The Fore!Kids Foundation Players Championship was held July 28 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, the site of the annual Zurich Classic.

Mandeville High junior golfer Evans Haile fired a two-over par 74 to capture the boys 16-17 year-old title, finishing three shots ahead of Luling’s Caleb Lampert and Mandeville’s Patrick Hagood. Slidell’s Garrett Tranchina and Alex Black tied for fourth place, finishing six strokes back with an 80.

It was Haile’s second consecutive victory after winning the 14th annual BC Cup Junior Golf Championship at Money Hill Golf and Country Club in Abita Springs July 21. He fashioned a career low, six-under par 66 to win that event.

Pictured at center is Mandeville High junior golfer Evans Haile after receiving the James R. Moffett Scholarship ($1,500) at the Fore!Kids Foundation annual banquet Aug. 7 at the New Orleans Riverside Hilton. Pictured from left are the scholarship presenters Darrah Schaefer and Buddy Seeling, who are Board Members of the Fore!Kids Foundation.

Haile said he struggled on the first two holes of the recent Players Championship at TPC, coming away with bogeys, after missing a couple of makeable putts.

“I got it back by getting back-to-back birdies on the next two holes, which was really nice. It was a tough course with the wind and it was really wet. I had a pretty smooth round, hitting the ball well. After the slow start, my putter came around,” Haile said.

Haile said his putting and chipping were really on. “I didn’t have too many things go wrong with my round.”

Haile, who had played the course once previously about six months ago with his dad (Mark) and some friends, said he’s been on the course many times. He also served as a volunteer standard bearer carrying a group score sign during the last Zurich Classic.

Haile was the recipient of the James R. Moffett Scholarship ($1,500) presented by the Fore!Kids Foundation at its annual banquet in New Orleans earlier this month. Haile plans on competing Sept. 6 in a Gulf States Junior PGA event at Squirrel Run Golf Club in New Iberia.

Covington High 2008 graduate Mark Drube earned a second place finish with a four-over par 76 in the 18-22 age category. He finished three strokes behind New Orleans’ Bobby Senter. Slidell’s Travis Markey and Chris Burson finished tied for fifth place, shooting 79, six strokes back.

Both Drube and Burson were the recipients of scholarships earlier this month presented by the BC Cup Foundation. Drube, who is attending Meridian Community College in Mississippi, was awarded a $5,000 scholarship, while Burson received a $2,500 scholarship. Burson is at Mississippi State University, enrolled in the Golf Management Program.

Madisonville’s Stephen Wall took first place in the 9-11 age group with a 30, finishing four strokes ahead of Metairie’s Derick Pillai. Luling’s Colin Troxler was third. Slidell’s Jacob Bergeron and Branden Tiblier tied for fourth seven shots back. Slidell’s Colton Blagrove finished in sixth place shooting a 42.

Covington’s Brandon Pierce won the 12-13 title with an 82, coming in three strokes ahead of Mandeville’s Peter Yager.

In the girls’ competition, Slidell’s Jennifer Nguyen carded a 72 to take the 14-15 year-old championship. Slidell’s Bridget Landry (93) was second.

Mandeville’s Jinjutha Noibanchong garnered first place honors in the 16-17 age group with a 77, winning by 14 shots.

Brad White, Director of Operations for the Fore!Kids Foundation, said it was the first time the local junior golfers played on a golf course that hosted a PGA tour event.

“Many of the young golfers who participate on the Fore!Kids Junior Tour also volunteer at the annual Zurich Classic,” White said. “After volunteering, they are excited about coming back to the golf course where they witnessed the pros playing the course.”

White said he feels fortunate to have so many talented young golfers playing on the Fore!Kids Foundation tour.

“We have a great working relationship with local golf courses, who help make the tour a success. We really appreciate their support of junior golf. We are able to get an opportunity to play on quality golf courses.

The local golf professionals go out of their way to help support our junior golfers, which is greatly appreciated,” White added.

Other local finishers:

Boys 9-11: Tie 7. Beren Brechtel, 45; 9. Trace Knoerr, 51.

Boys 12-13: 5. Brent Stokes, 87; 8. Thomas Ruli; 11. Michael Dunn, 98; 12. Ross Ledoux, 99; 15. Beau Briggs, 107.

Boys 14-15: 3. Jonah Johnson, 82; 12. Taylor Roussel, 102; 13. Colton Acosta, 105.

Boys 16-17: 9. Nicholas Lagrange, 83; 17. Gus Schroeder, 91; 18. John Griffitt, 92.

Girls 9-11: 4. Savannah Ennis, 62; 5. Brittany Pierce, 71.