J.J. Spaun crafted a blemish-free 8-under-par 31-32=63 in the opening round of the Chitimacha Louisiana Open and joins Ryan Armour in the lead.
Spaun's lap around Le Triomphe G&CC featured an eagle at the par-5 opening hole and six additional birdies. HIs 17 GIR tied for tops on the round, showing the irons were clearly dialed in. He is a true rookie on the Web.com Tour, with a mere two starts under his belt. Ranking 87th on the money list, this has the makings of a career-changing week if he can maintain the pace.
Greg Chalmers, Julian Etulain share Louisiana Open lead
Most of the leaders held it together until the final couple of holes, but the wind at Le Triomphe Golf Club finally showed its teeth late Saturday in the $550,000 Chitimacha Louisiana Open.
One by one, the leaders struggled down the stretch with the breezy conditions, and when it was over, Australian Greg Chalmers and Argentinian Julian Etulain stood atop the leaderboard going into Sunday’s final round.
Both finished at four-under-par 67 in Saturday’s third round, which followed the rain-delayed completion of the second round in the morning hours, and both stand at 12-under 201 entering the final trip around the 7,069-yard par-71 course.
Wesley Bryan fired a final-round, 3-under-par 68 to come from one stroke back and win the 25th annual Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER, the largest victory of his professional career.
Bryan elevated himself to the top of a crowded leaderboard when he drained a 15-foot putt for birdie on the par-4 17th hole.
“Coming into the season, I felt like I was really in good form,” said Bryan, after he collected a first-prize check worth $99,000. “I felt like I was playing really well. I felt really good coming down here.”