PRESS RELEASE
It was another perfect day for golf at Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette. Scoring conditions were ideal, and the golf course was in excellent condition for the top Amateur golfers in the state. 2015 LGA Mid-Amateur Champion Brandon Aydlett of Metairie fired a five-under par 67 to catapult himself into first place heading into the weekend. Aydlett is currently at seven-under par for the Championship, and he has a four-shot lead over 2011 LGA Amateur Champion Greg Berthelot of Baton Rouge and Matt Weber of Scott. Berthelot carded a one-under par 71, while Weber was two-under par on Friday. Aydlett is a highly decorated amateur golfer, and his resume includes low medalist honors at the 2014 USGA Men’s State Team Championship, which was conducted at the French Lick Resort in Indiana. Aydlett has come agonizingly close to winning the LGA Amateur Championship on more than one occasion, including a runner-up finish in 2012 at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans. Surprisingly, the last two times that Aydlett competed in the LGA Amateur at Oakbourne (2004 and 2011), he finished at sixteen-over par 304. He is certainly playing on a different level this week, and perhaps this will be the year that he gets it done and claims the most prestigious amateur title in the state.
Aydlett’s bogey-free second round is the only round in the Championship thus far that claims a blemish free scorecard. Aydlett started his round in dramatic fashion and set the tone for an incredible round of golf. He teed off at 1:03 PM on the par 4 10th hole (342 yards) and drove green. He would go on to two putt and card a birdie. Aydlett reached the green in two at the par 5 11th hole and had another two-putt birdie. His next birdie came at the par 3 15th hole (200 yards). Aydlett hit a six iron within 10 feet and made the putt. Aydlett hist his tee shot to within 12 feet at the par 3 4th hole (148 yards) and drained the putt. Aydlett hit driver – six iron to the fringe of the green at the par 5 7th hole (523 yards) and successfully two putted from there.
Other under par scores on Friday were shot by Charlie Flynn of Alexandria (71/151) and Robby Going of Lake Charles (71/154). 36 holes remain to be played, and with fourteen players within ten shots of the leaders, Saturday’s third round will be an exciting “Moving Day” as players scrap to get themselves into contention on Championship Sunday.
After 2nd round play, the cut was made to the low 60 scorers at 12-over par (156).
Temperatures rose to the upper-80s on Friday, with a slight breeze blowing throughout the day. The golf course played firm and fast, and it has been a treat for competitors to play this week. Oakbourne Superintendent Jason Barras and his crew have gone above and beyond the call, working tirelessly over the last few weeks to get the golf course in Championship condition. They have stayed at the course working until dark each night after the final groups complete play, and they begin each morning at 4:30 AM. The fairways were well manicured, and the greens were incredibly smooth, rolling at a 12 on the stimpmeter. The Dick Wilson designed track drew rave reviews from LGA Amateur competitors. The Oakbourne course played to a par 72 at approximately 6,890 yards on Friday.
Oakbourne is hosting the LGA Amateur Championship for the seventh time in its history, which is second most all time (also in 1959 and 1981, 1989, 1998, 2004, and 2011).
Third Round play will begin at 7:30 AM off the first tee, with the leaders going off last at 10:21 AM.