Learning from his mistakes, DeReese looks to avoid double bogeys
Published 8:52 am Friday June 21, 2024
- FILE PHOTO – Blake DeReese tees off on the 11th green at Mallard Golf Club on Friday during the first round of the Lake Charles City Championship. (Rodrick Anderson/US Press)
A hole halted Blake DeReese’s quest to join an elite group at last year’s Lake Charles city championship.
He will look to make up for that momentary lapse and become the ninth multiple winner when the 45th edition of the tournament opens today at the Mallard Cove golf course.
In 2023, a wayward shot into a sand trap turned into a double bogey with four holes left to move him out of a tie with five-time champion Matt Nicholas. It was double bogeys two weeks ago that left DeReese outside the top 10, tying for 16th, at the Louisiana State Amateur Championship in Baton Rouge.
“I would say stay away from double bogeys,” DeReese said. “You’re probably going to make bogeys and there are birdies available. If you can stay away from doubles or more than doubles, then I think I’d be pretty satisfied. I think I had four double bogeys in this state, maybe five. That was the difference in my under and over par shots.”
DeReese said the open layout of the three-year-old course suits his style of play.
“I like it because of the aim,” he said. “To me, it allows you to swing with a little bit of freedom because there aren’t a lot of trees you have to maneuver between. I feel like that suits my golf game a little bit more as opposed to hitting a golf course like I was in the state, which was full of trees everywhere and out of bounds. “It kind of strains you a little bit.”
DeReese said he has been working on conditioning lately to improve his game.
“It’s more about trying to get my body back in shape,” said DeReese, a former high school quarterback and baseball player. “I had been struggling for a few years and getting older. So I started getting in shape over the last few years, which helped my swing a little bit.”
DeReese will tee off at 3 p.m. in a trio that includes two other former champions, Nicholas (2023, ’16, ’14, ’04, ’01) and Hank Shaheen (2022).
“They caught me with Matt and Hank. “They are really good players.”
In the next group is another former champion, Gage Primeaux (2017). He was runner-up to Shaheen in 2022 and fifth last year.
Other past champions in the Championship Flight include two-time winner and tournament record holder (2000, 2010) Jacob Lejeune (2010, ’11) and seven-time champion Billy Gabbert (2006, ’03, ’02, ’00, ’97, ’95, ’86).
In addition to veterans from the area’s amateur ranks, there are several younger players in the field, including St. Louis Catholic sophomore Kye Hanks, who led all southwest Louisiana prep golfers with an average of 72.53 strokes in the spring and Nicholls State freshman Collin Jones (Westlake). ), who was the 2023 Division II individual medalist, and University of New Orleans freshman George Trappey, a member of two state championship teams in St. Louis.
“They have some really good young golfers that have been playing good golf,” DeReese said.
45th Annual City of Lake Charles Championship
At Mallard Cove
Golf course
Friday departure times
Championship flight
3 p.m. – Matt Nicholas, Hank Shaheen, Blake DeReese.
3:08 p.m. —Gage Primeaux, Austin DeReese, Skylar Petroski.
15:16 —Zachary Robertson, Collin Jones, Jackson Wood.
15:24 – Thad Gaspard, Jacob Lejeune, Dustin Bertrand.
15:32 – Alex Agustin, George Trappey, Kye Hanks.
3:40 p.m. —John Morrissey, Billy Dressler, Scott Hines, Billy Gabbert.
Previous winners
The tournament was changed to a 54-hole (par 216) format for the championship in 1997:
2023 — Matt Nicholas 208
2022 —Hank Shaheen 213
2021 — No tournament
2020 — No tournament
2019 —Phillip Hoffpauir 213
2018 – Nor Allen 208
2017 — Primeaux caliber 204
2016 — Matt Nicholas 207
2015 – Nor Allen 209
2014 — Matt Nicholas 212
2013 – Nor Allen 205
2012 – Robby goes 210
2011 —Jacob LeJeune 214
2010 —Jacob LeJeune 200
2009 —Jason Cuerno 206
2008 — Robby goes 203
2007 —Blake DeReese 210
2006 —Billy Gabbert 212
2005 — Jorge Cestia 212
2004 — Matt Nicholas 208
2003 —Billy Gabbert 208
2002 —Billy Gabbert 213
2001 — Matt Nicholas 209
2000 —Billy Gabbert 208
1999 —Phillip Hoffpauir 143
1998 —Phillip Hoffpauir 210
1997 — *Billy Gabbert 226
nineteen ninety six — *+Chris Malone 106
nineteen ninety five —Billy Gabbert. 142
1994 —Brian Hirsch Jr.146
1993 —Wayne Sweeney 147
1992 — *Phillip Hoffpauir 146
1991 — *+Chris Johnson 110
1990 -David Berry 149
1989 —++Benny Holcombe71
1988 — *Lawrence David 146
1987 -Keith Harris 140
1986 —Billy Gabbert 142
1985 — *Rick Woodsen 147
1984 — Don Bladen 146
1983 -Scott Reeves 145
1982 —Billy Trent 143
1981 – Ron O’Brien 147
1980 -Don Scott 139
1979 -Don Scott 142
1978 – Ron O’Brien 151
* — won the tiebreaker; + — shortened rain (27 holes); ++ — shortened by rain (18 holes).
Most championships
7 —Billy Gabbert. 5 —Matt Nicolas. 4 – Robby goes. 3 – Nor Allen, Phillip Hoffpauir. 2 —Jacob LeJeune, Ron O’Brien, Don Scott. 1 — Hank Shaheen, Blake DeReese, Gage Primeaux, George Cestia, Chris Malone, Brian Hirsch, Jr., Wayne Sweeney, Chris Johnson, Jason Horn, David Berry, Benny Holcombe, Lawrence David, Keith Harris, Rick Woodsen, Don Bladen, Scott Reeves, Billy Trent.
