(The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com.)
Jesuit's Lawless Wins State Individual Title
Mandeville second in Division I golf
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
By Billy Turner
ZACHARY -- Scott Lawless, a senior at Jesuit, shot an 82 in the Blue Jays' regional a week ago.
"Hey Coach," he said to golf coach Chad Laborde. "I'm finally going to go practice for state.
"
Practice might not make perfect, but it sure made a champion. Lawless shot his second consecutive 69, holding off playing partner Jacob Lejeune to take the Division I state title at Copper Mill.
Baton Rouge-Catholic won the team competition, beating Mandeville 577-596, and Hahnville finished third.
Jody Walker, in his final competition as Mandeville's coach, said he was happy with the play of his team, which finished fourth last season.
"We played well," Walker said. "I'm not disappointed at all."
Catholic set a state record with its score. The Bears had three golfers in the top 10.
Lawless, who had been up-and-down as a high school golfer for four years, certainly wasn't disappointed. He said he knew there was a possibility he could win this tournament as early as the first hole of the second day, a windy afternoon that forced scores higher for most golfers.
Only five golfers broke par Tuesday, with Hahnville's Derek Bonvillain's 68 the lowest. Bonvillain lost a playoff for third with Catholic's Greg Berthelot after both finished at 140.
Lawless, who trailed Lejeune and West Monroe's Clint Shepard by two strokes as the day began, took minutes to catch up. His 3-wood drive was perfect on the 533-yard opening hole. He hit his second shot within 25 feet and made the putt for eagle.
Instantly, Lawless was in charge, with momentum his companion the rest of the round.
"I knew when I made that putt that I could win this thing," said Lawless. "I had worked my butt off on all parts of my game in practice. I didn't think I would win it before the tournament, but when I started out that way . . ."
All the practice Lawless put in made him feel giddy enough to bet his father, Matt, that he would win the tournament. Although the odds weren't in his favor, the bet was. If he didn't win the tournament, he would lose nothing. On Matt's end? A car.
As Scott walked off the 18th hole, he hugged his tearful father.
"Are you OK," he asked his father. Matt shook his head yes. The next question? "And how about that car," Scott asked.
Said Matt: "I've never seen him put two rounds together like that."
"I knew Scott had the potential," Laborde said. "He shot 74-71 last year in the state tournament. I've known him since he was young, since he grew up in the neighborhood. I used to drive him home. He came in with me when I took this job and he was a freshman, and he's part of my first senior class."
Lawless birdied the seventh and ninth holes and bogeyed the 12th.
"After I got the lead, I tried to hit the middle of the greens and make some putts," Lawless said. "And then I tried to hold on."
Lawless entered No. 18 with the one-stroke lead and hit his second shot 5 feet from the pin. But he missed the birdie putt right, leaving himself another 3 feet back.
"After I missed the putt, I just took a couple of breaths, went through my normal routine and then made the putt," he said.
Putt made. Car ordered.
"I have some time to think about what kind I want now," he said, with a large smile.
