By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

MARKSVILLE —  Riverside junior Sean Flynn said that he was “beyond nervous” before teeing off at Wednesday’s Louisiana Champions golf tournament at Tamahka Trails Golf Club in Marksville.

But the jitters eventually subsided. The Rebels’ golf standout finished with a score of 81, good for 13th overall in a stacked field of competitors.

The tournament is comprised of players that finished in the top five of their respective classification’s state tournaments. Flynn finished fifth in Class 2A.

Loyola Prep’s Eric Ricard finished first at the Champions tournament with a score of 65.

Flynn shot 43 on the front nine and improved to 38 on the back nine.

“It was really, really cool,” said Flynn. “To be honest, this is what I worked for all year, to play with players at this level … the best players in the state. There were a bunch of nerves, but after the first hole, I started to get comfortable.”

Riverside coach Roy Aubert said Flynn got stronger as the day went along.

“It was a pretty good test for him,” said Aubert. “They played from the tip, the championship tees used on the collegiate golf tour … he shot 43 on the first nine. It easily could have been a 39, but he found the (traps) on some approach shots.

“But he recovered and had a good back nine. He hit it extremely well and did a good job with his club selection.”

Flynn said that he relaxed after a stressful start.

“I had a few anger moments on the first nine, and that’s not me,” said Flynn. “I was having a bad day, and so was the guy I played with … We just joked around and kept our heads up. The back nine was more relaxed, and that helped.”

Flynn, a junior, sat out his sophomore season after transferring from Jesuit to Riverside.

This season, he averaged a score of 38 in nine-hole matches and 76 over 18. He earned Riverside’s golf MVP award this season.

“His house is maybe 150 feet from the No. 5 hole at Riverlands,” said Aubert. “That’s where he cut his teeth … He hits it well. He’s got a pretty good short game. And when his putting is sharp, he can put up some pretty good numbers.”

Flynn said that the experience will push him to continue to work on his game, in hopes of returning to the tourney next season.

“All the golfers I’ve met, most travel more than I do … it makes me want to play more, extend my talent and keep meeting new people,” he said.