Jacob Lejeune has the Mallard Cove Golf Course down to a science. At least for the past two years during the Lake Charles Men’s City Championships. The 2007 Sulphur High graduate is the two-time defending tournament champion and enters the 35th annual event Friday as a favorite yet again. (Karen Wink / American Press)
Lake Charles Men's City Champion Jacob LeJeune is watched by spectators as he hits the ball onto the green to win his sudden-death playoff in 2011. LeJeune won the tournament for a second consecutive year. (Karen Wink / American Press)
Lejeune back to defend city golf crowns (with tee times)
Last Modified: Friday, June 22, 2012 5:08 PM
By Rachel Whittaker / American Press
Jacob Lejeune has the Mallard Cove Golf Course down to a science.
At least for the past two years during the Lake Charles Men’s City Championships.
The 2007 Sulphur High graduate is the two-time defending tournament champion and enters the 35th annual event Friday as a favorite yet again.
But according to Mallard Cove golf pro Derek Smith, you’d never know about his success on the course. Even as Lejeune emerged victorious in a sudden-death playoff last year, he kept his emotions well in check.
“He’s a man of few words,” Smith said. “Two years ago when he won this tournament he just smiled, put his hand up in the air and walked off the green. It was a little more interesting last year, but again he just goes out there and does it real quietly.
“He likes this golf course … That gives him an advantage right off the bat.”
Lejeune set a tournament record in 2010 with a sparkling 16-under par 200, but last year it was a much tighter race. It took Lejeune to the third hole of a three-man playoff to eke out a 2-under 214 and successfully defend his title.
Lejeune said he’s ready to go for a third straight championship and relishes the pressure-packed situations.
“The past month or so, I’ve been working at it pretty hard so I expect to compete,” Lejeune said. “There’s always room for improvement. I could work on my iron play a little bit more … try to get a little bit closer on the green to give myself an opportunity.”
Lejeune is one of 160 golfers in the tournament this year, the maximum number of spots available for participation, 32 of those he will battle in the Championship Flight. There will be eight other flights, or mini tournaments.
The field also includes several local high school golfers, including Barbe rising senior Shane Fontenot.
Smith said the high school competitors will add another dimension of excitement to the weekend, and Fontenot, who placed fourth overall at the 5A state tournament in May, said playing alongside older golfers is a tough yet valuable task.
“It’s a fun tournament and a good experience playing with all these good adults knowing they’re just as good as us if not even better,” Fontenot said. “Hopefully I play well … get my name out a little more and hopefully win it.”
A challenge confronting all the golfers will be the course itself, Smith said, as recent rain in the area will hinder the speed of the fairways and greens.
“A week to a week and a half ago we were anticipating some more dry weather, and we were gearing toward having the grounds playing hard and fast,” Smith said. “I don’t think we’re going to get that because we’ve had too much rain in the last week. The only thing we can do is try to play our greens as fast as possible.”
So the crew at Mallard Cove is keeping
their fingers crossed that Mother Nature cooperates for the weekend,
allowing a three-time
tournament champion to be crowned or a new winner to unseat
Lejeune at the top.
Friday's Tee Times
Championship Flight
12:36 p.m. — Jason Horn, Chris Gentry, Todd Boudreaux.
12:44 p.m. — Blake Dereese, Kevin McArthur, Chris Vallette.
12:52 p.m. — Devon Fontenot, Sutton Farmer, Blake Derouen.
1 p.m. — Billy Gabbert, Phil Hoffpauir, Wayne Sweeney.
1:08 p.m. — D.J. Schexnider, John Morrissey, Zak Barton.
1:16 p.m. — Jacob Lejeune, Shane Fontenot, Neithaniel Allen.
1:24 p.m. — Jacob Going, Connor Castille, Logan Hayes.
1:32 p.m. — Scott Sweeney, Michael Fontenot, Chris Hood.
1:40 p.m. — Clint Stewart, Byron Martin, Bill Stevens, Mac Blanchard.
1:48 p.m. — Matt Nicholas, Robby Going, Scott Folds, Max Morris.
Saturday’s Tee Times
Second Flight
8:28 a.m. — Shane Heinen, Billy Spees, Scott Hall.
8:36 a.m. — Gabe Coleman, Logan Williams, James Karam.
8:44 a.m. — Brian Ortego, Sean Garrido, Jud Cain.
8:52 a.m. — Ellis Hawkins, Austin O’Quinn, Bill Perkins.
9 a.m. — Bryant Patin, Channing Kile, Austin Hinton, Andy Rider.
Third Flight
9:16 a.m. — Kevin Primeaux, David Duzan, Val East.
9:24 a.m. — Jacob Hathaway, Brian Michel, David Huber.
9:32 a.m. — John Garrett, Leonard Murphy, Robert Simpson.
9:40 a.m. — Brad Durio, Rusty Montiville, Terry Fontenot.
9:48 a.m. — Leroy Dereese, Elmer Roach, David Martin, Jamie East.
Fourth Flight
10:04 a.m. — Dwight Gerst, Mike Abshire, Jimmy Guidry.
10:12 a.m. — Todd Broussard, Ricky Norwood, Bryan McCullough.
10:20 a.m. — Wil Fruge, Collin Castille, Brandon Guillory.
10:28 a.m. — Tyler Williams, Bryan Ballard, David Flanagan.
10:36 a.m. — Scott Smith, Chance Brown, Mason James, Nick Guillory.
Fifth Flight
10:52 a.m. — Preston Mallett, David Culpepper, John Tilton.
11 a.m. — Pap Williams, Mike Richardson, Sandy Woods.
11:08 a.m. — Kevin Broussard, Brian Benoit, Mark Bolton.
11:16 a.m. — Gage Primeaux, Matt Peek, Pat Comeaux.
11:24 a.m. — John Bel, Chad Smith, Dan Breaux, Walt Dulany.
Sixth Flight
11:40 a.m. — Lindell Lambright, Dennis Hartnett, Winston Janese.
11:48 a.m. — Allen Mitchell, Tim Town, Dexter Naylor.
11:56 a.m. — Brian Leeth, Randell Williams, Wilford Carter.
12:04 p.m. — Andrew Hebert, Chris Fontenot, Bob Crooks.
12:12 p.m. — Charlie Buller, Bill Weise, Chris Buller, Vic Montgomery.
Seventh Flight
12:28 p.m. — Connor Thompson, Richard Bertrand, Matt Coniglio.
12:36 p.m. — Jonathon Courville, Dana Harless, John Ieyoub.
12:44 p.m. — Mike Rousseau, Ron Piatt, Glen Priola.
12:52 p.m., Kirk Martin, Bobby Little, Sam Morris.
1 p.m. — Kirk Soileau, Robert Carrier, Joe Underwood, Jeff Harper.
Eighth Flight
1:16 p.m. — Huey Hebert, Carl Cole, Tony Colletta.
1:24 p.m. — Mike Yocham, Brent Soileau, Mark Wilburn.
1:32 p.m. — Harry Henry, Robert Hubbard, Chris Barnes.
1:40 p.m. — Kevin Lambright, Peter Augustine, Doyle Carter.
1:48 p.m. — Dooley Prince, Mike Fontenot, Gary Woods, Julius Courville.
Ninth Flight
2:04 p.m. — Jim Pilgreen, Curtis Cole, Donald Lejeune.
2:12 p.m. — Vince Castille, Dale Babineaux, Todd Stelly.
2:20 p.m. — Kenny Hedrick, Len Pauley, Gary Miller.
2:28 p.m. — Ronnie Gibbs, Lelan Laborde, Robert Barfield.
2:36 p.m. — Joe Soileau, Mark Fontenot, Alfred Braxton, Tony Pitre.
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