Backspin Volume 3, Issue 7 | Page 12

Four state champions crowned at Governor’s Games by Ian Auzenne BROUSSARD, La. – Steady, consistent play. That’s the recipe Conner Hamilton and Eli Ortego used to win their first state championships this past weekend at the USSSA/Mizuno Governor’s Games at Le Triomphe Country Club. Despite the sweltering heat, Hamilton, of Breaux Bridge, and Ortego, of Lafayette, played spectacularly to claim state titles in their respective divisions. Hamilton survived a few hiccups in the first round of the tournament en route to Boys 12-14: Chance Queen, Alexandria, 2nd Place; Eli Ortego, the boys 15-18 championship, shooting a Lafayette, Champion; Ryan Dupuy, Baton Rouge, 3rd Place. 148 in the 36-hole event, holding off runnerup Taylor Morton, of Broussard, by four strokes. Cameron Mouton and Michael Travasos, both of Lafayette, and Brayden Wright,of Sulphur, all shot 156 to share third-place honors. Ortego played the best golf of anyone participating in the tournament. He finished at -2 (142) to win the Boys 12-14 group title. Chance Queen, of Alexandria, took second place, finishing at +2 (146). Ryan Dupuy, of Baton Rouge, finished at +3 (147) to take third-place honors. Janie Morrison, of Rayne, claimed Girls: Abbie Richard, Girls 15-18 2nd Place; Janie Morrison, Grils the state championship in the girls 15-18 15-18 Champion, Rayne; Carly Whittington, Girls 12-14, Champion, division by shooting 173. Abbie G. Richard, Kinder. of Sulphur, took second place by shooting 185. Carly Tietje Whittington, of Kinder, won the state title in the girls 12-14 group by shooting 186. Next up on the Louisiana USSSA Junior Golf Tour: The Cajun Classic regional tournament. Registration for the Cajun Classic is now open and will remain open through July 17. For more information, visit www.usssa.com or email robert. [email protected]. Boys 15-18: Michael Travasos, Lafayette, 3rd Place; Cameron Mouton, Lafayette, 3rd Place; Taylor Morton, Broussard, 2nd Place, Conner Hamilton, Breaux Bridge, Champion. 12