Coach’s challenge proves good advice
by Ian Auzenne & Marshall Miller
Boys 9-11 & 12-14: (L-R) Gabriel Wartelle, (9-11) Masclaux, France and Blake
Marcellisen, (12-14), Broussard, LA.
Boys 15-18: (L-R) Karlei Hemler, Groves, TX; Chance Queen, Alexandria,
LA; Zachary Bollinger, Alexandria, LA; August Drummond, Shreveport, LA.
12
McNeese State University signee Karlei
Hemler’s future coach challenged her to
enter boys’ tournaments so she could face
tougher competition.
Hemler, the reigning USSSA national
champion in the Girls 15-18 Division, took
on the boys Thanksgiving weekend and won.
The Groves, Texas, resident was consistent all
weekend long, shooting a 150 (+6) to win the
Mizuno USSSA Gobbler Classic at Oakwing
Golf Club. Hemler’s victory makes her the
first girl to win a boys’ event on the Mizuno
USSSA Junior Golf Tour and the second girl
(after Lauren Aillet) to record a tournamentlow score across all divisions.
Tour veteran Chance Queen was neckand-neck with Hemler throughout most of
the tournament, but a double bogey late
in the second round of the two-day event
doomed his championship hopes. That
double bogey was the difference between first
and second places, as Queen, of Alexandria,
finished two strokes behind Hemler to take
runner-up honors.
Like Hemler, 14-year-old Austin
Drummond sought a challenge by playing in
the age group above his own. Drummond,
of Shreveport, impressed, tying for third
place with Zachary Bollinger, of Alexandria.
Drummond, who entered the second round
tied for sixth place, shot a second-round low
of 75 to move up in the standings. Bollinger,
who was tied for second entering Day 2,
struggled early in the round, but he salvaged
a top-three finish thanks to an eagle on the
par-5 14th hole.
Blake Marcelissen of Broussard recorded
the low score in the Boys 12-14 group by
shooting 192, while Gabriel Wartelle, of
Masclaux, France, shot 190 to take top
honors in the Boys 9-12 group.
“We thank Oakwing general manager
Craig Campo and his staff for helping us put
on this event and for keeping the course in
fabulous condition,” said USSSA Executive
Vice President Robert Boudreaux.
The Mizuno USSSA Louisiana Junior
Golf Tour now heads to the Gray Plantation
Golf Club in Lake Charles for the Mizuno
USSSA Holiday Classic. The event begins
Dec. 10.