Regional Runner-Up Golfers Have a State Title to Defend

Posted April 26, 2018 / Last updated April 27, 2018

Sophomore Andrew Barreca puts this par-3 tee shot on line and lands the ball 10 feet from the cup. Barreca made an eagle on hole 4 and carded a 37 on the front nine. He finished with a 75 (+3) in his first regional golf tournament.

A senior from last year’s state championship team and a sophomore first-year starter carried the Jesuit golf team to a runner-up finish at the Division I Region II Championships. The regional tournament, which combines teams from Districts 3 and 4 and qualifying individuals, was held on April 24 at Carter Plantation in Springfield, La. While Jesuit fell four strokes short of winning the regional, the Jays knew their top priority was qualifying for the state tournament and now preparing to defend the title.

Senior Grayson Glorioso had the low round of 73 (+1) for the Blue Jays.

View the Photo Gallery from the 2018 Region II Golf Tournament

It was a great day for senior Grayson Glorioso and sophomore Andrew Barreca, but Catholic High also saw two golfers turn in low rounds, of 70 and 74, to earn first and third place individually. Glorioso’s 1-over 73 and Barreca’s 3-over 75 were worthy of an individual runner-up and a T-4 finish, respectively.

View Individual/Team Scores from the Regional Tournament (PDF)

With Catholic’s best two scores (E) edging out Jesuit’s best two (+4) by four, the Blue Jays needed some magic from their remaining players. Junior Britton Khalaf and senior Jake Kuebel both turned in 80, while Catholic’s #3 and #4 matched them with a 79 and 81. Jesuit finished with a team score of 308, four strokes higher than Catholic’s 304. The Blue Jays discarded their fifth score of 85, shot by senior J.T. Holmes.

The top four team scores from the 8-team regional tournament advanced to state, and the Bears and Blue Jays were well ahead of the other six competing teams. Brother Martin earned 3rd place with a team score of 320, and Zachary slipped past St. Paul’s by two strokes to take the fourth spot. Although St. Paul’s won the District Championship a week prior, their performance at regionals did not qualify for state tournament participation.

Jesuit’s head coach Owen Seiler ’75 kept his remarks brief and future-focused, saying, “Next week is when it counts. Go Blue Jays!”

Teams	Advancing	Place
Catholic High	304	1st
Jesuit	308	2nd
Brother Martin	320	3rd
Zachary	327	4th

Teams	Not Advancing	Place
St. Paul’s	329	5th
Holy Cross	344	6th
Dutchtown	361	7th
St. Amant	377	8th

On April 30 and May 1, the LHSAA State Golf Tournament will be held at Farm d’Allie in Carencro, La.

Galleries

Golf Regional Tournament (Region II), Carter Plantation, April 24, 2018

Senior Jake Kuebel reads his birdie putt.
Kuebel putts from the fringe.
Kuebel across the bridge
Kuebel compresses his wedge approach from the rough, lands it on the green,...
...and cleans his club afterwards.
Kuebel taps in for par.
Head coach Owen Seiler motivates junior Britton Khalaf as he marches down hole 8's fairway towards his golf ball.
Junior Britton Khalaf at the top of his backswing on hole #16
Khalaf just after impact on hole #16
Khalaf through the swing on hole #16
Khalaf escapes the greenside bunker.
Khalaf watches his putt approach the hole.
Khalaf is shuttled over to the next tee box by assistant coach John Weirich.
Sophomore Andrew Barreca attempts a birdie putt on hole 12.
Barreca hits a drive.
Barreca walks to his second shot.
Assistant coach Monty Glorioso watches golfers hit their approach shots on hole #13, the signature par 5.
Senior Grayson Glorioso, after making a par putt on #9 to shoot an even-par 36 on the front nine at Carter Plantation.
Glorioso generates good lag on his downswing and...
...turns through the shot that eventually lands on the green for birdie.
Glorioso reacts to his shot on #13.
JT Holmes gets back to +3 when this putt on hole 12...
...goes in the hole from 20 feet out!
Holmes takes a sip of water while he walks down the fairway.
Coach Seiler and spectating golfers watch as senior Jake Kuebel makes this putt.
Holmes takes the club back to a good position.
Holmes is grouped with a golfer from Holy Cross and St. Amant.
After hitting a wedge shot to one foot from the pin, JT Holmes taps in for a birdie and moves to +2 for the round.
Glorioso hits a long drive on hole #18.
Glorioso attacks the pin with...
...his approach shot on #18, where his shot (left) lands on the back of the green,...
...and spins back closer to the hole.
Jesuit golfers attending the regional tournament as spectators are as follows: senior Addison Bui, junior Jackson Maniscalco (alternate), junior John Bendernagel, and senior Jack Vollenweider.