By ROBERT L. LEE

RESERVE – Riverside Academy High School senior Brett Bergeron swung from a one-point, first-day deficit to shot 5 under par Thursday and claim his second individual championship in the Division 4 state championship golf tournament in three years.

Bergeron trailed Ouachita Christian High School’s Preston Smith by one stroke, 69-68, after the first day of the two-day tournament at Belle Terre Country Club. Bergeron made three birdies on the front nine to even the score with Smith, then birdied three more times on the back nine, including on the par-5 15th hole. The second day tally of 67 strokes earned him a total of 136, compared to 71 and 139 by Smith.

“Brett knew what he had to do and played solid golf,” said Riverside coach Roy Aubert. “I’m pleased because he set a goal to win the title and accomplished it.”

Aubert said all he did was wish him luck before the tournament, because “you don’t have to give Brett Bergeron any advice on how to play the course.

He showed what he could do and this is really a great way to end a high school career.”

Aubert commended Bergeron for managing the course, especially with the 25 mph gusts. “He was hitting the driver and short irons really well, but missed about six birdies by just inches.”

Bergeron’s championship also marks the third straight year a Riverside Rebel has won the state title. Bergeron won in 2000, then in 2001, classmates Michael Shane and Steve Luminais battled it out in sudden death, with Shane taking the honors. This year, the Rebels team shot a 320 practice round at LSU in preparation for the regionals. Aubert told his team a 330 or less would place the Rebels in the top four. However, when the Regionals were finished, the team totalled 341 for fifth place and only Bergeron and senior Todd Lambert were qualified for the final state round. Lambert finished tied for 26th place with an 87 and 84, for a two-day score of 171. Would qualifying for the Compaq Classic not have been during the same week at the state championship, Aubert said a small group would have gone with Bergeron to see what he could do and if he could qualify for the tournament. Next on his busy schedule, Bergeron will defend his metro New Orleans championship title on May 18-19.