The Louisiana Classics Tournament hosted by the University of Louisiana's golf program is a one-of-a-kind event for the area, and the Cajun Bulldog Golf Association wants to make it even better.

To those ends, the support group for the Ragin' Cajun team is attempting to get more involvement from the Acadiana golf community for the tournament, which has its 20th renewal on Monday-Tuesday, March 7-8, at Oakbourne.

The tournament features some of the country's top collegiate golf teams, but the most popular event for the local community is the College-Am Tournament which is held one day prior to the collegiate event on Sunday, March 6. In that tournament, the public is invited to team up with some of the collegians.

"I think it's the best event around here as far as the public getting to come out and play with some really good college players," said Mike Spielmann of the Cajun Bulldog Golf Association. "It's always a great opportunity and it's really a fun event."

That popularity creates a shortage of available slots, though. The College-Am is limited to the first 75 players to sign up, and individuals who serve as hosts to the collegiate teams have right of first refusal. That usually cuts the available slots by at least half.

"We had a waiting list and had to turn away about 25 players last year," Spielmann said. "That's why we want to try to get people to register early, so we can get the maximum number of players in the tournament."

Entry fee is $225 per player, and every cent of that goes directly to Cajun golf program to help make up part of its annual budget - a budget that will encompass two teams in the next couple of years when the school fields its first-ever women's team.

"That's going to make the fund-raising we do even more important," said Spielmann, himself a former member of the Cajun squad. "We know that what we raise helps keep this program competitive on a national level."

The Association is seeking sponsors for the Louisiana Classics, ranging from $150 hole sponsorships to a $1,000 Gold Sponsorship to help defray tournament expenses. In addition, the group is looking for individuals who may be interested in hosting one of the collegiate teams.

The field this year includes Kent State, Louisville, Rice, SMU, Texas Tech, Texas State, Tulsa, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, North Texas, Arkansas State and Southeastern La. along with the Cajuns. Spielmann said that most of the teams are regular participants and already have a host group, but that Louisville, Kent State and Southeastern La. are playing in the event for the first time and Houston is making only its second appearance since 1990.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com