Sulphur native Cory Vincent made history last year at the 2008 Sulphur City Golf Championship and will get another chance today when 28th Annual City Championship begins at Frasch Park Golf Course in Sulphur.

Vincent became the first back-to-back winner in 19 years and has a chance be just the second golfer two win three Sulphur City Championships in a row since Lawrence David III won three in a row from 1987-1989.

After winning his first title in a sudden death playoff in 2007 and over taking Chris Vallette in the final round last year, Vincent’s bid for a third title will not be any easier.

After leading through the first two rounds in 2008 before running into some tough times on the final day, 2008 runner-up Vallette returns this year as one of 16 golfers in the Championship flight with less than zero handicaps.

“I have not even looked to check out the field,” Vincent said. “I can’t do anything about them I just have to play my game and try to go as low as possible.

While rain kept last year scores somewhat high, Frasch golf professional George McInnis expects lower scores this year.

“The course is in very good shape,” McInnis said. “The rain this week has really helped to green up everything.

“I do anticipate something lower than par winning. Last year one-over par won it. I think that with this many low handicappers that there will be lower scores.”

Vincent led McNeese State University with a scoring average of 77.8 as a senior this year. Vincent said on Thursday that he has had some hiccups in his game lately but hopes that returning to his home course will change his fortune.

“I feel good but I am not playing well right now,” Vincent said. “Hopefully with it being the course I grew up on it will get me back into it and give me some confidence.”

Vincent finished tied for third at the Louisiana Golf Association Amateur Championship in June at Gray Plantation in Lake Charles.

Other notables in this year’s field include 1994 champion Craig Trosclair and Kevin McArthur who is a caddie for Mike Heinen who is a professional golfer.

Ben Suarez, son of Bear Suarez who won the first Sulphur City Championship in 1981 and again in 1984, returns for this year’s tournament after missing last year. Suarez led Sulphur High to the 2006 5A state golf title along with Jordan Breaux who will also be playing this weekend. Breaux plays for Delta State in Mississippi while Suarez recently transferred to McNeese State from Louisiana Tech. Suarez has the distinction of being the only local player to qualify for the sectionals of the 2009 US Open.

This year’s City Championship will also be the first one since the holes have been rearranged to make the front and back nine more even. Using the old hole numbers, the front nine now consists of No. 10, 11, 12, 13 14, 6, 7, 8, 9 while the back nine is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18.

“I don’t think that it will effect anything because we still finish on our good holes 15, 16, 17, 18,” McInnis said. “I think that it does not beat you up as much as it did in years past on the back nine. It levels out a little more.”

Vincent echoed McInnis when asked if the rearrangement of the holes would have any effect on the tournament.

“I think that I have only played it once since they changed it up but it is still pretty much the same course,” Vincent said. “It is still the same finishing holes and those are probably the toughest holes on the course.”

With the Par 72 course playing for 6,000 yards for this weekend, McInnis doesn’t think that there will be any need to throw any curve balls to bring out the best in this weekends field.

“The course is difficult enough,” McInnis said. “We are going to just get a fair test of golf.

“We will not have anything real tricky out there. Hopefully after three days the best golfer will win.”

Go to www.sulphurdailynews.com for Friday’s results along with Saturday’s Championship flight tee times.
 

Sulphur City Championship tee times

Friday
(Championhip Flight only)
12:30 p.m.–Kevin McArthur, Ben Suarez, Cory Vincent.
12:38 p.m.–Vince Sonnier, Bill Stephens, Donny Abshire.
12:46 p.m.–Travis Franks, Zak Barton, Jordan Breaux.
12:54 p.m.–Doug Quinelty, Craig Trosclair, John Morrissey.
1:02 p.m.–Todd Broussard, Ken Oakley, Joey Dressler.
1:10 p.m.–Chris Vallette, Byron Martin, Jud Cain.
1:18 p.m.–Chris Hood, Walt Dulaney, Mitchell McFatter.
1:26 p.m.–Cody LeBlanc, Larryk Guillory, Darrell Wagstaff.

Saturday
2nd Flight
9:30 a.m.–Bucky Cooley, Lloyd Guillory, Jamie East.
9:40 a.m.–Jeff Hooper, Charlie Buller, III, Torry Shroff.
9:50 a.m.–Dan Breaux, Lee Hooper, Harry Henry.
10 a.m.–Scott Smith, Jack Speights, John Pharis.
10:10 a.m.–Craig Davis, Matt Peek, Derek Poncho, Mike Scarborough.
3rd Flight
10:30 a.m.–Mike Hazi, Ricky Hamolka, Ron Cart.
10:40 a.m.–Wayne Lirrette, R.J. Wynn, Chris Barnes.
10:50 a.m.–Chase Gabriel, Charles Wright, Carrol Brown.
11 a.m.–Winky Phillips, Lance Palermo, Art Scarborough, Mike Nassar.
11:10 a.m.–Derek Gammage, Mario Ramos, Todd Stelly, Lelande Laborde.