 holes. I told myself, ‘we’re hitting the shots, and the putts are going to start falling.’ I knew I was playing the type of golf that was good enough to be in the mix.”
With Loyola teammate Holden Webb as his caddy, the approach changed on the final hole of regulation, playing alongside East.
“That last hole, I needed to force it,” said Cassano.
He was in position to do so because of two pivotal shots earlier on the inward nine. Cassano holed out for eagle with a short wedge shot on the 11th, and drained a par save from 8 feet on 16.
“That kept me in the fight,” he said. “Then on 18, I knew I needed to birdie and it was really nice to get it done.
“It was a really exciting week. I was really happy I could prove to myself that we’re here to compete and we’re not going anywhere.”
He became the second Shreveporter in three years to capture the state am after no local had taken the title since 2013. Jake Marler won two years ago.
Benton’s Noah McWilliams was one shot back at 18-under, with a 68-64 making him the second round outright leader. He shot 71 Saturday and finished with a 67.
Another former Flyer golfer, Burke Alford, took 10th with an 11-under 277 (72-68-70-67).