Anderson rallies for Match Play title

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 4, 2008 - Page: 7C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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SPRINGFIELD — There’s something to be said for going out on top. After two come-from-behind wins on Thursday at the FAL Match Play Championship, James Anderson III has the right to say plenty.

The former Leesville High School golfer rallied on the back nine at the Carter Plantation Golf Course during the morning semifinal and the afternoon final to claim top honors, winning both matches 4 and 3.

“This is probably going to be my last junior golf tournament ever,” Anderson, 19, said. “And it is nice to go out on top.

“The first couple of days I didn’t finish strong in my matches. I had one go to 18 and  17 on another. Today I was able to close the matches out.”

Anderson is set to play at the University of the Louisiana at Lafayette in 2008-09. He said the four-day Arrowhead Junior Golf Tour event provided a chance to prepare for next year, when he’ll play 18- and 36-hole matches regularly.

In four days the finalists played seven, 18-hole rounds. Anderson finished with a 7-0 record.

The day started with Anderson falling behind Bo Boudreaux of Broussard in one of the two semifinals matches by three.

Carding back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, Anderson took control and won four holes in a row to claim the match by a 4 and 3 score.

Matt Decell, a 15-year-old from Baton Rouge, ousted Gavin Vegas of Covington 2 and 1 in the other semifinal.

 When the players teed off just before noon for the final match, the script Anderson saw unfold was a familiar one.

Through the first seven holes, Decell led by two. But the sophomore-to-be at St. Michael the Archangel was unable to sustain the lead as Anderson came charging back.

“Putting was the best part of my game all week,” Decell, who finished 6-1, said. “I missed putts (in the final) and he (Anderson) made them. 

“Things were just a little off for me today. I’ve never played this many rounds in four days and it was tough.”