Mick Huffman could have felt sorry for himself after not making the cut in the Louisiana Amateur Open a couple of weeks ago, but he did not. Instead, he picked himself back up and entered the Southern Amateur Qualifying Tournament in Baton Rouge.

The top four finishers of this tournament qualify for the 106th Southern Amateur Champion to be held in Arkansas July 18-21.

Huffman, 21, bounced back in a big way by being one of only two golfers to fire a 2-under par, 70 and finish in the top two of the qualifying tournament at University Club.

“I’m excited to be going,” said Huffman.

Past winners of the Southern Amateur Championship include PGA Tour players Webb Simpson and Kyle Stanley.

The event’s list of winners also includes major champions such as Justin Leonard, Mark Brooks, Ben Crenshaw, Hubert Green, Lanny Wadkins, Bill Rogers, Bob Tway and the legendary Bobby Jones, who captured the Southern Amateur title in 1917, 1920 and 1922.

Huffman, a long ball hitter, can point to the area that helped him win on Monday. It was his short game.

His wedges were able to get him within putting range on the green, and then his new Odyssey putter did the rest.

In the one-day tournament, Huffman had four birdies, two bogies and the rest were pars. His putter came through on birdie putts, as well as par putts.

He nailed a 30-foot putt for a birdie on No. 14. On average, his putts were in the five to six feet range.

The short game, he said, has been the downside of his game in the past. He and his father, Mike, have worked on improving it and it showed on Monday.

Also, another thing Mick is having to get used to are new irons and woods. Since he was a sophomore at North Vermilion, Huffman has played with a set of Mizzuno blade irons. Three years into college, he was still playing with the blades. Two weeks ago he purchased a set of Titleist irons, along with a 6.5 degree Titleist driver. He also changed his grip and his putting stance.

“I have never played this well,” he said. “Things are working well for me this summer.”

As for working, Huffman is not only working on his golf game, but he also has a real job. He works outside at a water park in Sulphur and going to summer school at McNeese. Huffman plans to graduate in two semesters and then will decide if he wants to turn pro or stay another year at McNeese.

“Right now I’m all about the team thing with golf,” he said. “I want to help McNeese win a conference title. I enjoy college golf and am in no hurry to go pro. The PGA will be there when I am finished with college golf.”