That was the prevailing sentiment of Chitimacha Louisiana Open officials as executive director Danny Jones addressed sponsors and the media at the golf tournament’s annual luncheon last week that kicked off the final four weeks before the start of the annual tournament, which runs from March 26-29 at Le Triomphe Golf and Country Club in Broussard.
“It goes without saying that this is going to be a different year, not only in terms of the tournament but also with the economic situations not only across the city but across America,” said Jones. “We’ve had to get creative in how we deal with the hard times.
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Jones describes the procedures that the tournament is conducting to get through the current economic times along the lines of what happens in NCAA basketball’s March Madness: “We’re going to survive and advance.”
The tournament enters its 18th year as part of the Nationwide Tour and only four tournaments on the Nationwide Tour have been around longer. In fact, those four tournament are the only four original tournaments left when the Tour began as the Ben Hogan Tour 20 years ago.
While the Louisiana Open may not have the economic impact this year that it has had in the past, Jones is adamant that the annual tournament will be able to assist charities in the area, just as it has always done.
“We’re still going to make an impact in the Lafayette area and hopefully give you bang for your buck,” said Jones. “In the past five years the tournament has given over $1.7 million to local charities.
“We couldn’t do it without the sponsors and the volunteers.”
Jones also announced the this year’s tournament exemptions went to local favorite and UL grad Mike Heinen, Michael Clark of Georgia, former UL golfer Greg Sonnier of Lake Charles and Michael Smith.
“We’re excited about our exemptions,” said Jones. “We think that they can compete and get into the Top 25 they can move on and compete the next week in San Francisco.
“We always do what we can to help our local guys.”
As in year’s past, the Louisiana Open will be the first American stop on the Nationwide Tour for 2009. The Tour opened with a tournament in Panama Feb. 5-8, and is currently holding tournaments in New Zealand and Australia before heading back to North America.
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