Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / June 8, 1998

LAPLACE – Leisl Hasbrouck, a member of the Riverside golf team, placed second in the 10-12 age division at the Exxon-BFI Future Tour championship held this past weekend at Greenville Country Club in Greenville, Miss.

Hasbrouck shot an even par 72 to finish three shots behind Halley Brown of Dallas in the two day, 18-hole event. Over 250 contestants from 16states, including Iowa, Illinois and Utah, competed in the event, part of the National Futures Tour.

The players were paired according to handicap so Hasbrouck and Brown played in the same foursome both days. Hasbrouck’s group was the mostcompetitive of the field with three of the four players finishing in the top five in the tournament.

“The organizers did a great job of pairing,” Bob Hasbrouck, Leisl’s father and the head golf professional at Belle Terre Country Club, said. “Leislplayed with one of the best groups and it brought out better competition.

It was a super tournament. We would go back in a heartbeat.”Brown shot a 31 the first day to lead Hasbrouck by four shots. Hasbrouckcame back with a 37 the second day with Brown shooting a 38. Over thelast three holes of the tournament, Hasbrouck had two pars and a birdie but Brown was able to hold her off with three consecutive pars.

The tournament was the first one with a national field for Hasbrouck who has already won the Junior Azalea Invitational as well as the South Carolina and Tennessee state championships. Bob Hasbrouck said heentered Leisl into the tournament in order for her to get more experience.

“It was a learning experience,” Bob Hasbrouck said. “I wanted to showthat there are other girls who work just as hard. There were some realgood players there.”The tournament was the first time Hasbrouck had played the course.

Inclement weather prevented the players from getting in a practice round so the Hasbroucks walked the course to determine distances.

Hasbrouck is coming off a prep season in which she helped Riverside win the district title with a scoring average of 42 playing in the fourth spot.

She made par on the last hole of the district tournament at Willowdale Country Club in Luling as the Rebels won by one shot. She finished theseason with a 24-2 record in the fourth spot and placed in the mid 20s at the state tournament.

Hasbrouck is preparing to play in the Junior Azalea Invitational in Charleston, South Carolina, playing up in age group this year. From there,the 12-year-old will compete in a qualifying tournament in Mobile for the U.S. Junior Girls Open.

Photo: LAPLACE RESIDENT LEISL HASBROUCK placed second in the 10-12 age division at the Exxon-BFI Future Tour championship in Greenville, Miss., last weekend. Photo by Michael Kiral

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