Avondale, La. (December 28, 2023) — Eighty-six top-ranked junior golfers from across the nation competed in the 2023 Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial, held on December 27-28. TPC Louisiana, home of the PGA TOUR's Zurich Classic of New Orleans, was the host facility for the event. Participants from seventeen states and 3 countries were put to the test with cold and windy conditions and a challenging course.
 
Frances Brown of Mobile, AL is the 2023 Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial Champion in the Girls 13-18 Division. Brown entered the Final Round even par and 2 strokes back of first round leader Sophia Lefler of Tulsa, OK. The second round brought windy conditions, but Brown remained consistent, shooting one-under par 71 to clinch the victory in a playoff over Sophia Macias of Denham Springs, LA with Sophia Lefler finishing in Third.
 
Brown, an Auburn University Golf commit, spoke about her consistency and focus on each shot to secure the win.
 
"It's great to be here in Louisiana. I look forward to playing in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial every year and I love getting the opportunity to play a PGA Tour course here at TPC Louisiana against such a great field. This is the last tournament on my calendar every year, and Kelly, Taylor, Bryan and the Kelly Gibson Foundation staff and volunteers always do an amazing job of putting on this tournament. It's truly an honor to win."
 
Niel Phillips of New Orleans, LA is the 2023 Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial Champion in the Boys 13-18 Division. After a one-over par 73 in Round 1, Phillips entered Final Round 6 strokes behind First Round leader Thomas Norris of Mountain Brooke, AL. Phillips rode a bogey-free four-under par 68 in Round 2 to erase the deficit to force a playoff with James Holtsclaw of Shreveport, LA. After trading pars on the first sudden death playoff hole, Phillips secured the victory on the second playoff hole by rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt for the win.
 
Phillips commented on what winning the Allstate Tommy Moore Memorial meant to him.
 
"I grew up playing on the Kelly Gibson Junior Golf Tour and winning the Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial is easily the highlight of my junior golf career. Growing up in New Orleans, TPC Louisiana has always been one of my favorite courses, and having the opportunity to represent my city on this stage is something that I am very proud of. I'd like to thank the Kelly Gibson Foundation for all of the opportunities they have helped provide for me and other junior golfers in South Louisiana."
 
Second in the Girls 13-18 Division was Sophia Macias of Denham Springs, LA and third went to Sophia Lefler of Tulsa, OK.
 
Second place in the Boys 13-18 Division went to James Holtsclaw of Shreveport, LA and third went to Benton Manly of Tulsa, OK.
 
Allstate Sugar Bowl is the presenting sponsor of the 36-hole event. The 90th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic is scheduled to be played on Monday, January 1st, as No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas face off in Caesars Superdome with the winner advancing to the College Football Playoff Championship on Monday, January 8th.
While the Sugar Bowl is well-known as one of the premier college football bowl games, it has also been a key part of the local sports scene by hosting and sponsoring events in a wide-range of sports since its inception in 1934.
 
Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.4 billion into the local economy in the last decade.
 
The golf tournament is named in honor of Tommy Moore, who was the most accomplished junior golfer to ever emerge from the New Orleans area. In 1980, Tommy was ranked #1 in the Golf Digest Junior World Rankings and went on to have a decorated collegiate career at Oklahoma State University where he was an All-American, National Champion, and Academic All-American. After playing on the PGA TOUR for three seasons, Tommy Moore's life was cut short at the young age of 35 due to a rare blood disease. In his memory, the Kelly Gibson Foundation is proud to partner with the Allstate Sugar Bowl to host a national event that recognizes the impact Tommy made on junior golf and the New Orleans community. This is the 13th year that the Kelly Gibson Foundation has produced the Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial.
 
The Kelly Gibson Foundation was founded as Feed the Relief, Inc. by Kelly and Elizabeth Gibson in September of 2005 with the idea of providing necessary support for the frontline first responders to Hurricane Katrina. In 2010, Feed the Relief, a 501(c)3 corporation, changed its name to the Kelly Gibson Foundation, and expanded its scope to enrich the lives of children through athletics. Their mission is to provide support to military personnel and first responders, with a focus on youth athletics. For more information, please visit www.kellygibsonfoundation.org.