FHS graduate Looper earns fourth place finish for UNO

The University of New Orleans golf team made up three spots on the final day of the Cobb-Ferrell Mean Green Classic on Tuesday, finishing fifth in the 12-team field at Lantana Country Club in Denton, Texas. 

Sophomore Ken Looper, a 2007 Fontainebleau High graduate, finished in fourth place individually after a 1-under par 71. The Mandeville native helped UNO to a 297-team score despite rainy conditions at the 7,147-yard track to finish 14 strokes back.

Looper was one of just four players to finish the three-day event under par, posting rounds of 70, 74 and 71 for a 215 total.

Looper said he was very consistent off the tee.

“I actually only missed seven greens, hitting 47 out of the 54 greens in regulation. I was able to hit 36 of the 42 fairways,” Looper said. “Unfortunately, my putter was ice cold. I was always close to the hole, but couldn’t sink many birdie putts. However, no matter how far away I was from the hole, I was able to two-put to keep it at par. I guess you could say I was a par machine,” Looper added.

Looper who is majoring in marketing, is carrying a 3.0 grade point average.

Fellow Privateer sophomore Oscar Zetterwall (tied for 10th) also claimed a top-10 finish after the Texas State transfer fired an even-par 72. 

The Privateers also got a pair of 77’s from Sebastian Szirmak (T-21) and Hector Arias (T-58), while freshman Derek East (T-54) finished the tournament with an 82. 

The UNO team score was the second lowest among the field in the final round, which was forced off the course at one point due to heavy rain.

“Again we gave away too many shots down the stretch,” said UNO head coach Chris McCarter. “But all in all, we can’t be too disappointed with the round. It was tough conditions out there. We just need to do a little better job of closing the deal, and that will come with time.”

Louisiana-Lafayette shot a 4-over par 292-team score to grab co-championship honors along with Sam Houston State (299), finishing with a 878 total. Second-round leader Arkansas-Little Rock (304) grabbed third, and tournament-host North Texas (303) was fourth.

ULL’s Devin Carey claimed individual medalist honors by three shots after a final-round 68, moved him to 6-under overall. 

UNO will continue the fall campaign tomorrow at the South Alabama Jaguar Intercollegiate held in Mobile, Ala.