Golf Comes from Behind to Earn State Runner-Up Title

Posted May 2, 2018 / Last updated May 8, 2018

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EAGLE! Senior Grayson Glorioso removes his ball from the cup after draining a long 35-foot putt on the par-5 #9 for eagle.

The Jesuit golf team came back from its Day 1 third-place position to inch past Alexandria for the LHSAA State Runner-Up title. The Blue Jays return from The Wetlands Golf Club in Lafayette, La. with the 2nd-place trophy after C.E. Byrd was recognized as the 2018 champions.

View the Photo Gallery from the 2018 State Golf Tournament

Day 1 Team Scores – 2018 State Championship
The Wetlands Golf Club

  • 1st Place – C.E. Byrd (287)
  • 2nd Place – Alexandria (299)
  • T-3rd Place – Jesuit (304)
  • T-3rd Place – West Monroe (304)
  • 5th Place – Catholic, BR (310)
  • 6th Place – Brother Martin (311)
  • 7th Place – Zachary (319)
  • 8th Place – Sulphur (325)

Final Team Scores – 2018 State Championship

  • 1st Place – C.E. Byrd (577, 287-290)
  • 2nd Place – Jesuit (602, 304-298)
  • 3rd Place – Alexandria (608, 299-309)
  • 4th Place – West Monroe (611, 304-307)
  • 5th Place – Catholic, BR (615, 310-305)
  • 6th Place – Brother Martin (632, 311-321)
  • 7th Place – Zachary (635, 319-316)
  • 8th Place – Sulphur (644, 325-319)

Byrd played lights-out golf, to put it simply. The Yellow Jackets held a 12-shot lead over Alexandria after Day 1, and they extended their margin to win by a comfortable 25 shots ahead of Jesuit.

“I’m just glad we made a comeback from Day 1,” said Jesuit’s head golf coach, Owen Seiler ’75. “Byrd played the best golf we’ve seen at the state tournament since I started coaching. You’re just not going to beat that score. We were tied for third after Day 1, and we came back and took second outright.”

Junior Britton Khalaf led the way, shooting a 76 on Monday and a 73 on Tuesday to finish with individual honors. He was one of four returning starters from last year’s championship team, joined by three seniors Grayson Glorioso (73-77—150), JT Holmes (77-76—153), and Jake Kuebel (79-80—159).

Sophomore Andrew Barreca

Sophomore Andrew Barreca

The saving grace for Jesuit was sophomore Andrew Barreca, who made up six shots from his Day-1 78 and carded an even-par final round of 72. Those six shots helped the Jays finish six ahead of Alexandria in their come-from-behind effort.

Tied for fourth after shooting a first-day 73, senior Grayson Glorioso was the leader among New Orleans area golfers heading into Day 2. It was Khalaf, however, who finished as the top New Orleans golfer with a total score of 149, placing T-7th. Glorioso and Barreca, who placed T8 with a 150 two-day total, tied for the second best New Orleans golfer at state.

Coach Seiler said the leadership throughout the season and during state was second to none.

“Senior JT Holmes, Jake Kuebel, and Grayson Glorioso did a great job as team captains this year. We won the Catholic League, won the Beau Chene High School Classic, and we played great at our Easter break Myrtle Beach tournament. It’s been a solid year for us.”

Junior Britton Khalaf, Jesuit's low man who placed T-7, leads the team in congratulating C.E. Byrd.

Junior Britton Khalaf, Jesuit’s low man who placed T-7, leads the team in congratulating C.E. Byrd.

It just was not Jesuit’s year to make a 17-stroke comeback. It was not any team’s year to take the title, besides Byrd’s. Even on Day 2 when the Jays posted a 2-under team total after the front nine, Byrd stayed steady with a 9-hole total of +2. The winning team also finished the tournament one stroke shy of even par, a rare team score for high school golf.

When the last putt dropped and Byrd officially clinched the title, the Jesuit team was first to walk over, shake hands, and congratulate the Yellow Jackets on their victory. It was almost as if the two teams had just finished a head-to-head Ryder Cup tournament. But this year, Alexandria certainly gave Jesuit a run for 2nd place. Every shot mattered, and Jesuit’s Top 5 was sure to play hard until the last putt dropped on #18.

 

Jesuit Golfer Day 1 Total Day 2 Total Tournament Total
Britton Khalaf 76 (+4) 73 (+1) 149 (+5)
Grayson Glorioso 73 (+1) 77 (+5) 150 (+6)
JT Holmes 77 (+5) 76 (+4) 153 (+9)
Jake Kuebel 79 (+7) 80 (+8) 159 (+15)
Andrew Barreca 78 (+6) 72 (E) 150 (+6)
Total – Jesuit 304 (+16)
298 (+10) 602 (+26)

View All Scores from the 2018 State Tournament (PDF)


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