McPherson handles conditions, edges Abney to win 20th Mackel at Oak Harbor

Todd McPherson knew Saturday was a day of survival to not shoot himself out of contention in the 20^th edition of The Mackel, the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Championship of New Orleans.

It would have been easy to do when the temps were in the high 70s at Oak Harbor Golf Club in Slidell throughout the week before a cold front came through Saturday like a lion. That morning with the temperature in the low 40s and a 15 mile per hour north wind, the golfers were taken off guard.

As a result of the cold blast, for the first time in the history of the championship no player broke par in the first round. Jack Abney, 10-time Slidell City Champion, had a two stroke lead with an even par 72 followed by only two scores at 74 in the open division, defending champion Buck Williams and 2013 6^th place finisher and TPC Club Champion Todd McPherson.

Oak Harbor with the wind can be one of golf’s toughest tests in the region. However on Sunday, the golfers benefited from the break they wanted when the temperatures reached the 60s and most importantly the wind died down to a whisper.

McPherson knew the layout and weather effects all too well with the latter’s changing for the better for the final round.

“After Saturday and surviving, to be honest, I thought it was going to take two or three under for the championship to win,” McPherson said.

With that mindset McPherson went to work on Sunday. He birdied the first four holes and after a couple of tough holes coming in on the front he regained his momentum making birdies on 10 and 11. McPherson finished his round with a 70 that included six birdies to come it at even par and to hold off the experienced Jack Abney by a single stroke. Abney could only manage a 73 on Sunday.

The low round of the championship went to LSU golfer Blake Caldwell who persevered after his first round of 81 to post a 68 that could have been better if he had not had two three-putts. A round that included five birdies on the back nine vaulted him a third place finish.

Along with Abney, another local favorite was 16-year old Jacob Bergeron, who lost this event in a playoff last year. He started slowly the first day with a 77 and had it going Sunday until a double par on 16 to finish with 72, tying Caldwell for third. Buck Williams, Kristopfer Kerr and John Hoskin also joined Caldwell and Bergeron in the third-place deadlock.

Angelica Harris edged Loyola golf team member Sarah-Anne Smurlick by a single stroke to win the women’s division for the second time. In the senior division, 2012 Mackel champion Bart Dornier finished with a one-under score of 143 which included a 69 on Sunday. Dana Sutton won the over-60 Super Senior division with a two-over par score of 146 fueled by a 70 on Sunday to edge Ed Malone by two strokes.

The Mackel – Metropolitan Amateur Golf Championship of New Orleans

Oak Harbor Golf Club – Slidell, LA –   Par 72 -Final Results 

Open Division

Todd McPherson             74-70     144

Jack Abney                         72-73     145

Blake Caldwell                   81-68     149

Jacob Bergeron                 77-72     149

John Hoskin III                   76-73     149

Kristofer, Kerr                   78-71     149

Buck Williams                     74-75     149

Jonathan Nguyen            77-73     150

Ron Jeandron                    75-75     150

Scott Sterbcow                 74-77     151

Brandon Pierce                 75-77     152

Scott Gottsche                  78-74     152

Colin Richwine                   77-76     153

Frank Briseno IV               77-78     155

Chris Kercheval                 80-75     155

Maruri, Jose                       79-78     157

Gavin Johnson                  77-82     159

Mike Pizzitola                    80-80     160

Hunter Theriot                  81-79     160

Stephen Wall                     81-80     161

Joey Sasser                         80-82     162

Brice Howard                     80-82     162

Paul Dussom                      81-83     164

James Jarusook                                82-80     162

Billy Trinchard III               84-79     163

Daniel Theriot                    85-78     163

Patrick Osborne                                83-84     167

Garrett Creath                  85-82     167

Paul Falter lll                       88-79     167

Sean Hillis                            84-84     168

David Blouin                       85-83     168

Joshua Augustine            85-83     168

Steven Benoit                   94-74     169

Warren Groomer             90-79     169

Justin Caldwell                  94-79     173

Danny Briseno                   89-85     174

Ellis Sampson                     95-79     174

Zachary Barrios                 92-87     177

Robert Garner                   90-88     178

Nick Barnes                        97-82     179

Peter Hansen                    96-85     181

Eric Hill                                  91-97     188

Will Dufour                         108-90   198

 

Senior

Bart Dornier                       74-69     143

Danny Schaus                    79-72     151

Mitch Sexton                     76-75     151

David Tucker                      76-76     152

Darell Benoit                      79-75     154

Andy Bower                       75-81     156

Joel Childress                     83-73     156

David Bullock                     83-75     158

Ronnie Averett                 86-76     162

Cantrell Simon                   89-74     163

Wiley Conn                         87-80     167

Danny Abadie                    81-88     169

Stephen Romano             88-82     170

Antonio Biggs                    84-90     174

David Bowser                    86-90     176

Todd Bourg                         87-90     177

Aaron Blagrove                 91-88     179

Byron Lee                            96-84     180

Sal Serio                               98-97     195

Larry Jackson                     96-110   206

 

Super Senior

Dana Sutton                       76-70     146

Ed Malone                          76-72     148

Ricky Salvaggio                  76-75     151

Mike Nolan                         77-76     153

Michael McCarthy           82-79     161

Edward Fielding                                81-80     161

Craig Simpson                    77-85     162

Steve Morris                      84-80     164

Fred Litchliter                    87-80     167

Jim Hunt                              81-88     169

Claude Toups                     92-85     177

Jim Epperson                     95-93     188

 

Women

 

Angelica Harris                  77-78     155

Sarah-Anne Smurlick      77-79     156

Savannah Ennis                 91-82     173