Nicholas leads City Championship, in control with opening-round 69 thanks to strong front nine
Matt Nicholas made the turn at 5-under on Friday during the opening round of the 46th annual Lake Charles City Championship at Mallard Golf Club. (Rodrick Anderson / Ameriacn Press)
Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.
Matt Nicholas blistered the front nine on Friday in the first round of the Lake Charles City Championship at Mallard Golf Club. The back nine was a different story, but he still found himself in familiar territory as the first-round leader.
'Ultimately, it was a good start and a good day,' Nicholas said. 'I have been playing well when I do play.'
Nicholas was the lone golfer in the Championship Flight to shoot under par. He entered the clubhouse with a 3-under 69. Nicholas, who won his fifth title in 2023 and tied for second last year, was golden early with birdies on Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9.
'On the range, I started swinging really well, so I just trusted what I had going out there,' Nicholas said. 'I played really well on the front.
'I was in total control of my golf balls. It was hitting it where I wanted to. It was really fun front nine.'
He opened the back nine with back-to-back bogeys. After a brief respite, he took another bogey on the par-4 14th hole, but he never lost the lead and regained composure with a birdie on No. 16.
'I get to the back and I had an in-between yardage shot,' Nicholas said. 'I probably made an error with a club, and then it just compounded into a three-putt.
'I didn't hit it as well on the back. My iron play was a tad off, but towards the end, I started to correct it. I knew what I was doing wrong.'
The five-time champion, who won his first city title in 2001, said he can keep the lead if he stays steady, despite a field full of younger golfers.
'Are they capable of shooting 8 or 9 under, sure,' Nicholas said. 'They hit it so far, but as long as I am controlling the golf ball like I did today, it will take some good golf to beat me.'
Mallard played tough Friday with difficult pin positions and extreme heat. Aside from Nicholas, the only other golfers who spent time under par were John Morrissey and Blake DeReese. Morrissey started the day with a birdie on No. 1 but was 1 over at the turn. DeReese, the 2007 champ, got under par with a birdie on No. 14 but stumbled into the clubhouse with a bogey on Nos. 14 and 18 and a double bogey on No. 17.
2017 champion Gage Primeaux pulled within three shots of Nicholas after a birdie on No. 16 but dropped a stroke on the next hole and carded a 1-over 73.
Primeaux was tied with two-time champ Jacob Lejeune, Morrissey, and Grant Trahan for third place.
Championship Fight
First round scores
Matt Nicholas 31-38—69
Charles Spence 36-36—72
Gage Primeaux 36-37—73
Jacob Lejeune 39-34—73
Garrett Trahan 37-36—73
John Morrissey 36-37—73
Kye Hanks 36-38—74
Landen East 37-37—74
Cameron Langley 36-38—74
Zachary Robertson 38-37—75
Collin Jones 37-39—76
Blake DeReese 36-40—76
Thad Gaspard 37-41—78
Billy Gabbert 40-38—78
Harry Shaheen 38-42—80
Chris Hood 39-41—80
Christian McCleon 40-41—80
Blake Marceaux 39-42—81
Alex Augustine 43-39—82
46th annual Lake Charles City Championship
At Mallard Golf Club
Tee times
Championship Flight
8:00 a.m. — Matt Nicholas, Charles Spence, Gage Primeaux.
8:08 a.m. — Jacob Lejeune, John Morrissey, Garrett Trahan, Kye Hanks.
8:16 a.m. — Landen East, Cameron Langley, Zachary Robertson, Blake DeReese.
8:24 a.m. — Collin Jones, Thad Gaspard, Billy Gabbert, Chris Hood.
8:32 a.m. — Bear Shaheen, Blake Marceaux, Christian McCleon, Alex Augustine.
First Flight
8:40 a.m. — Cody Stoud, Tyler Istre, Kolby Trosclair.
8:48 a.m. — Corey Theriot, Cody Small, David Martin, Cody Lewis.
8:56 a.m. — Dustin Bertrand, Kane Hanks, Cristian Gette, Paul Hensley.
Second Flight
9:04 a.m. — Garrison Connell, Evan Comeaux, Austin Creel, Patrick Osborne.
9:12 a.m. — Dustin Ratliff, Jason Catcher, Josh Trucke, Chance Curlee.
9:20 a.m. — Jaxson Caldwell, Grant LaRocca, Noah Hinton, Cole Bergeron.
Third Flight
9:28 a.m. — James Karam, Matt Stewart, Travis Furs.
9:36 a.m. — Samuel Lepage, Zachary Nicholas, Bill Hamrick, Brandon Nowlin.
9:44 a.m. — Mark Ledoux, Cory Breaux, Dustin Perron, Kolby Delino.
Fourth Flight
9:52 a.m. — Marshall Alexander, Anthony Hampton, Blake Reynolds.
10:00 a.m. — Andrew Hebert, George Wilkerson, Ryan Benoit, Jason James.
10:08 a.m. — Trey Quinn, Drew Beard, Same Wade, Wesley Littleton.
Fifth Flight
10:16 a.m. — David Poole, Trent Manuel, Cody Oliver, Grabriel LaLande.
10:24 a.m. — Jeff Spears, Derrick Fendley, Chase Parmentier, Ryan Ardoin.
Senior A Flight
10:32 a.m. — Kevin Primeaux, Troy Higgonbotham, Byron Martin.
10:40 a.m. — Walt Dulany, David Huber, Charles Manuel.
10:48 a.m. — Doug Quienalty, Donnie Abshire, Brian LaRocca.
Senior B Flight
10:56 a.m. — Billy Creel, Mike Beglis, Doyle Carter.
11:04 a.m. — Mike Farley, Jonathan Courville, Kevin Snyder.
11:12 a.m. — Ricky Menard, Joseph Bourgeois, Carl Cole.
Senior C Flight
11:20 a.m. — Chad Langley, Joseph Adaway, Mike Holland.
11:28 a.m. — Chris Fontenot, Trent Trahan, Todd Fontenot.
11:36 a.m. — Robert Cameron, Scott Landreneau, Brent Soileau, Greg Comeaux.
Super Senior A Flight
11:44 a.m. — Lloyd Guillory, Marcus Leonard, Charlie Buller, Kurt Hamilton.
11:52 a.m. — William Wiese, Sid Bradley, Wendell Christian, Pap Williams.
Super Senior B Flight
12:00 p.m. — Kevin Broussard, Karl Bertrand, Michael Carter.
12:08 p.m. — Val East, Michael Rousseau, Lindsay Barnes, Barry Hood.
12:16 p.m. — Sam Marsiglia, Ricky Anderson, Gene Loar, Samuel Baynes.
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American Press
11 hours ago
- American Press
Nicholas leads City Championship, in control with opening-round 69 thanks to strong front nine
Matt Nicholas made the turn at 5-under on Friday during the opening round of the 46th annual Lake Charles City Championship at Mallard Golf Club. (Rodrick Anderson / Ameriacn Press) Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. Matt Nicholas blistered the front nine on Friday in the first round of the Lake Charles City Championship at Mallard Golf Club. The back nine was a different story, but he still found himself in familiar territory as the first-round leader. 'Ultimately, it was a good start and a good day,' Nicholas said. 'I have been playing well when I do play.' Nicholas was the lone golfer in the Championship Flight to shoot under par. He entered the clubhouse with a 3-under 69. Nicholas, who won his fifth title in 2023 and tied for second last year, was golden early with birdies on Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9. 'On the range, I started swinging really well, so I just trusted what I had going out there,' Nicholas said. 'I played really well on the front. 'I was in total control of my golf balls. It was hitting it where I wanted to. It was really fun front nine.' He opened the back nine with back-to-back bogeys. After a brief respite, he took another bogey on the par-4 14th hole, but he never lost the lead and regained composure with a birdie on No. 16. 'I get to the back and I had an in-between yardage shot,' Nicholas said. 'I probably made an error with a club, and then it just compounded into a three-putt. 'I didn't hit it as well on the back. My iron play was a tad off, but towards the end, I started to correct it. I knew what I was doing wrong.' The five-time champion, who won his first city title in 2001, said he can keep the lead if he stays steady, despite a field full of younger golfers. 'Are they capable of shooting 8 or 9 under, sure,' Nicholas said. 'They hit it so far, but as long as I am controlling the golf ball like I did today, it will take some good golf to beat me.' Mallard played tough Friday with difficult pin positions and extreme heat. Aside from Nicholas, the only other golfers who spent time under par were John Morrissey and Blake DeReese. Morrissey started the day with a birdie on No. 1 but was 1 over at the turn. DeReese, the 2007 champ, got under par with a birdie on No. 14 but stumbled into the clubhouse with a bogey on Nos. 14 and 18 and a double bogey on No. 17. 2017 champion Gage Primeaux pulled within three shots of Nicholas after a birdie on No. 16 but dropped a stroke on the next hole and carded a 1-over 73. Primeaux was tied with two-time champ Jacob Lejeune, Morrissey, and Grant Trahan for third place. Championship Fight First round scores Matt Nicholas 31-38—69 Charles Spence 36-36—72 Gage Primeaux 36-37—73 Jacob Lejeune 39-34—73 Garrett Trahan 37-36—73 John Morrissey 36-37—73 Kye Hanks 36-38—74 Landen East 37-37—74 Cameron Langley 36-38—74 Zachary Robertson 38-37—75 Collin Jones 37-39—76 Blake DeReese 36-40—76 Thad Gaspard 37-41—78 Billy Gabbert 40-38—78 Harry Shaheen 38-42—80 Chris Hood 39-41—80 Christian McCleon 40-41—80 Blake Marceaux 39-42—81 Alex Augustine 43-39—82 46th annual Lake Charles City Championship At Mallard Golf Club Tee times Championship Flight 8:00 a.m. — Matt Nicholas, Charles Spence, Gage Primeaux. 8:08 a.m. — Jacob Lejeune, John Morrissey, Garrett Trahan, Kye Hanks. 8:16 a.m. — Landen East, Cameron Langley, Zachary Robertson, Blake DeReese. 8:24 a.m. — Collin Jones, Thad Gaspard, Billy Gabbert, Chris Hood. 8:32 a.m. — Bear Shaheen, Blake Marceaux, Christian McCleon, Alex Augustine. First Flight 8:40 a.m. — Cody Stoud, Tyler Istre, Kolby Trosclair. 8:48 a.m. — Corey Theriot, Cody Small, David Martin, Cody Lewis. 8:56 a.m. — Dustin Bertrand, Kane Hanks, Cristian Gette, Paul Hensley. Second Flight 9:04 a.m. — Garrison Connell, Evan Comeaux, Austin Creel, Patrick Osborne. 9:12 a.m. — Dustin Ratliff, Jason Catcher, Josh Trucke, Chance Curlee. 9:20 a.m. — Jaxson Caldwell, Grant LaRocca, Noah Hinton, Cole Bergeron. Third Flight 9:28 a.m. — James Karam, Matt Stewart, Travis Furs. 9:36 a.m. — Samuel Lepage, Zachary Nicholas, Bill Hamrick, Brandon Nowlin. 9:44 a.m. — Mark Ledoux, Cory Breaux, Dustin Perron, Kolby Delino. Fourth Flight 9:52 a.m. — Marshall Alexander, Anthony Hampton, Blake Reynolds. 10:00 a.m. — Andrew Hebert, George Wilkerson, Ryan Benoit, Jason James. 10:08 a.m. — Trey Quinn, Drew Beard, Same Wade, Wesley Littleton. Fifth Flight 10:16 a.m. — David Poole, Trent Manuel, Cody Oliver, Grabriel LaLande. 10:24 a.m. — Jeff Spears, Derrick Fendley, Chase Parmentier, Ryan Ardoin. Senior A Flight 10:32 a.m. — Kevin Primeaux, Troy Higgonbotham, Byron Martin. 10:40 a.m. — Walt Dulany, David Huber, Charles Manuel. 10:48 a.m. — Doug Quienalty, Donnie Abshire, Brian LaRocca. Senior B Flight 10:56 a.m. — Billy Creel, Mike Beglis, Doyle Carter. 11:04 a.m. — Mike Farley, Jonathan Courville, Kevin Snyder. 11:12 a.m. — Ricky Menard, Joseph Bourgeois, Carl Cole. Senior C Flight 11:20 a.m. — Chad Langley, Joseph Adaway, Mike Holland. 11:28 a.m. — Chris Fontenot, Trent Trahan, Todd Fontenot. 11:36 a.m. — Robert Cameron, Scott Landreneau, Brent Soileau, Greg Comeaux. Super Senior A Flight 11:44 a.m. — Lloyd Guillory, Marcus Leonard, Charlie Buller, Kurt Hamilton. 11:52 a.m. — William Wiese, Sid Bradley, Wendell Christian, Pap Williams. Super Senior B Flight 12:00 p.m. — Kevin Broussard, Karl Bertrand, Michael Carter. 12:08 p.m. — Val East, Michael Rousseau, Lindsay Barnes, Barry Hood. 12:16 p.m. — Sam Marsiglia, Ricky Anderson, Gene Loar, Samuel Baynes.
American Press
a day ago
- American Press
East's game trending north, carries momentum, new putter into City Championship
Southeastern Louisiana University sophomore Landen East lost at the Louisiana Amateur Championship earlier this month in a sudden death playoff and will go for his first Lake Charles City Championship this weekend. (Southeastern Louisiana University/Special to the American Press) Like baseball and the home run, golf has become more about the booming drive off the tee box in recent years. But to Southeastern Louisiana University sophomore golfer Landen East, success only comes when you can put the ball in the hole. 'You can't shoot low scores if you are not getting it in the hole,' East said. That philosophy has guided his search the last couple of years to find the right putter with the right feel that allowed him to strike the ball with pinpoint accuracy. A couple of months ago, the former Sulphur High School standout picked up a new Ping PLD Milled Anser 30 blade putter and almost won the 106th Louisiana Amateur Championship and almost made the cut at the U.S. Amateur qualifying tournament in the last few weeks. 'I have been putting great,' East said. 'I have probably been putting the best in my life here recently. 'Obviously I am hitting the ball well. Ever since I switched to (the new putter), I have loved it. I don't see myself putting with anything else.' And he looks to carry that success into the Lake Charles City Championship today at Mallard Golf Club. The first group in the championship flight will tee off at 1 p.m. He previously used a Scotty Cameron Platinum Pro for a few months and a Ping mallet putter for two or three years before that. He averaged 75 a round in his sophomore season at SLU. 'I felt like my speed was off,' East said. 'I would get one that I felt that I hit good, and it would roll 6 or 7 feet past the hole. 'I grew up playing a blade and decided to make the switch back, and then I finally found the one that I really like in the new Ping. I switched to it because it is a little bit more face-balanced than the previous blade I had. It helps me keep the face a little more stable. It sets up well, and my speed control is better. That other club was a lighter head, but this heavier head is better for me.' At the state amateur tournament played June 5-8 at Bayou Oaks at City Park in New Orleans, East shot in the 60s in three of four rounds before losing to Shreveport's Connor Cassano, who plays at LSU by way of Loyola Prep, on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. A key point in the final round allowed East to catch up to Cassano. After a bogey on the 13th hole, East knocked in a 35-foot putt for a birdie on the long par-3 No. 14 and played the final five holes at 3 under to force the playoff. He was 19 under for the tournament. At the U.S. Amateur qualifier, East shot a 69, missing the qualifying cut by one stroke. In his last five rounds, East has three-putted twice. East said there is little room for error at Mallard, especially on the greens. 'At Mallard, you can get away with a couple of errant tee shots, and you can get away with a couple of bad shots,' East said. 'But I feel the player that is going to win is going to limit their mistakes and going to try not to three-putt and make doubles. 'I feel like holing putts for par, making a few more birdies here and there, attributes a lot to being able to win the tournament.' He won the Sulphur City Championship last year and Westlake in 2022 and looks to win his first Lake Charles City Championship and join an elite group — Neithan Allen, Hank Shaheen, Matt Nicholas — who have won all three. 'It would be pretty cool to be a member of that club,' East said. East will be up against multiple past champions, including Nicholas, Blake DeReese, Gage Primeaux, Jacob Lejeune and Billy Gabbert. 'There are a lot of good players,' East said. 'I feel like I have a great chance, and I have proved that to myself.'
New York Post
14-06-2025
- New York Post
Pair of New York-area golfers make US Open cut after bit of waiting
OAKMONT, Pa. — Ryan McCormick and James Nicholas, the two Met Area hopefuls who survived U.S. Open qualifying and were trying to make it to the weekend at Oakmont, faced identical putts on the 18th hole Friday thinking they needed them to make the cut. Neither made the putt, which was pin high, some 15 feet to the right of the flag, and both walked off 18 gutted, thinking they were going home at 7-over par. Advertisement This was hours before the final cut number was established, so both went their separate ways, waited it out and hoped for the best. In the end, they appeared to get their wish as the cut had moved to 7-over, matching their scores through 36 holes, with a couple groups left to finish due to darkness. McCormick, from Middletown, N.J., began the day at even par and shot 77. Nicholas, from Scarsdale, began the day at 1-under and shot 78. Advertisement 3 Ryan McCormick hits a shot during the second round of the U.S. Open on June 13. Getty Images When McCormick missed his birdie putt on 18, he slumped over his putter for several moments, trying to recover from the deflating miss. Minutes later, when Nicholas missed his par putt from that same spot, he flipped his putter in the air in frustration. 'I knew that putt was to be for-sure in,' Nicholas said afterward. Advertisement 'I had no idea. I didn't look at scores,' McCormick said. 'I asked [my caddie] Clark if we needed to make 3 on 18, and he said, 'Probably.' ' Both players had nightmarish holes. No. 4 was the killer for Nicholas, who took a quadruple-bogey 8 after drawing a sidehill lie near a bunker. Advertisement For McCormick, it was No. 17, where he got a terrible break with his tee shot coming to rest in the heavy rough with a downhill lie near a greenside bunker. 3 James Nicholas swings during the second round of the U.S. Open on June 13. Getty Images He took double after hitting his second shot over the green. 'I knew that could happen,' McCormick said of the break. 'That's a tough shot. You've got the ball below your feet. I just didn't know any other way to get it on the green, to be honest with you. 'That's what happens here. You're off by a little bit, and you get penalized.' Nicholas jokingly said he 'got Oakmonted.' He began his day with a double on No. 1 and shot a 10-over 45 on the front with the quadruple, the double and four bogeys. Advertisement He rallied on the back nine with birdies on Nos. 12, 13, 14 and 17 to get himself back in position. 'This place will get you,' Nicholas said. 'It's a tough test, but it's a fair test. It's not unfair. It's not silly.' Regardless of score or course difficulty, it was impossible to wipe the smile off Nicholas' face. 'I'm living the dream,' he said. 'This is your dream as a kid — playing the Open, your nation's championship. So I hope it's not over.' Advertisement It has, indeed, been a magical week for Nicholas, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Pirates game Monday. 'The USGA just asked me, and I texted him — I was like, 'You sure you got the right number?' ' he said. 'Then I looked in the stands and saw Tommy Fleetwood sitting like five rows back, and I was like, 'Are you sure you're not supposed to be doing this?' We had a funny moment there. 'My brother actually texted me, and he was like, 'No offense, but they usually pick someone who's famous.' ' Advertisement Among other area locals to make the cut was Max Greyserman from Short Hills, N.J. 3 Max Greyserman hits a shot on the 12th hole June 13. Getty Images He shot a 3-under 67, the second-lowest round of the day, and stands at 3-over for the tournament. Cameron Young grinded out a 4-over 74 to stand at 4-over. Advertisement Young hit just one of 14 fairways off the tee Friday, prompting his father, David, the former head pro at Sleepy Hollow CC in Westchester, to say, 'I'm exhausted from watching it.'
