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Johnson claims MGA Amateur title, while Looper wins LGA crown
By JOHN PRICE
Randolph finished the day at even par to put him at two over and runner-up. Randolph, 2007 Junior Amateur Champion and Johnson, 2008 Junior Amateur Champion are two Mississippi Champions that will be seen in years to come. Finishing a stroke behind Randolph in third place was T. Robert Oakley of Senatobia.The Mike Magee Medalist trophy was awarded to Steve Wilson of Ocean Springs. Wilson, past amateur champion and U.S. Mid-Am Champion posted a first-round 68, which was never bested in this year’s event.
LOOPER WINS LGA TITLE It’s been a long year for Mandeville’s Ken
Looper. Last year, he started the final round of the Louisiana Golf Association Amateur in the lead only to fall in a playoff to Andrew Loupe. This year, he left nothing to chance, firing a 4-under-par 67 to take home the trophy as the 91st Champion in this year’s edition of the LGA’s marquee event.
He finished with a 14-under-par 270, taking the title by three shots over Luling’s Andrew Noto at Koasati Pines Golf Course at Coushatta Casino in Kinder. Finishing alone in third three more shots back was Max Sellers of Baton Rouge. The day started with Looper holding a three-shot edge over Noto and Sellers. Looper finished his front nine with a one-under-par 34. Sellers birdied the ninth, also finishing the front at 34. Noto birdied the fifth, but gave it back with a bogey of his own on the 200-yard seventh. That’s when Looper decided to take matters into his own hands, making consecutive birdies on
Nos. 15-17, including a 40-footer on No. 17 that hit the back of the cup, hopped into the air and fell in. Noto, who notched birdies on Nos. 16 and 18, just had too much ground to overcome in the end. Rounding out the top-10 finishers were: Matthew Hungerman of Mandeville (280), Patrick Christovich of New Orleans (281), Robby McWilliams of Bossier City (281), Austin Gutgsell of Mandeville (282), Ben Suarez of Sulphur (283), Hayden Stephens of Ruston (284), and Jonathan Bale of Ruston (285). Koasati Pines at Coushatta will also host the 2011 LGA Four-Ball Championship and the 2012 LGA Club Team Championship. John Price is the Publisher of Tee to Green Golf Magazine. He can be reached at 985.855.5555 or at john@teetogreenmagazine.com.
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