June 28, 2007

BEAUMONT - Former Lamar University golfer Oliver Bekker won the 56th annual W.E. Cole Cotton State Invitational last Saturday at Bayou DeSiard Country Club in Monroe, La.

Bekker, who is set to turn professional this summer, was the top player after two rounds of stroke-play with a 36-hole score of 13-under par 66-65--131. Other Cardinals that advanced to the match-play portion of the tournament were Casey Clendenon, who posted a 3-under 69-72--141, Dusty Smith (73-73--146) and Russell Helson (76-71--147).

A native of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Bekker opened match-play with a 2 & 1 win over Lowery Thomas. He posted a 2 & 1 win over Matthew Harvey and defeated Blake Trimble in 20 holes. He had a 2 & 1 win over Jason Cuthbertson and his 4 & 3 win over Leigh Deagan sent him to the championship. He posted a 4 & 3 win over David McKendrick to win the Cotton States Invitational, which is likely to be his last amateur event.

Smith, a native of The Woodlands, posted a 3 & 2 won over Matt Fast before falling 3 & 2 to McKendrick. Helson, a Georgetown native and senior for the Cardinals, opened match-play with a 2 & 1 win over Matt Briggs. He followed with a 2 & 1 win over Bobby Massa and a 4 & 2 win over Thomas Kearney before losing 1-up to Deagan.

Clendenon, a Katy native and senior for the Cardinals, lost 2 & 1 to Brian Mason. Clendenon also played in the Monroe Invitational earlier this summer, where he tied for 16th place with a 72-hole score of 5-over 69-73-75-68--285. Smith also played in the Monroe Invitational, tying for 31st at 74-70-71-75--290.