PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Carr McCalla
Louisiana Golf Association
(www.lgagolf.org)
E-mail address: lgagolf@lgagolf.org
For Release: Upon Receipt

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GRAY PLANTATION TO HOST LGA STATE AMATEUR

Lake Charles, Louisiana  --  June 3, 2008  --  Gray Plantation in Lake Charles will host the 89^th edition of the Louisiana Golf Association Amateur Championship June 5-8. 144 players from across Louisiana comprise the field that will compete over 72 holes for the most prestigious Amateur Championship in the state. 34 players were exempt from having to qualify while 110 players survived sectional qualifying at 8 sites across the state to reach Championship round play at the Rocky Roquemore-designed Gray Plantation.

Chris Wells of Baton Rouge, the 2007 Amateur Champion, has turned professional and won’t be back to defend the title he won last year at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans. 2006 Champion Jason Kuperman of Shreveport will return, as will five-time runner-up Tommy Brennan of Covington and B.C. Thibeaux of Lafayette. Kuperman, Brennan, and Thibeaux tied for runner-up honors last year, finishing one shot back of Wells in an extremely exciting finish. Former champions Grady Brame of Hammond (2002) and Scott Haynie of Baton Rouge (1993), will also be on hand. Others expected to vie for the Championship include 2005 LGA Junior Amateur Champion and current LSU golfer, Andrew Loupe of Baton Rouge, Robby McWilliams of Bossier City, Gayle Sanchez of Baton Rouge, and Jeff Calloway of Baton Rouge. Calloway won the 2004 LGA Mid-Am at Gray Plantation, shooting nine-under par over 54 holes. Lake Charles area players expected to make a run for this year’s Championship include; Robby Going, John Morrissey, Randy Tadlock, Matt Nicholas, Ben Suarez, Simi Masson, Billy Gabbert, Doug Quienalty, George Cestia, and Bo Stewart. This year’s event has again drawn a strong field from top to bottom in what will no doubt be an extremely exciting Championship.

Gray Plantation will play to a par of 72 at approximately 7,100 yards. The course has been extremely dry over the last number of weeks and, as a consequence, the rough is not as severe as expected. However, the winds are expected to howl on Thursday and Friday and with the fairways narrowed and greens stimping out at around 11, the course will be a challenging test for this field of the best amateur players in the state. 

“We’re so excited to be able to bring our marquee Championship to Gray Plantation. Gray has hosted a number of our Championships since its opening almost 10 years ago and it's only fitting that we bring the Amateur to a venue that has been so supportive of the LGA. We are indebted to Gray Plantation, its ownership and membership for allowing us to conduct this Championship at their facility,” said LGA Executive Director Carr McCalla. 

The Championship kicks off Wednesday night with the Pre-Tournament Banquet, when the LGA will honor J. Michael Veron of Lake Charles with the organization’s Distinguished Service Award for 2008. Play gets underway Thursday morning, June 5, at 7:30 a.m., off both #1 and #10 tees.