Golf tournament set to begin in Houma

Colonels have tough weekend at Arizona

April 4, 2018

Another Q&A? Sure!

April 4, 2018

Attentive eyes will be on the golfing world this week, as Tiger Woods makes his return to the Master’s – the first time in many years that the legendary player is healthy for the prestigious event.

But a little closer to home, it’s another golfing event that’s making headlines – one which will feature and showcase tomorrow’s stars at one of the top courses in our area.

The Adams Golf Pro Tour Series will return to Houma this week – the 15th-straight year that the professional tour returns to Houma.

The event, which was long called the Fakier Open, changed its name to the Hebert Open last year. This year, the title sponsor has changed again and the event will be called the Options for Independence Houma Classic.

The name may be different, but event organizers said this year’s tournament will again be successful, because of the area’s ability to easily host a successful sporting event.

“The Houma area is always one of our favorite stops, which I think that goes without saying because we’ve now been there for so, so many years,” Neal said. “The people are warm and friendly and I think the golf course is very challenging, but fair. The players enjoy being in that part of Louisiana and we always look forward to the event and seeing our golfers compete to win the tournament title.”

There are some really good players in this year’s field.

The Adams Golf Pro Tour Series is a rung below the PGA Tour and its developmental tours, so no one you’ll see in Houma is famous or well-known for their playing ability, but there are many who may be on the way.

The Adams Golf Pro Tour Series has jump-started several players who eventually reached the PGA Tour, including Master’s Champion Bubba Watson, who actually won the Houma tournament in 2005.

This year’s field is also loaded, led by Michael Arnaud, who is the defending champion.

Last year, Arnaud outlasted the competition and shot a final-round 66 (6-under) to finish the tournament 14-under – one shot better than Curtis Reed and Matt Davidson, who both were runners-up at 13-under. Reed is also booked to play in the event.

In addition to last year’s strong finishers, the event will also feature several players who are off to strong starts in the 2018 season, including Rob Hudson, Case Cochran, Ben Crancer, Greg Yates and Dillon Rust.

Yates has a win this season at the Coke/Dr. Pepper Open in Alexandria, shooting a blistering 26-under-par score to win the tournament by six strokes.

Rust finished third in that event at 19-under.

Hudson, Cochran and Crancer were all successful in the last Adams Golf event – the Victoria Open in Texas.

Hudson and Cochran finished tied for second at 3-under. Crancer was fifth after shooting a 64 on the final day to sprout into contention.

Arnaud said at last year’s event that he liked playing at Ellendale, adding that the course was challenging, but rewarding to the players who hit the most quality shots.

Arnaud was not in the lead until the final day of the event.

The winner of the tournament is guaranteed to take home at least $20,000.

“The conditions are very tough,” he said. “It’s a difficult event, but it’s a fun tournament to play in. There are a lot of birdies that can be made, but you have to hit quality shots because if not, you can slip up and make some really bad scores, as well.”

But aside from the four rounds of competition, this event is also a showcase of the sport of golf.

On Monday, the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series hosted a Ladies Clinic and a Long Drive Classic where the pros were able to interact with community members for some fun on the links.

Yesterday, the pros returned to the links for a Pro-Am with several community leaders and golf lovers who signed up to play.

Neal said giving back is something the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series is serious about – a staple of their work. She said in Houma, that part is easy because the players immediately feel like they’re at home.

“The food is great,” Neal said. “And the hospitality is just at a whole another level. The people are happy to have us and they are so welcoming and that rubs off on everyone. I think that really creates a great energy around the event and the players enjoy competing and playing.

The tournament begins today and morning and afternoon flights will tee off both from the 1st and 10th tees throughout the day.

Cost to attend is free.

After two rounds, a cut will be made, and the upper half of the field will finish the tournament in the final two days to decide how the prize money is divvied up.