Lee Messinger Opens 2001 Season With Victory in Lake Charles, LA
10 March 2001 - Lake Charles, LA - The 2001 Texas State Tour opened the 2001 season in Lake Charles, LA. Lee Messinger and Jeffrey Smith both began the season with strong showings by splitting the weekend events with 1st and 2nd place finishes. Jeff had two 23's and a 24 over the weekend and Lee placed two 25's a 24 and a 23 on the board. On Saturday Lee started off strong sitting at 48 with a three stoke lead after the 2nd round. Lee lost the lead to Jeff after a bogy (his only one for the weekend) on the 13th hole, but managed to make 4 of the last 5 holes to claim victory. Lake Charles locals Greg Simpson and Byron Kirby finished tied for 3rd. In the amateur division on Saturday 17 year old Wade Sahmel won another event. Wade is looking like an up and coming player.
Professional Division of Lake Charles, LA Event (10 March 2001)
| | Round | | Prize |
| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total | Money |
| 1 | Lee Messinger* | 23 | 25 | 30 | 78 | $140.00 |
| 2 | Jeffrey Smith | 28 | 23 | 29 | 80 | $80.00 |
| 3 | Greg Simpson | 24 | 28 | 29 | 81 | $40.00 |
| | Byron Kirby | 28 | 28 | 25 | 81 | $40.00 |
| 5 | Charles Cox | 27 | 28 | 28 | 83 | $20.00 |
| 6 | Brian Woolley | 25 | 27 | 32 | 84 | |
| | Brice Bergesen | 28 | 25 | 31 | 84 | |
| | David Lynch* | 31 | 24 | 29 | 84 | |
| 9 | Mike Huckaby | 30 | 25 | 30 | 85 | |
| 10 | Rainey Statum* | 30 | 29 | 28 | 87 | |
| 11 | Al Simpson | 24 | 33 | 32 | 89 | |
| 12 | Steve Armstrong | 35 | 28 | 29 | 92 | |