Metairie, Louisiana – June 4, 2026
It was a historic day for Louisiana Golf. The Louisiana Amateur Championship returned to Metairie Country Club for the first time in 86 years, and it did not disappoint. The Seth Raynor designed course showed its teeth and stole the show. Conditions were soft following several days of rain, but an eastwardly wind gusted 15-20 mph for the majority of the day, making club selection difficult. Raynor’s “template holes” have stood the test of time, and presented a proper test for the 144 best amateur golfers in the state on Thursday. The three players tied for the lead, Ben Blanco of Broussard, three-time Louisiana Amateur Champion John Humphries of Woodworth, and Carter Schmitt of Baton Rouge were the only players in the field to finish their opening 18 holes under par. One-under par 69 holds the clubhouse lead with 54 holes remaining in this prestigious tournament. This is the highest first round leading score since 2007.
Blanco and Schmitt both teed off in the morning wave. Schmitt had a colorful scorecard en route his one-under par 69, carding six birdies (holes 1, 5, 6, 14, 15, and 17) and five bogeys (holes 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13). Blanco started his round on the 10th hole and made the turn at one-under par 34. He made a bogey at the par 4 13th hole, but followed that with back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15. He made a birdie at the first hole, but followed that with a bogey at the par 5 2nd hole. After making four straight pars, he stumbled again at the par 3 7th hole but followed that up with a birdie at the par 4 8th. Humphries started his round on # 10 in the afternoon, and he made a bogey on his opening hole. He played the next seven holes four-under par with birdies on 14 and 17 and an eagle 2 on # 15. After a bogey at the par 4 18th hole, he made the turn at two-under par 33. Humphries second nine holes included bogeys at 7 and 9 with a birdie in between at the par 4 8th hole.
19 players currently sit within three shots of the lead. Price Butcher of New Orleans had a memorable even par round of 70 that included back-to-back eagles on the par 5 14th and the par 4 15th followed by a double-bogey at the par 4 16th. He’s currently tied for fourth with Kyle Traub of Metairie. Traub also eagled the par 5 14th and shot 35 on his opening nine (10-18) shooting 35-35.
David Marsh of Baton Rouge, Jonathan Jeter of New Orleans, Andrew Barreca of New Orleans, Lawrence Allan of Baton Rouge, Kyle Bennett of Lafayette, Duke Nitcher or New Orleans, and Jackson Maniscalco are all tied for 6th place at one-over par 71.
Metairie Country Club played to a par 70 at approximately 6,710 yards on Friday. Director of Agronomy Drew Street and his crew have the course in superb condition, and it drew rave reviews from this field of the best amateur golfers in Louisiana. The par 4 13th hole “Knoll” was the most difficult on Thursday.
Starting Times will begin again at 7:30 a.m., off both #1 and #10 tees on Friday. The field will be cut to the low 60 scorers and ties following 36 holes.
Click here for complete First Round Results.
Click here to view Second Round Pairings.
About the Louisiana Golf Association
The Louisiana Golf Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and growing the game of golf across Louisiana. Founded in 1920, the LGA conducts state championships, provides USGA Handicap Index® services, and supports players of all ages through initiatives like the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour.
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