NATCHEZ &045; The final round of the 2003 Gulf States PGA Thanksgiving Junior Classic at Beau Pr Country Club had just about everything from lower scoring to comeback finishes to even a playoff.

The most dramatic finish was by Andrew Loupe of Baton Rouge &045; and he had a flare for the dramatics not once but twice Wednesday to win the boys 14-15 age group.

First, he wiped out a three-shot deficit by forcing a playoff with first-round leader Drew Dulaney of Raymond and playing partner Freddie Janneck of Madison by making an eagle on the par-5 18th hole.

Then after Dulaney bogeyed No. 18, the first playoff hole, to end up finishing third, Loupe nailed a long birdie putt from just off the front of the green on No. 1, the second playoff hole, to finish first, but after Janneck’s birdie attempt from just off the back of the green rolled just left of the hole.

&uot;It was probably 60 or 70 feet,&uot; Loupe said of his winning putt. &uot;I thought it looked good the whole way. Just kept tracking the line.&uot;

&uot;All I knew was I had to make my putt,&uot; Janneck said. &uot;I was a little surprise (he made the putt). But it didn’t surprise me too much.&uot;

Both Loupe and Janneck had rounds of even-par 72 while Dulaney had another 3-over 75 to finish with a two-day total of 150.

&uot;I played good. Just didn’t putt that good,&uot; Loupe said. &uot;Anything can happen. I knew I could (come back from the deficit). Just depended on how I played and how I putted.&uot;

&uot;I played pretty well,&uot; Janneck said. &uot;I didn’t make a whole lot of mistakes. Just happy with my round.&uot;

The overall boys champion was Jarrett Marchand of St. Amant, La., who competed in the 16-18 age group, who came back from a three-shot deficit of his own with a birdie on 18 to finish one shot ahead of Brent Herman of Metairie, La.

Marchand had a 1-under 71 on Wednesday to finish with a two-day score of 145 while Herman, who did finish first in the boys 16-18 age group, shot a final-round 75 to finish at 146.

&uot;I hit the ball real good. I played pretty steady,&uot; Marchand said. &uot;I didn’t really run into no trouble. I had three birdies, including one on 18 to win. I came in second a few times, but it feels good to come in first.&uot;

&uot;Jarrett and I went back and forth all day until the last hole,&uot; Herman said. &uot;Jarrett hit it close on the last hole and he made the putt. I just couldn’t put it together on the last hole. He made birdie and I made par.

&uot;I’m happy for Jarrett. He and I are good friends. He played well. The course is in good shape.&uot;

Matt Hungerman of Mandeville, La., fired a final-round 72 to finish second at 148. Chris Jordan of Baton Rouge, the overall boys champion in this event in 2000, finished third with a two-day total of 149.

Lee Jones of Natchez finished fourth in a scorecard playoff over Robbie Rhodes of Slidell, La. after both players finished with two-day scores of 150. Jones got fourth because of a back-nine 35, one shot better than Rhodes.

Adam Hossley of Madison finished fourth in the boys 14-15 age group, but only one shot out of the playoff after a final-round 73 to finish at 151.

Nicole Crochet of Harahan, La., who recently won her second straight Gulf States PGA Junior Tour Girls Player of the Year trophy, took home another trophy after wiping out a three-shot deficit of her own to defeat 13-year-old Heather Lott of Baton Rouge, who chose to play up &045; as in 18 holes.

Crochet had a final-round 82 to finish at 163, while Lott struggled with three 8s on the back nine and finished with a round of 88 and a two-day score of 166.

&uot;It felt pretty good coming back from three shots down,&uot; Crochet said. &uot;I played okay. I was consistent. I feel like I could’ve played better, but my putting gave me troubles.&uot;

As for how surprised she was that Lott had an 88, Crochet said, &uot;She was having a rough day. Sometimes you have a good round one day and a bad one the next. It’s just the way the game goes.&uot;