By KEVIN CHIRI

Publisher

LAPLACE – Scott Martin called it the strongest field he had ever seen in the annual Belle Terre Club Golf Championship.

The scratch golfer had won the club title the past two years running, so when he began the 36-hole event on Saturday, he figured to play conservatively and win number three without making any big mistakes.

&#8220After the first day, I played carefully and ended up seeing all these guys right at the top or ahead of me,” he said. &#8220I knew I had to get more aggressive the second day, and it paid off.”

Martin was a shot out of the lead after the Saturday round, with young high school golfer Matt Salas and Ricky Diamond tied at the top with even par 72.

But right along with Martin near the top was Bruce Bell two shots back at 74, then a 21-team field all shooting in the 70s.

&#8220Usually we have a few guys competing for the title, but this year we had eight guys with zero handicap, and after Saturday, I knew I had to play more aggressively if I wanted to win,” Martin added.

And that’s what the top local golfer did as he sizzled his way to a four-under par 68 on Sunday, finishing at 141 to take the title by two strokes over Bell and Diamond at 145.

Martin went out and birdied number two and four to start the Sunday comeback, making a 35-footer for birdie on number four, but then double bogeyed on six to make it a race again.

But from there until the end, he birdied five more holes, including 10, 12 and 15 on the back nine to put things away.

&#8220Even though I had a little lead down the stretch, it still got interesting when I almost hit out of bounds on 17,” he added. &#8220But I held on OK.”

For Martin, the third straight title makes him the first golfer in the Belle Terre Club Championship history to win three in a row.

&#8220That was a goal of mine when I saw the board inside the clubhouse and saw no one had ever won three in a row,” he said. &#8220But it was great playing there since Superintendent Donnie Savoie had the course in absolutely great shape. The course right now is the best I’ve ever seen it.”

Diamond had a 72-73 tournament to finish at 145 and tie for second with Bell, but said it was Martin who just went out and won the title.

&#8220I had been playing well and wasn’t displeased with the way I played. But Scott was more consistent, and made some really good putts. With evenly matched players, that’s often what it comes down to, and he was the guy to make the putts,” he said.

Bell was quick to agree that many players turned in good rounds, but Martin clearly won the championship.

&#8220I played pretty well tee to green, and so did some other guys like Ricky and Matt, but Scott played superbly and clearly deserved to win,” the Belle Terre club pro said. &#8220When he made that 35-footer for birdie on number four, it really kind of put him in control the rest of the way.”

Bell also said he was proud of the play from Salas, the young junior Rummel High school player who appears to have a world of potential ahead of him.

&#8220I give Mark lessons, and I’ll tell you that the kid is going to be good,” he said.

”He played really well the first day, and even though I think he showed the nerves a little bit on the front nine Sunday, he came back with four birdies on the back nine and shot 37. He’s going to be a good one.”

In the Second Flight, it was Roger Gileta who pulled out of a first day tie to win that title. After tying at 80 with Mark Hennessey on day one, Gileta had a 77 on Sunday for a 157 to win by two shots over second place finisher Manjit Wadhwa at 160.

Henry Zahn was a shot out of first on day one in the Third Flight, with six golfers shooting 85 on Saturday. But he was the best player of the day on Sunday with a 79 to finish at 165. Taking second was Dwayne Braud who

had an 81 after his opening round 85. Chad Laborde ran away with the Fourth Flight, shooting 88 and then a red hot 76 on Sunday for a 164 total, beating second place Raymond Guilmino at 174, then it was Mike Collins who won the race for the Fifth Flight title with a 186 final total. He edged out John Trainor at 187, then Preston Dupuy and Alan Chabert at 188 in the tight battle there.

Frank Bourdonnay took the Senior Division with a 152 score, holding the first day lead at 75, then holding off Jerry Dietrick on the second day to win the crown. Bourdonnay shot 77 on Sunday, while Dietrick followed up his 79 on Saturday with a 76 on Sunday, getting to within one shot of the lead.