A Historical Week for Women’s Golf in New Orleans

Golf came to New Orleans in 1898 when Audubon Golf Club was established as the first golf course in Louisiana.  And 113 years later, The Kelly Gibson Foundation and the Allstate Sugar Bowl put on two events that I would say was the finest week ever for women’s golf in New Orleans.

At a time when the future of junior girls and women’s golf in our country is the concern of many, these two organizations are putting New Orleans on the map for making a difference in growing the game of golf.

On Saturday, February 26, the Kelly Gibson Junior Golf Tour put on their second annual high school girls tournament at Pinewood in Slidell.  A solid field of 13 teams was represented.

“I have never seen this level of overall junior girls golf growth and improvement ever in New Orleans, we now need to have our top junior girl golfers to step forward to carry it further,” PGA Tour Veteran Kelly Gibson commented.

Our top junior girl golfers are beginning to show the way.

Elise Bradley, a junior at Mandeville High School and tournament medalist, is the current Louisiana Women’s and Junior State Champion. She has verbally committed to LSU.  Pair Noibanchong a senior at Mount Carmel whose team lost the state high school championship by one stroke in 2010 early signed with the University of Southern Mississippi and will be on a full scholarship her freshman year at USM.

The future looks solid for Louise S. McGehee under Coach Tim Harris with their tournament win by one stroke over Mount Carmel.  Harris’ daughters are quite the talents. Pearlissa finished second individually and Angelica, one of golf’s top 13 year olds, finished third.

Brad White, PGA, Tournament Director of the Kelly Gibson Junior Golf Tour, gave much credit to the commitment of the parents, to tournament sponsor Cox Communications, and James Leitz, PGA, friend to junior golf, tournament host and one of the most respected golf teachers in the country with 19 state junior champions to his credit.

On Sunday, February 27, the Allstate Sugar Bowl in conjunction with host Tulane University held their Intercollegiate event at English Turn. Golf Digest ranked it the second strongest field in college golf this spring.

It was surely the strongest women’s golf tournament ever in Louisiana with # 1 Alabama, # 2 Southern Cal, # 4 LSU, # 5 Duke, # 6 Purdue, # 8 Virginia, # 11 Vanderbilt, # 12 North Carolina, # 15 Tulane, # 17 Tennessee and # 20 Auburn taking part in the event.

Tulane led after the first day when each of the 17 teams then participated in a junior clinic with nearly 100 in attendance.  After a great turnout with Mardi Gras parades in progress, we have yet aother true indicator of the growth of junior golf in New Orleans.

Madeline Gordon, one of our top junior golfers in New Orleans, enjoyed the excellent opportunity to  work the oncourse scoreboard.

The championship was close all the way with Southern Cal edging Alabama while Tulane finished a strong third place led by Maribel Lopez Porras with scores of 71-71-71 to earn her Conference USA Player of the Week. Tulane’s finish boosted their national ranking to an impressive 12th.

The individual winner was freshman Stepahanie Meadow of Alabama whose parents came to New Orleans from Ireland to see their daughter play collge golf for the first time.  Scores of 72-66-73 gave Meadow the title with a one shot victory over the nation’s number one ranked collegiate golfer, Megan McChrystal of LSU, who had scores of 69-70-73.

” I never would have thought we would have beat this many quality programs, a great day for Tulane’s Women’s Golf,” said Tulane Coach John Thomas Horton when was asked how he would sum up the week.

Tulane is truly the best story in college golf when you think this program was suspended after Hurricane Katrina. Now in their third year back, the Green Wave are now one of the best programs in the country.

As the day was coming to an end and teams were heading back home, I asked Sue Bower, PGA member and Tulane Director of Golf and Assistant Athletic Director, if she could have ever imagined this day 20 years ago when Tulane Women’s Golf was born. “It really is amazing,” Bower replied in satisfaction.

Looking back over the week, I remember back to when Kelly Gibson played junior golf. Bower had started a team 20 years ago that was learning how to break a 100. Today junior girls and college golf have never been better in New Orleans.  This is special stuff, and to all who are making it happen, I want you to know that you are putting golf in New Orleans on the map.

Just imagine, New Orleans a leader in golf. I like how it sounds.