Ascension Episcopal’s Ortego enjoys comforts of “home” to take lead in LHSAA Division III boys golf championships

LAFAYETTE – Hometown product Eli Ortego of Ascension Episcopal posted sub-par scores on both the front and back nine Monday to take the individual lead in Boys Division III of the Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA State Golf Championships.

Ortego, a freshman who finished sixth in last year’s Division IV tournament as an eighth grader, carded a 35-35 – 70 score and leads the individual championship by two strokes over John Hayden Wood of Episcopal-Baton Rouge (37-35—72).

Thanks to Ortego and two other scores in the 70s, Ascension Episcopal also leads the team race with an 18-over-par 306 score. Defending Division III champion University High, which Ascension Episcopal beat by two strokes in the regional qualifying round, is in second place, eight strokes back at 314, while Episcopal (330), Loyola Prep (331) and Isidore Newman (339) are in a close battle for team third-place honors.

Ortego was the only player to break par Monday over the 6,348-yard par-72 The Wetlands course, posting birdies at the par-three fourth hole, the par-five sixth and the par-five 14^th. His only bogey came on the par-four third hole.

Tanner McKenzie of Pine is one more stroke back of Wood in third place with a one-over 73, a round that included the day’s best back nine at three-under 33. Luke Haskew of University and August Drummond of Loyola Prep are tied for fourth, two more strokes back at three-over 75, while Jay Mendell of Ascension Episcopal, Mikey Landry of St. Charles Catholic and Clayton Brown of University are tied for sixth at 76 entering Tuesday’s final 18-hole round.

2018 ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL LHSAA STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Division III Boys First-Day Results
Monday, April 30, 2018
At The Wetlands (6,348 yards, par 72), Lafayette, La.

TEAM STANDINGS
Ascension Episcopal 306
University 314
Episcopal 330
Loyola Prep 331
Isidore Newman 339
Menard 390
Calvary Baptist 423
Lakeside no score

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

Eli Ortego, Ascension Episcopal 35-35 – 70
John Hayden Wood, Episcopal 37-35 – 72
Tanner McKenzie, Pine 40-33 – 73
Luke Haskew, University 37-38 – 75
August Drummond, Loyola Prep 37-38 – 75
Jay Mendell, Ascension Episcopal 36-40 – 76
Mikey Landry, St. Charles Catholic 39-37 – 76
Clayton Brown, University 39-37 – 76
Becker Ferrer, Isidore Newman 40-37 – 77
Drake Hoffpauir, Loreauville 38-39 – 77
Henry Googe, Loyola Prep 41-37 – 78
Canon Clark, Ascension Episcopal 37-41 – 78
Colby Dupuis, Pine Prairie 42-37 – 79
Winston Dupree, University 38-41 – 79
Burke Alford, Loyola Prep 40-40 – 80
Joe Patterson, Episcopal 42-40 – 82
Jude Ardoin, Ascension Episcopal 42-40 – 82
Miles Merlin, Isidore Newman 41-42 – 83
John Swacker, Notre Dame 41-42 – 83
Max Rathle, Isidore Newman 42-41 – 83
Jonas Valentine, Jena 41-43 – 84
Walter Anderson, University 39-45 – 84
Will Torres, St. Charles Catholic 41-44 – 85
Luke Foster, Episcopal 42-44 – 86
Bode Hinds, Ascension Episcopal 42-46 – 88
Jacob Whittle, Menard 44-45 – 89
Coy Fortenberry, University 41-48 – 89
Ethan Lawson, Episcopal 42-48 – 90
Ben Vanderlick, Menard 46-45 – 91
Michael Smith, Lakeside 47-44 – 91
Chase Jennings, Calvary Baptist 42-50 – 92
Peyton Brookshire, Calvary Baptist 46-46 – 92
Troy Hunt, South Beauregard 48-45 – 93
Brody Crumpler, Lakeside 51-43 – 94
Konrad Marks, Isidore Newman 45-51 – 96
Matt Opotowsky, Isidore Newman 47-50 – 97
Jackson Beckman, Loyola Prep 48-50 – 98
Carter Higgins, Calvary Baptist 50-48 – 98
Jason McCollister, Episcopal 49-52 – 101
Brooks Anderson, Menard 48-54 – 102
David Hoover, Menard 50-58 – 108
Michael Angelo, Loyola Prep 56-57 – 113
Hunter Harris, Calvary Baptist 73-68 – 141
Jacques Roy, Menard 67-75 – 142
Aiden Cormier, Calvary Baptist 70-82 – 152