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Of five players with area ties playing in professional events last week, former Lamar star Dawie van der Walt had by far the best showing. Van der Walt, who was in contention most of the way in the Korn Ferry Tour Utah Championship, finished tied for eighth at 17-under-par 267.

With a closing 70, Dawie wound up three strokes out of what was a three-way playoff. He had opened with rounds of 68-66-63.

In the same event, another LU ex, Shawn Stefani, placed T44 at minus 12. …

On the PGA Tour, Chris Stroud, after a wild opening round of 66 in the Travelers Championship, slipped to a 72 on day two and missed the cut by two strokes. Stroud’s 66 saw him play the first seven holes in three over, then roar back to devour the final 11 in seven under.

The Port Neches-Groves ex is in the field for this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. Andrew Landry, who did not play the Travelers, is also taking this week off. …

Also missing a cut last week was Braden Bailey. The one-time PNG and Baylor standout shot rounds of 68-75 on the APT’s Cooper Communities Charity Classic in Bella Vista, Arkansas. It was Bailey’s second consecutive missed cut.

Next stop for Bailey is the July 8-11 Victoria Open. …

Joe Bennett of Port Neches bagged his third ace last week at Babe Zaharias by sinking a 4-iron from 135-yards on the 12^th hole. Witnesses were Connor Knight, John Parent and Mark Lee. …

In the Monday Senior 50 Plus 2 ball at Zaharias, the team of Don MacNeil, Danny Robbins, Roddy Richards and Pete Reobroi won the front with minus 3. On the back, the foursome of James Vercher, Raymond Darbonne, Art Turner and Larry Reece took first at minus 1. …

The Super Saturday 2 ball at Zaharias was played in a par 4 format. Winning the front with minus 9 was the team of Earl Richard, Robbins Jeff Rinehart and Jerry May. On the back, the team of Ed Holley, Cap Hollier and Keith Marshall lapped the field with minus 14. …

Because of wet conditions, a par 4-format was also used in the Friday 2 ball. Tying the front at minus 9 was the team of Richard, Hollier, Robbins and Jason Ferguson and the fivesome of Ron LaSalle, Larry Foster, Dillard Darbonne, Dwayne Benoit and Stuart Ellis.

The back was won in minus 8 by the team of Randy Monk, Rinehart, Dan Flood and Marshall.

Golf news should be e-mailed to rdwest@usa.net. Bob West’s column is sponsored by 5 Under Golf Center.