Cajuns Golf Finishes Third At 29th Louisiana Classics

LAFAYETTE, La. – The Ragin' Cajuns golf team held on to its spot on a wet Tuesday at Oakbourne Country Club to finish in third at the 29th Annual Louisiana Classics.

The Cajuns carded a final round score of 13-over par (301) to close out the event with an overall score of 4-over (868) to finish four strokes in front of Louisiana Tech.

"Finishing third at home against this type of competition is very respectable," head coach Theo Sliman said. "The big thing is that we didn't lose any ground even though we didn't play well today. This is an experience we will be able to draw on as we make a push to get into the NCAA Tournament and compete for a conference championship."

Sophomore Christian Verrougstraete posted his first top 5 finish placing in fifth after the final round with a career-best score of 5-under (211). Verrougstraete had two rounds of par or better in the event for the second in his career.

Verrougstraete is the fourth straight Cajun to finish in the Louisiana Classics top 5 joining Brandt Garon, fourth in 2013, and Philipp Fendt, third in 2012 and fourth in 2011.

"I am very proud of Christian finishing as an all-tournament participant," Sliman added. "He had a great tournament and played very well. He joins a good group of players to earn that honor at home. That is something that we take a lot of pride in as a program."

No. 9 Illinois won the team title with a 54-hole score of 25-under (839) to finish six strokes in front of No. 33 LSU (-19, 845). Louisiana (+4, 868), Louisiana Tech (+8, 872) and No. 47 New Mexico State (+15, 879) round out the top 5 teams.

Individually, Myles Lewis won the event carding a 66 (-6) in the final round to finish with an overall score of 10-under (206).

Haraldur Magnus had a strong final round posting a score of even par to move up 12 spots finishing in a tie for 17th at 2-over (218).

"Haraldur along with Christian have stepped it up for us," Sliman mentioned. "We are going to need them to carry us on as we make a push for postseason. "

Thomas Strandemo dropped out of the top 25 after recording a score of 8-over (80) to fall into a tie for 30th at 5-over (221). Ross Davis and Fernando Cruz Valle rounded out the scoring for the Cajuns with Davis finishing in a tie for 40th at 8-over (224) and Cruz Valle a stroke back tie for 46^th at 9-over (225).

"I am not the least bit concerned with Ross and Thomas shooting the numbers that they did today," Sliman said. "I know that they are going to be better players with the experience they got today after playing in the final group with some quality opponents. Those two are going to put up some numbers for us before everything is all said and done."

Louisiana will take a couple weeks off before beginning a stretch of four straight weeks with a tournament starting on March 31-April 1 with the Memphis Intercollegiate in Memphis, Tenn.

"We are going to take some time off and relax," Sliman added. "Come April we are going to push it pretty hard heading into conference play and hopefully a trip to the NCAA tournament."

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Cajuns Golf Finishes Third At 29th Louisiana Classics

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