Q School - Final Round

I've thought a lot about what I would post here.  I'm not going to go into details about my final round and recount every shot or situation.  If you saw my Facebook status or the LPGA online results, I carded a 76 and it was not good enough to advance.

I want to caution you that this post may be a little "heavier" than my previous posts.  I don't intend to be overly dramatic, but I want to give an honest account of this week.  I realize that golf is just a game and I realize that even on my worst days, I am unbelievably blessed to have the opportunity to be doing what I'm doing.  However, I also realize that a LOT of time and money have gone into the past two years to make this "game" a "career."  As such, I pray about it and am as concerned about it just as many of you may treat your own careers.

I say all that as a preface to my summary of the week.  Qualifying school is arguably the most important tournament of the year for a golfer.  Your play for the week determines your status on the tour, which determines how many events you can compete in, which determines your schedule for the next year.  I had worked harder than I have ever worked for this entire season to prepare for Q School this year.  Looking back, I wouldn't change my strategy.  I did everything I needed to do.  I played in a lot of events.  I was completely focused on golf, not allowing anything to compete with my time.  And consequently, I came into this tournament more relaxed than normal and with the best attitude I had ever had coming into Q School competition.  I knew that I had done everything I could have done and had prepared the absolute best I could, both mentally and physically.  I realized the significance of this tournament, but I didn't put an enormous amount of pressure on myself like I had in the past.  Even after the terribly disappointing finish on the first day, I didn't succumb to negative emotions and thoughts.  I kept my head high this entire week.

There's only one thing I can conclude with all things considered:  it was obviously not in the Lord's plan for me to advance to Stage III.  Now, I understand that this statement may meet with disapproval from some of my readers.  Some may think it's a "cop-out" or an excuse for my poor play.  Some may think that God couldn't be further from life's outcomes.  But this is what I believe:  that God is not only present, but is intimately involved in not only my life, but in everything.

I promise, I don't mean to offer this as an "excuse" or a point of contention.  Certainly there are points of my game that I can improve upon, and I plan on tackling them full force this off season.  I take full responsibility for my play, and strive to become a better player each day.  But just as the Lord can allow everything to come together, He can also allow everything to fall apart.  And I have to acknowledge His presence in both situations, even when I don't understand it.  

No doubt, my finish at this week's tournament has made my 2012 season a little more difficult than I would have wanted.  But I take comfort that I did everything in my power to prepare and become a better player this year.  And I have to remind myself that (thankfully) there is a plan, that there is Someone who is wiser, and that just as things can fall apart, He can put them back together.  

I don't mean to "preach," and you are welcome to agree or disagree with my thoughts.  No worries and certainly no judgement there!  But I do want to thank you for taking the time to read my blog and to follow me throughout this season.  I cannot tell you how incredibly encouraging it has been to receive texts, phone calls, and comments from you all!!!!  Thank you for following and for being a strong source of support.  I look forward to keeping you updated on all that is in store for the 2012 season as well as this off season competition.  I'll still be playing in Suncoast events this fall and winter, so keep an eye out for my blog updates!  Thanks again.

Q School - Rounds 2 & 3

Hey everyone, sorry about not posting a blog update last night.  Apparently, the LPGA was having some website malfunction and third round tee times weren't updated until 9:00, and all of us (players) were trying to figure out the situation.

Let's begin with yesterday's round.  I started on the back nine of the Panther course.  Obviously, judging by my score, things were better.  I'm still really struggling with a pull, but at least I know it and am prepared to play with it.  Unlike the first day which can be best described as complete bewilderment!  I was able to focus on hitting fairways and greens.  I had three great birdie chances on the first three holes, and was able to sink one.  I continued the front side one under, but a wayward pull on #17 left me a chip and a putt for par that slid past the cup.  I was unable to save par on #18, making the turn at one over.  I missed the green on #1, had an incredibly hard chip shot, but sank a 18 footer to save par!  I settled down and started hitting greens again.  I had a couple of good looks at birdie, but none fell for me.  As we approached the par three #7, a rules official gave us a warning for slow play since the hole was open ahead.  I have to admit that I felt a bit rushed, and probably made my club selection too quickly.  I landed short of the green and well short of the hole.  My bump and run came out a lot hotter than expected, and I was left with another 18 footer to save par.  I made it!  Without going into strenuous details about wayward shots and the putts left for par, I will say that I made a putt (all 10 - 15 feet) to save par on the last three holes!  I'm pretty sure my caddie and I need some heart medication after that! Haha.  Anyways, I carded a one over, 73 for the day.

Today I played the Bobcat (the scene of my hideous first round).  I have to say that my warm up was less than comforting.  My pull seemed to get worse the more I hit.  The system my caddie and I had worked out yesterday (He would make sure that my alignment was correct, at the target and square) that had seemed to minimize my misses was NOT working this morning.  All I could do was shrug it off, say a prayer, take a deep breath, and focus on the shot I wanted to hit.  That was my thought process going into the round, and for whatever reason it worked.  I hit a lot of greens, only missing three for the day.  I still struggled with the pull, but gave myself a lot of looks at birdie.  However, it seemed like our whole group was having trouble sinking a putt!  We only had four among all three of us today!  My one birdie finally came on the 17th hole.  I hit a beautiful shot STRAIGHT at the pin and stuck it to 7 feet for birdie!  I had a 30 footer on the last hole for birdie, but left it 6 inches short...right in the heart.  I carded another 73 today.

I am definitely happier with my scores, happy with my course management, and all things considered, pleased that I am at least hitting greens.  Would I kill to play that first round over?  ABSOLUTELY.  But, unfortunately, it can't happen.  So I might as well forget it, and finish as strong as I possibly can with the game I have at the moment.  We still have one more day, and one really great score could squeak me back into things.  I'm not sure what time I'll be playing tomorrow, but we'll get our parings later tonight and I'll be sure to post the time on my Facebook wall.  Thanks so much for all of the encouragement, it has been welcomed and especially appreciated this week.

Have a great night!

Q School - Round One

Today was not the best.  I started out by pulling my drive left of the fairway and (I thought) into the bunker.  When we got to the ball, it turns out that it had been held up by the rough.  The only problem was that my stance was in the bunker, a good two feet below my ball.  I was forced to chip into the fairway to the 150 marker.  I hit a great shot but pulled it left of the green and had a tricky short sided chip.  I left it short, and had to chip again.  I hit it to four feet and made the putt for double.  NOT the best start.

I made a great par on the next hole, but found trouble on #3.  As I set up on the par 3 tee shot, I had a bad feeling about it.  So,  I backed off and started my pre-shot routine over again.  However, I still hit the bad shot I had "seen" in the previous set up.  It was dead in the water to the left.  To say that my nerves were shaky now was an understatement.  I was completely dumbfounded.  I ended up par the next six holes, and making the turn with just those two terrible holes on my scorecard:  a double and a triple.

My struggles with the pull/hook followed my all day.  I couldn't get anything going.  I finished carding an 81.  That would have been a disappointing score any day, but it was particularly disappointing today because I my ball striking had been SO GREAT this week during practice.  My caddy and I immediately went to the range afterwards to see if we could figure this out.  Turns out my alignment was fine with my  clubhead, but my feet were shut.  We worked on this for over an hour, and saw improvement.

I'm still just dumbfounded as to how I could go from phenomenal ball striking to not being able to hit a green overnight.  But regardless, tomorrow's a new day and thankfully there are still three more days of competition.  I tee off tomorrow at 12:40 EST off #10 on the Panther course.

Thanks for following!

Venice, FL - Qualifying Stage II

I cannot believe it's time for Qualifying School again!  It seems like this season has flown by!

This week is Stage II Qualifying for the LPGA Futures Tour.  We're playing in Venice, Florida at Plantation Golf and Country Club.  There are two 18 hole courses, the Bobcat and the Panther.  Q-School is a little different this year.  In the past, there were two separate qualifiers:  one for the Futures Tour and one for the LPGA.  Since the LPGA acquired the Futures Tour, there is now one, three stage qualifier for both tours.  Stage I was held this summer.  It was for any amateur or professional that was not a member of a Rolex ranking tour.  Stage II that is taking place this week is for those who advanced from Stage I as well as professionals that are members of a tour.  It will be a four day event held on both courses with no cut.  The top 70 and ties will advance to the final qualifier that will be held at the end of November.  So there is sort of a double incentive this year.  Play well to gain good status on the Futures Tour and also for the chance to compete for LPGA status.

I arrived in Venice last Wednesday.  I played each course twice, with the exception of yesterday's rain out.  I did manage to get through six holes, and had already played the entire 18 a couple of days before. This morning I got several hours of good practice in before the weather sirens pulled everyone off the course.  I planned to "take the day off" anyway, just getting in some practice and relaxing a little bit before the tournament begins.  It's a good thing too, because I don't think the weather is going to allow for much golf today!  Hopefully, all the severe weather is making its way through today, and the tournament days will be rain free (fingers crossed!).

I am very thankful for this week and this opportunity.  A lot of prayer and practice has gone into this entire season and definitely this week.  I am very blessed and very ready to play!  I feel good about the courses, have been hitting the ball well, and put in a lot of time around the practice green this week.  I am  also thankful for a great caddy.  He's been doing this for a long time, so I'm grateful for his experience and advice.

I am also thankful that the Lord has blessed me with such wonderful parents who have worked so hard to allow me to take advantage of the opportunities that have come my way.  They are incredibly supportive, and I am truly blessed.  He has been kind enough to also provide me with a huge community of supporters from my hometown, across Alabama, and through my travels this year.  Thank you for your encouragement.

I will keep you updated this week via my blog, but you can also follow along by clicking on the link above to the Futures Tour.  From the home page, click the tab that says "Tournaments," and select "Qualifying" below.  You'll find pairings and results on the right side of the page.  I tee off #1 on the Bobcat course tomorrow morning at 8:45 a.m. EST!

Have a great week!

Final Round - Reunion & LPGA Monday Qualifier

Just a quick update on my last two rounds!  I'll start with the final round at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida.

I hit more greens, only missing three for the day and actually made every save for par.  However, I struggled again with my putting.  I had a lot of birdie opportunities that I misread.  My speed was a little better, but my reads were off quite a bit.  I had two three putts for the day, and only one birdie fell.  I carded a 73, and was happy to at least have improved my score every day.

I came home Thursday night, and immediately started preparing for the Navistar LPGA qualifier that following Monday, September 12.  The Navistar is played on the Robert Trent Jones Senator course in Prattville, Alabama.  This year, the greens were totally renovated from Bermuda to Champions Bermuda and we were the first two play on them.  Translation:  brand new greens that were extremely hard and lightening fast!  After my practice round on Sunday, I spent two hours on the putting green.

I teed off #1 yesterday afternoon at 1:00.  I got off to a great start.  I hit greens and made great putts.  I only missed one green on the front, but made the save for par.  My first bogey came with a three putt on #10.  I had played my approach shot to land on the ridge short of the pin and funnel down.  Unfortunately, this was the one shot that seemed to stick.  Literally one more yard, and it was perfect.  I was left with a very slippery lengthy putt for birdie.  My speed was great, but my line was off.  I misread the five footer left for par, to bogey.  I did stick an approach to three feet on #13 to make birdie and get back to even par for the round.  The next hole, I hit a wayward drive over a bunker and onto a mound.  I hit a pretty good shot considering my awkward lie, and had a 30 foot putt for birdie.  I hit a great putt, but it just ran out a little farther than expected.  I still only had about two feet left, but I misjudged the read and it lipped out.  I hit another good approach into the par three 16th.  I had a 20 footer that was incredibly slick and had a huge swing left to right.  It took off, and I missed the comeback eight footer.  I came to #18, a long par four, at two-over par.  I knew two over wouldn't make it since my playing partner was two under for the day.  I tried to smoke my drive, and as a result pulled it left into thick rough, leaving myself with absolutely no chance to reach the green.  I punched out and hit the best iron shot I'd hit all day into the green.  I was sure it would be close and I would at least have a chance to par.  Unfortunately, the shot didn't hold.  In fact, it hit five feet right of pin high, and rolled out to the back of the green 60 feet away.  I three putted for a terrible double to end the round.

When I left the course last night, a 70 and 71 were the low scores.  Although I didn't make it, I wasn't upset with my play, just disappointed with the score and result.  I was actually pretty proud of the way I played.  I just got some bad breaks and some heartbreaking putts.  But I stayed positive and in the moment every shot.  It just wasn't meant to be.  And "what of the last hole?" you may ask.  Well, I admit it wasn't the best decision, but I knew that whatever I did on 18, my score wasn't low enough to make it. Had I been sitting at even par or had I been in any event other than a one day qualifier, my strategy would have been different.  But, going forward, I will do better to consciously decide to play every hole to the best of my ability regardless of where I stand at the end of the day.  That's my only regret about the decision.  Other than that, I was proud of my play.

It's hard to believe, but my next event will be qualifying school in Venice, Florida at the end of the month!  I'll be heading that way next Wednesday, and the tournament begins on the 27th.  It is a four day competition on two courses with no cut.  The top 70 and ties will advance to Stage III qualifying.  Basically, this year at qualifying school there is a double incentive:  play well to gain better status on the Futures Tour and to advance to Stage III for a chance at LPGA status.  Despite my scores, I feel like I'm on the brink of playing some really good golf.  I've worked really hard this entire season, and will continue the process this week in preparation for Q-School.  I am excited about playing, and look forward to the challenge.  Thanks for following, and I'll keep you updated!  Have a great week!

Reunion - Round Two

Well, today was better!  I got off to a good start again, managing to save par on the first hole after a terribly unlucky bounce off the green.  I went on to stick my hybrid to 3 feet on #4 and made birdie!  I continued to hit greens and played pretty solid.  I was even par through 12 holes, but missed the green on 13 and my par putt lipped out.  I maintained my composure, and had a couple of looks at birdie afterwards but none would fall.  My mental goof of the day came on #17.  My drive drifted a little farther right than I wanted and found a fairway bunker (which I honestly didn't know was reachable).  I had a good lie and not much of a lip to get over.  I had just thought, "take your medicine and play an iron or hybrid to 150 yards."  For some strange reason this thought left me as I approached my ball, and I quickly grabbed my 5 wood (that sounds riskier than usual, but I can play my 5 wood out of bunkers pretty well).  Looking back, I really don't know what caused me to get so greedy...the pin was in the back of the green, so it wasn't as if an extra 50 yards would give me that much of an advantage.  Now I know at this point I should have re-evaluated, and could have...but here's where it really went south:  the last thought I had was a twinge of fear of topping the shot and dribbling it into the fairway.  So guess what happened?  I topped the shot, it hit the lip, and dribbled into the rough.  This is what I have to work on.  If at any point a shot other than the one I intend to hit runs through my head at address from now on, I WILL STOP AND BEGIN MY PRE-SHOT ROUTINE AGAIN UNTIL ALL I CAN SEE AND THINK ABOUT IS THE SHOT I INTEND TO HIT.  I think it was a lapse in focus and a bit of laziness since it was the 17th hole.  Whatever the reason, it was a big mental goof.  From there, I had a severe downhill lie in thick rough from 250 yards out.  I hit a 5 iron through the fairway into the left rough.  From there I hit a great shot, but it took another terribly unlucky hard bounce left into a green side bunker.  I was looking at a save for bogey now.  I did hit a great sand shot, and made the 10 footer for bogey.  By the end of what seemed like an hour long struggle, I saved bogey on #17...and it felt like a birdie.  Haha.  I finished with a two putt par on #18 to card a 74 for the day.

Not the best, but certainly a better score than yesterday.  Overall, I hit the ball well again today, and putted MUCH better!  No three putts!  I made lots of great putts to save par, and other than one putt on #6, I stayed committed to my routine and process on the rest!  Although I putted better today, I was still a little shaky over the longer putts.  So after the round, I went back to the practice green and worked on speed control for a little while.

The greatest part about today was the weather!  I have to say that God reminded me that He alone orchestrates and determines our weather, NOT a radar system.  Haha!  I woke up this morning to a heavy rain outside and a radar screen of green and yellow heading straight for Orlando.  It rained all the way to the course.  I got out both my rain suits, an extra towel, and my rain gloves.  I was fully prepared for an extremely long, miserably wet day.  But as I began warming up, the rain stopped and the sun came out.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and only He could have caused such an impending green mass to dissipate so quickly.  I was so very thankful and amazed!

I tee off tomorrow morning at 8:10 of #1.  I'll be heading home straight after, but I'll try and post the results to Facebook and then update the blog as soon as I get home.  You can also click on the link above to access the Suncoast Series website which will post the results tomorrow afternoon.  Thanks again for following, and have a great night!

Suncoast Series - Reunion - Round One

I'm back in Florida this week for a Suncoast Series event on the Watson course at the Reunion Resort.  If you've never heard of or visited the Reunion Resort before, you should really check it out!  It is a fantastic resort community with three 18 hole courses:  Palmer, Watson, and Nicklaus.  The Watson course is unique in that it has no water hazards.  But what it lacks in water, it makes up for in sand traps and waste bunkers!  

I teed off this morning at 8:30 to begin round one.  Overall, the course is in good shape and the set up is a mixture of either really short par 4s or really long ones!  Today, I started out okay.  I just had a really hard time getting comfortable on the greens.  I had several three putts.  I hit great chips but misjudged how far they would roll out, leaving myself with longer than usual putts to save par.  What's worse, is that the putts I usually feel VERY confident over ( inside 9 feet), I missed purely because I let those three putts eat away at my confidence and didn't stick to my routine.  That's what I'm most upset about:  I didn't stick to my routine and process.

Today was a rough day for everybody in general and our scores show it.  We had to play the majority of the back nine in torrential rain and wind, and that's always difficult.  It's weird that we saw all of the bad weather early this morning rather than late this afternoon which is more typical of Florida storms.  But trust me and my rain gloves...we saw it all!  As I said before I had trouble with the speed of the greens today.  I also hit great chips exactly where I wanted to land them, but misjudged the speed of the greens and how far the ball would roll out.  I did have a few bright spots in my round, carding two birdies for the day.  I finished with a 79.  My poor play was obviously a result of poor feel on the greens and there were also several times that the GPS system on the cart (yes...we're allowed to use any GPS device on the Suncoast Tour) showed a much different number than the one I calculated by walking off distances and using the pin sheet.  These two variables made it harder for me to decide on a number and commit to a club.

After we finished the round, I went straight to the putting green to try and get a better feel for the pace.  I found that the more decisive I was about the line as well as the length of my stroke...the better my results were...what do ya know?!?  Haha!  So basically, I worked on ingraining that process on every putt.  I went through my exact routine for 75% of the practice...even marking my ball before the putt.  I also hit a LOT of shorter putts, and worked on a chalk line to see the ball going in the cup over and over and over.  I have also decided to trust the yardage that I calculate tomorrow and completely ignore the GPS system.  I feel better about the greens and my game plan tomorrow!  I'll be teeing of #1 bright and early at 8:00 EST!  Thanks for following, and I'll keep you updated!

Futures Tour - Vidalia, GA

Sorry about the internet/lack of blog issues last night.  Private housing is a wonderful perk on the Futures Tour, but it makes a steady internet connection problematic.  Sometimes it's my laptop that has issues connecting and sometimes host housing doesn't have wireless.  I had a WONDERFUL host home this week, and I had been able to access their internet connection easily the entire week until last night.  I'm definitely not a computer guru...so I attempted to update my status via my cell phone.  

So, yesterday, I actually played pretty well except for a complete mental lapse on one hole that cost me a double bogey.  I had just made a great birdie to get back to one over par, and hit a perfect drive on the next hole to around 120 yards from the green.  Keep in mind the greens were extremely firm and fast, so they didn't hold approach shots well. I decided to play a 100 yard shot to the front of the green and let it hop/roll on to the pin.  As I set up, a HUGE gust of wind blew behind us.  I stepped away, and went through my routine.  However, the wind had caused me to second guess my yardage and club selection.  Also, our group had just been given a time warning by the rules official.  Instead of re-grouping and starting all over, I hurriedly made a decision to choke down on my PW and continue.  The result was a chunky, decelerated shot....that landed in the bunker 40 yards short of the green.  I obviously fell asleep at this point, and when I came back to consciousness, I had carded a double on the hole.  YUCK...even describing this hole gives me a sick feeling.  The only positive is that I didn't dwell on it and finished okay.  I shot a 76 that clearly could have been a sickeningly easy 74...but it was enough to make the cut and play today!

Today's round started off great, just as the previous days (so that's also a positive for the tournament...I got off to three solid starts).  I made a fantastic save on the first hole for par, and gave myself a three footer for birdie on the next, which I made.  I continued hitting greens, and making great chips and putts to save par when I didn't.  I had my first bogey on the ninth hole, which is a par three with one of the craziest greens I've ever seen.  I hit a really good shot that landed about three feet from the hole, but caught a slope and funneled down to the back fringe.  I three putted for bogey.  I made the turn at even par.  On the back side, I continued to hit really good approach shots, but just got some of the unluckiest bounces!  I have to admit that I let my frustration get the better of me as the round progressed.  I had a string of bogies that probably could have been minimized if I had just slowed down and cooled off.  I made some good putts coming in, but ended up carding a 77 for the day.  

On the positive, as I mentioned earlier, I did get off to really solid starts all three days of the tournament.  Every day, I made the turn at even par or one-over.   Since we alternated starting tees (Friday I started on #1, Saturday I started on #10, etc.), I think that something in my mental process must have changed on the back side each round.  I know that part of it was that old frustration I'm tempted to succumb to at times.  But I also think I got a little too emotional during the second nine.  I have a tendency to start "worrying" about the results of my shots rather than just being "interested."  Continuing with the positives:  I made the cut and a decent little paycheck!  Plus, I had a really fun week in competition, with my host family, and especially because my dad got to come!  

I have a week at home, and then leave for Florida next Sunday for another Suncoast event.  Thanks again for keeping up with my journey and for the encouragement!  I'll keep you updated, but until then, have a great week!

Futures Tour - Vidalia, GA

I got the blog back up, and just in time to post my first round results of the Futures Tour event in Vidalia, GA this week!

First of all, yes...this is where the "vidalia sweet onion" comes from...I know that was your first thought. Haha.  We're playing at Hawk's Point Golf Course this week.  It is in great condition and is a VERY tricky course!  The course layout is tight, with water, dog legs, and blind shots here and there.  Plus, the greens have a ton of undulation and are lightening quick.  Needless to say, it makes for a good challenge.

I teed off #1 this afternoon at 1:10 EST.  The conditions were really windy thanks to hurricane Irene off the  coast, but I'm very thankful that wind is all we got!  Other than wind, it was a beautiful, hot day in Georgia.  I hit the ball pretty well today, and made some good putts.  I got off to a solid start and played the first eight holes even par!  Number nine is a par three with a crazy green.  I hit a good shot out to the right, thinking that the wind would blow it back left.  Somehow it stayed out and hit pin high, but took a severe slope to the right fringe.  I had a 70 footer back up and down that slope.  It was a terribly tough putt.  I carded a bogey.

From there, I ran into a couple more on the next two holes...mainly just course management and a little bad luck.  I was able to par #12 and get back on track.  I went on to par #13, stuck my approach shot to 2 feet on #14 and made the putt for birdie!  I was proud of myself for not allowing my frustration to take over which tried to raise its ugly little head during that bogey streak.  I had another bogey on #16, but I otherwise finished strong, making some great putts to save par, and carded a three-over 75 for the day.

I'm very thankful for the good weather, good course, and the fact that I didn't let my frustration linger (I'm hoping with more practice and prayer I'll get even better at keeping an even temper!).  But what I'm most thankful for is that my dad got to come to the tournament this week!!!!  He drove up this morning and walked the round with me.  It was so nice to have my dad out there with me.  I think between junior golf and college golf, you get used to the fact that your parents will be there.  You don't realize how much that means until they can't come to every tournament!  So, rain or shine, birdie or bogey, it'll be a good week because my dad could come to this one!

I tee off #10 tomorrow morning at 9:10 EST.  Thanks for your patience with the blogging malfunction the other day and for continuing to follow me!  I truly appreciate all of your kind words of support and encouragement!

Falcon's Fire - Round One

I'm back in Florida this week playing at Falcon's Fire Golf Course in Kissimmee!  I played this course back in April in another Suncoast event, so it's nice to see a familiar place.  I drove down yesterday, and spent a little while at the course during the afternoon chipping and putting.  My round today wasn't until 10:03, so later last night I made my way to the Magic Kingdom to watch the fireworks!  It was FANTASTIC (yes...I know I'm 24...)!!!!

I teed off #1 at 10:03 this morning.  My goal was to have fun and play one shot at a time.  I definitely had fun with my group today and played pretty well, too!  I hit a lot more greens today, and was able to take advantage of a short par 5 on the front.  I made the turn at one under!

I missed the fairway on 12 and 13, and consequently, missed the green as well.  After those two bogeys, I realized that somewhere along the way I had lost focus and was trying to make birdies instead of hitting fairways and greens.  So, I refocused and, as a result, had some GREAT birdie opportunities on the last four holes.  One of those putts fell, and I finished carding an even par 73 for the day (there was an extra par 5 making "par" for the course 73).  Currently, I'm tied for 7th place.

As I said before, overall, I was happy with my play today.  I was VERY happy to hit more greens!  I did have some trouble judging the speed of the greens, so after lunch I got in some more putting practice.  On the third hole this morning, I hit a great shot into the green leaving a 10 foot putt for birdie.  I made a great stroke, but misjudged the speed terribly and it sped about 10 feet past.  I three putted for bogey.  I think after that, I putted a little too "defensively" or tentatively protecting against what happened instead of just letting it go.  I reinforced my stroke and got a better feel for the speed on the putting green after the round, so hopefully tomorrow I'll putt a little more decisively.

I tee off at 9:25 tomorrow morning!  Thanks for your encouragement, and for continuing to follow me this season!  Have a great night.

Orange County National

Okay, so it was a crazy tournament with lots of rain and a LONG first and second round!  We got in yesterday's third round in a standard 4 1/2 hours with no rain, so I hit the road and came home last night!  Here's a brief recap of basically the entire tournament...

We arrived at the course Wednesday morning to resume our first round at 8:00.  We did manage to restart, but were called in shortly afterward for another rain delay.  After about an hour, we got back out on the course and finished the first round.  I carded a 75.  I was somewhat pleased with this score since I was two over on the front side, and really made some great up and downs throughout the back side with only one mental mistake to cost me a bogey.  Honestly, I was happy to make it through 18 holes that lasted almost 36 hours! Haha! 

My second round began that same afternoon at 2:00.  I am not so proud of this round.  To be completely honest, I was pretty mentally fatigued and it showed.  I three-putted (my only three putt of the tournament) the first hole of the second round to bogey a par five that was very much a birdie opportunity.  The second hole was tough, and I bogeyed it as well.  I coasted through the front side, and then carded a string of three bogeys in a row on 10, 11, and 12.  I did take advantage of a couple of birdie opportunities on 14 and 16, to finish with a four over, 76.  I had arrived at the course at 6:50 that morning, and left the course at 7:00 that evening.  I went to bed as soon as I could, haha.

After a great night's rest, I had a 7:55 tee time the next day.  I got off to a much better start in this last round.  I missed the green on 5 and 6, and couldn't manage to save par.  I stuck it pretty close on 7 and 9, and made the putts for two birdies.  I made a great putt on 10 and with a little luck (because it was 45 feet long) it fell in to put me at one under for the round!  Unfortunately, I was unable to convert an up and down to save par on the next hole, so I went right back to even par.  I hit a couple of greens, but for the most part made great chips and putts to save par ending with a two putt for par from 60+ feet away on 18.  I carded an even par, 72 for the last round. 

Although I was happier with the score, I'm still having trouble with my long game during tournament rounds.  There is something that disconnects (I'm sure somewhere between my ears) on my approach shots.  My shots on the range and my shots on the course are like night and day.  Thankfully, I've been working a lot on my short game, so that helped to minimize the damage at this tournament.  Hopefully, as I continue to play tournament golf, I'll figure this long game out. 

My next event is a Suncoast tournament in Orlando at Falcon's Fire Golf Course which will begin Tuesday!  Thanks for your encouragement, and I'll keep you updated!  Have a great weekend!

Orange County National - Round One

Round one has been suspended for the day due to severe thunderstorms in the area.  We got through four holes, but just as I was about to putt on the fifth green, we heard the weather sirens.  We waited for a couple of hours, but the radar shows heavy rain and lightening the rest of the day.  So we'll resume round one tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.  

On the positive side, I did get off to a pretty good start.  I'm still getting adjusted to the green speed since the putting green isn't exactly representative as I mentioned in yesterday's post.  But, overall, I was proud of my start!  I left a birdie putt short on the first hole to tap in for par, but then found some trouble on the second.  My tee shot was in the fairway, but I didn't catch it solid, leaving me with a 5 wood into the green.  I hit it okay, but it caught the lip of the front bunker and fell in.  When I got up to the green I realized I had a seriously bad lie.  The bunker was washed out, but my ball remained close to the lip (which was about two feet high).  The lip was literally curved over the ball, so there was no way to advance it out towards the hole.  I considered my options.  I knew that par was more than likely out of the question, so I was trying to do damage control now.  I didn't like the idea of taking an unplayable further into the bunker, nor the idea of just blasting at it to get it into the middle of the bunker.  I noticed that there was just rough to the left, so I decided to hit my sand shot left.  This was great because I got out of the bunker, and was now left with a chip for par.  I had a ton of green to work with and a severe uphill slope to the second tier where the hole was located at the back of the green.  I hit a great bump and run to just outside of 5 feet and made the putt for bogey.  I know that it was a bogey, but it felt almost like a birdie!  I was proud that I chose to remain calm and think through the situation instead of just reacting to a bad bounce!  

The very next hole, I hit a killer drive and stuck a 9 iron to about 18 feet for birdie.  I made a great putt, but misread the break.  I made my par and went on to make another par on the fourth hole.  I'm currently waiting to putt out for par on the fifth green.  The fifth hole was playing directly into a stiff wind today and so I had another 5 wood into the green.  On top of that the hole location was in the very back right corner with a bunker guarding the right side.  I hit a great shot, but played it a little too safe.  I was pin high on the green, but about 60 feet away having to putt through some massive undulation.  I have about a 9 footer left to make for par tomorrow morning.  

Thanks for your encouragement, and I'll be starting again at 8:00 tomorrow.  As long as there are no weather issues, we'll begin the second round tomorrow afternoon at 2:00.  So, I'll have a lot of things to blog about tomorrow night (hopefully all birdie stories!).  Have a good afternoon! 

Orange County National - Crooked Cat Course

After almost two weeks at home, I'm back in Florida for a Suncoast Series tournament this week!  I always enjoy being at home, but I'm excited to play in another tournament.  We're playing the Crooked Cat golf course at Orange County National.  I've never played this course before, but it is a great facility and apparently is home to the final rounds of PGA Qualifying School.  

Crooked Cat (strange name, I know...) is a pretty challenging course.  There are lots of twists, turns, ups and downs.  I teed off this morning for a practice round with a great group of girls who will also be competing this week.  We made it through 12 holes before the weather forced us off the course, but about 30 minutes later we were able to go back out and finish our round.  There are definitely some challenging holes, so I was thankful to be able to play the entire course.  Also, the staff told us that the practice greens are new and are not a good representation of the greens on the course. So that may be a bit of an adjustment, especially starting the round tomorrow.  I tested them out, and they are definitely more grainy and a little slower than the greens on the course, but they aren't terribly dissimilar.  

I tee off tomorrow bright and early at 8:00, so hopefully we'll avoid any rain that may threaten to come our way!  I am going to take the same approach as the last round at the last event, and remind myself, "you aren't helping yourself by being so careful...so you might as well go ahead and swing!"  Hopefully this train of thought will help me get off to a solid start as it did last time.  I'm just going to stay focused on one shot, one hole at a time and trust my preparation!  Thanks for keeping up with me, and I appreciate any thoughts, good vibes, and prayers you could send my way!  Thanks again!

Harmony, FL - Round Three

After yesterday's round, I left straight from the course and made my way back home to Alabama.  This morning is my first chance to update you all!

Yesterday's round was much better!  As I said in the previous post, when I stepped up on the first tee, I told myself "you aren't helping yourself by being too careful, so you might as well swing purposefully."

This helped.  Just saying, "go ahead and swing" gave me a sense of relief and freedom from worrying about results.  Instead of "worrying" about where my ball was going to end up, I was merely "interested" and the focus of my energy was devoted to seeing the shot I wanted to hit and committing to that plan. 

I missed a couple of greens my first few of holes, but made great up and downs for par.  I played my first six holes EVEN PAR!!!!!  Number seven and eight, brought good birdie opportunities and I made both.  I bogeyed number nine, but made the turn at one under!!!!  That's the best start I've had in at least three or four weeks!

On the back nine I hit a lot of greens and saw a LOT of good birdie opportunities.  I only hit one bad putt all day!  However, although I executed my putting the way I wanted, my putts just didn't seem to fall.  I had three hard lip outs and the rest burned the edges.  I did manage to make two birdies on the back side, but unfortunately had two bogeys as well.  I finished the back side even par, carding a one-under 71 for the day.  That was enough to earn me a tie for 6th place and a little paycheck!

Overall, I was very pleased with my start and pleased that I did not let frustration overtake me when my putts didn't fall.  Thank you all for your encouraging texts, comments, and phone calls.  I truly appreciate it, and am so very thankful that the Lord has surrounded me with such a great network of support.  I'll be at home for the next week, and will head out the first week of August for either a Suncoast or Futures Tour event.  Thank you again, and have a great rest of the week!

Harmony, FL - Round Two

Eeehhh...today was alright.  I started off really rocky again.  I bogeyed the first three holes, but then settled down and started hitting greens.  I had one other bogey on the long par 3, #6.  Finally, after that, I hit a lot of greens and made lots of good putts...but none would fall for me today.  Even on my up and down efforts to save par, I hit really good putts, but they just lipped out or burnt the edges.

Some days the putts just won't fall.  I can accept that.  However, I continue to be perplexed and frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to get off to a good start.  I hit the ball well on the range during my warm up and afterwards during practice.  But when I step up on that first tee, it's like my body doesn't know what to do!  I've tried breathing and visualization techniques, but a simple fairway + green + two putt on the first hole seems to evade me.

I know the difference, in feel at least, between my "range" swing and my "course swing."  On the course I seem to swing more tentatively, I am assuming out of fear of hitting a bad shot.  On the range, I swing more aggressively, with a smoother tempo, and consequently, hit the ball more consistently.  Tomorrow, I'm going to try and take this mental approach:  You're not helping yourself by being "careful" with your swing, so you might as well swing purposefully!

We'll see if that works.  I tee off at 8:20 EST tomorrow morning, and then driving home after the round.  Thanks for keeping up with me, and I'll update you tomorrow night!

Harmony, FL - Round One

Today was a great day!  I teed off #1 at 8:30 this morning to begin another Suncoast event down in Harmony, Florida.  The first nine was a little rocky.  I missed several greens and couldn't save par.  The wind was pretty stiff at times today, making it a little more difficult to hit greens.  However, I did have one birdie on the par 5 seventh hole and finished the front at 2 over par.  Unfortunately, I three putted #10 for bogey, but managed to par the next couple of holes.  My next birdie came at #13 where I hit a great iron shot to about 9 feet and sank the putt!  The next hole was a par 5.  I hit my approach to 12 feet and made the putt for birdie.  I hit more great shots coming in, and birdied #16, #17, and #18!  That's FIVE birdies on the back side, and SIX birdies for the day!!!!

I carded a 38 front side, 32 back side for a two-under 70 for today's round!  

As I said before, I still got off to a rather rocky start, but I really focused on seeing the shot I want to hit, committing to that shot, and trusting my swing.  I've come to understand that too often I become "afraid" of hitting a bad shot during a round, which causes me to play too tentatively and defensively.  I'm learning how to go beyond those fears during my round and accept the fact that I won't hit EVERY shot perfectly...but that I have a good short game prepared for those instances.  I am continuing to work out this issues with lots of practice and prayer.  

As for the tournament, I stand tied for fourth and am three back from the leader.  I'm happy with the way I played and finished my round today, but preparing myself for another day out there tomorrow.  I'll tee off bright and early tomorrow morning at 7:40 EST.  Thank you all for your encouragement!!! 

Daytona Beach - Rounds Two & Three

First, I am SO SORRY for such a late update!!!!!!!

To be honest, Wednesday's round (round two) was so disappointing, I wasn't sure where to start.  It was an absolute train wreck.  It didn't start off so rocky, but bad shots just kept compounding and I became paralyzed by the fear of hitting a bad shot.  There isn't much else to say except I ended up shooting an 81...ouch.

The last day, I focused on the shot I wanted to hit and accepted the fact that I wasn't going to hit every shot exactly the way I wanted.  I played much better.  I ended the day with a 73.

Needless to say, it was an emotional roller coaster of a tournament!  I am trying to get better at trusting myself, focusing on what shot I want to hit, and going beyond the fear or nerves that too often get in the way.  I believe the only effective way to do this is to continue to play in tournament after tournament to learn as much as I can.  So after Thursday's round (round three), I drove down to Melbourne, FL to prepare for my next Suncoast event.  We'll be playing at Harmony Golf Preserve, which is about 30 minutes west of Melbourne.

Thanks for all of your encouragement, and I apologize again for the delayed post.  I appreciate you following me throughout this journey!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Daytona Beach - Round One

Hey everyone!  This week I'm playing in a Suncoast event down in Daytona Beach, Florida.  We're playing on the Champions course of the LPGA International.  The course is in nice shape, but unfortunately (for a golfer) Daytona has had A LOT of rain this week.  So, the course is a little soggy.

Today was our first round, and I teed off #1 at 8:08 this morning.  I got off to an incredibly rocky start.  I popped up my drive, barely making it across the water.  Then, chunked my 3 wood to 100 yards, proceeded to hit my pitching wedge safely on the green, but missed the putt for an exhausting bogey.  I struggled through the second hole, but managed to make a great chip and putt to save par.  On the third hole, it was deja vu all over again as I chunked my 3 hybrid well short of the green, blew my pitch shot over the green, and did not convert for bogey.  Needless to say, a bogey and double bogey on the first three holes is not the best way to start.  What's crazy is that I was hitting the ball SO WELL in yesterday's practice round!  Even on the range during my warm up this morning I was hitting the ball okay.  I was completely blindsided by the terrible shots, but I just kept telling myself to calm down and relax.  I did begin to relax, and as quickly as things fell apart, they began to come back together.  I started  hitting fairways, greens, and by the end of the first nine holes, I was only one over par.  I made two great  birdies on the front side!

I continued through the back side with good momentum, but ran into some trouble on #14.  That crazy chunk came back, and I ended up short left of the green.  I made a fantastic pitch, and tapped in for par.  My drive on #15 stayed out to the right, and left me in a packed bunker.  It wasn't the hardest shot I'd had, but the "chunk" revisited me, and I was left with 91 yards to the pin to make a par save.  I hit a really nice approach, and had a 9-footer for par.  I made a great stroke, but it broke a little more than I thought it would.  On 17, I hit a great shot that came into the green a little too hot.  I didn't hit the best chip in the world, but thanks to a well executed putt and divine intervention, my 30-footer fell in to save par!  I finished out the back side at one over par, to give me a total of two over par, 74 for the day.

Although it wasn't my best, I am proud that I finished fairly strong, and got a stroke back on my start!  Tomorrow's another day, and it was nice to end on a positive note.  I'll tee off #1 tomorrow at 9:00.  Thanks for all your support!

Second Round - Indiana

Ok, there's A LOT to cover in this late (my apologies) post!  The second round of the tournament was originally scheduled for Friday, July 1st.  Huge, unpredicted thunderstorms tore through our area the entire day and play was suspended.  The decision was made to scrap the entire second round, and to cut the tournament to a 36 hole event.  The official final round was to begin Saturday, July 2.

I teed off at 2:00 of #10 on Saturday to begin the final round.  I hit a great shot into the green, leaving myself with a 24 foot putt for birdie.  However, I obviously misjudged the speed, sending the putt 7 feet past and was unable to make the putt for par.  A three putt for bogey is NOT the best way to begin a round.  Believe it or not, though I actually played much, much better than the day before.  No doubles this time, but unfortunately five bogeys.  I continued to hit great approach shots and made great strokes at putts the entire day, but it was a "lip out" day for me, and only one birdie fell.  I carded a four over, 40 on the front and an even par, 36 on the back for a total of 76 for the day.

It was a disappointing end to a disappointing couple of tournaments.  I think that I try to make something happen too quickly during the round, leading to a handful of frustration and bogeys the first nine holes.  If I could learn how to settle down, and get off to a good start, I could post some better numbers.

On the bright side, I did a MUCH better job of staying in the present, and committing to every shot during my second round.  I've just got to take this as a learning opportunity and figure out how to apply it to my next event.  I'll find out tomorrow where I will be next week.  If I get into the Futures event, I'll be heading to Connecticut.  If not, I'll be heading to Florida for a Suncoast event.

I'll keep you updated, and thank you again for all of your support!  I hope you all have a very happy and relaxing Fourth of July!!!!!

Round One - Crown Point

Well today was the most bi-polar round of golf I have played in a while...I either hit a green and had a good chance at birdie, or missed the green and made a double!

I started out strong, and feeling really good about my game.  The problem today, unfortunately, was my course management.  When I missed the green, I missed it in the worst place possible.  I had four double bogeys, all of which could be attributed more to poor course management rather than a poorly executed shot.  Especially on the par 5s (which are playing pretty short this week), I got a little greedy and deserted my "lay it up to 100 yards" game plan.  I paid dearly.  I DOUBLE bogeyed two of those par 5s.  Ouch.  Other than that, I left myself in areas where it was nearly impossible to make a save for par.

I did make a couple of good putts, and made one of my three legitimate birdie chances of the day.  I ended up carding an 80 for the day.  There's not much else to say except that I'm pretty bummed.  It's never enjoyable to post a bad score, but it seems even worse when you have been hitting, putting, and chipping really well coming into the day.  Somewhere there seems to be a disconnect between my ears during a tournament round.  It's especially frustrating because I've had some great practice sessions out here.  I need to learn how to transfer my physical and mental state at the practice area to the course during a tournament.

Eventually, it will come through in my tournaments, but until then I'm just going to stick to the process, and keep working hard.  I'm not sure just yet of my tee time, but it will probably be tomorrow afternoon sometime.  The pairings will be posted later tonight on the Futures Tour website.  Thanks for following along, and I'll update you tomorrow!

Crown Point, Indiana!

This week I'm in Crown Point, Indiana for a Futures Tour event.  It's a beautiful little town only about 33 miles from downtown Chicago!  I've been practicing and checking out the course (White Hawk Country Club) for the past couple of days, and last night we had a Meet the Pros party in the downtown square of Crown Point.  I have to say, I don't think we've ever been greeted quite like we were last night!  All of the Futures Tour players were loaded onto fire trucks, trolleys, and buses at the golf course.  From there, we were literally paraded down through the neighborhood to the town square which was blocked off for us complete with a band for the night!  We were officially welcomed by the mayor, and had the chance to mingle with the many residents that had come out to the square for the rest of the night.  It was definitely a fun and unique experience!

Today, the course hosted two Pro-Am tournaments, so this morning was a good chance for me to get in a solid practice session before the tournament starts tomorrow.  The tournament will actually begin tomorrow (Thursday) instead of Friday and will end on Saturday.  I am assuming the scheduling change has something to do with the upcoming holiday.  I'll be teeing off bright and early tomorrow at 8:25 off the #1 tee!  The course is in pretty good condition, and I'm excited to begin another tournament!  THANKS for keeping up, and I'll keep the updates coming!

Have a happy Wednesday!

Round Two - Michigan

Well, today was a little bit better!  I carded a 76, with a birdie on the last hole.  But unfortunately, that wasn't good enough to make the cut.

I started the day off great, with a chance for birdie on the first couple of holes.  Then I missed a couple of greens, and couldn't seem to get up and down.  I really struggled with my chipping today, which is pretty uncommon.  I usually feel pretty confident about my short game, but it was just a struggle today.  I think this lead me to begin to focus on "not making a bad shot" in order to avoid an up and down situation.  I finally realized this was happening, and committed to the shot I "wanted to hit" on the last couple of holes, and finished pretty solid.  Although I had a few mishaps, I did make three birdies today and finished the back side even par.

I owe a big THANK YOU to Ms. Shelly Dean who so graciously volunteered her house this week!  I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Michigan and getting to know such wonderful people!  Thank you again, and I hope to see you all next year!

Tomorrow morning I'm leaving for Crown Point, Indiana for the next Futures Tour tournament.  This event is a little bit different than the others as far as scheduling goes.  The tournament will begin on Thursday rather than Friday.  Afterwards, I'll head back home to Alabama for a week before leaving again for either Connecticut or Florida!

Thanks so much for all your support, and I'll keep you updated this week!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Round One - Michigan

Hey everyone!  I would like to apologize before I begin, because I completely forgot to update my posts about this trip/tournament!!!!!  I guess between the 16 hour drive and crazy weather the past few days in the upper peninsula of Michigan, my brain shut down...or froze...you decide.

Here's a brief synopsis of what you missed.  I left home Monday morning at 8 a.m. to begin the haul to my next Futures Tour event.  It was a total of 16 hours from my front door to Harris, Michigan, so I broke it into a two day drive.  I was VERY excited to get the chance to stop in Chicago overnight, and stay with a wonderful college friend who lives there now.  Her name is Nell, and she dances with a company in Chicago!  I was so thankful to have a chance to catch up with her during this trip, not to mention the fact that she has a great apartment with an extra bed!  So Nell, if you're reading this...again, a big THANK YOU :)

I left Chicago the next morning at 8 a.m. to finish the drive.  By the time I arrived in Escanaba, MI (a lovely town close to the golf course where my host home is located), I had experienced a FOURTY degree temperature swing!!!!  As you know, I left Alabama in sweltering 90-something degree weather.  I arrived to a chilly and rainy 55 degrees in Michigan.  I'm pretty sure my body was in shock.  Hahaha.  The cold and rain stuck around for the next two days, but I managed to get a decent look at the course by  Wednesday night.  Sweetgrass Golf Course is a fairly new addition to the Island Resort Casino property, and it is in good shape for us.  We experienced four inches of rain in just over two days, but the course has almost completely drained now!  The greens are firm, a pretty nice speed, and are a lot like a Robert Trent Jones course back home!

Today's round started out pretty good, but took a quick turn for the worse.  The temperature was nice today and the rain stayed away, but about the third hole, our nice breezes turned into 20 mph gail force winds!  I must say that I am not that experienced playing in such windy conditions, so it through me for a loop.  I started second guessing my club selection, which made it harder to commit over every shot.  Missed greens resulted in tough up and downs, which resulted in frustration, which resulted in some big numbers...a double bogey and triple bogey to be exact.  This vicious cycle continued for the next stretch of holes.  I was six over at the turn and made a triple bogey on #10.  YIKES!  However, somehow by the grace of God, I managed to settle down.  I made a conscious decision to start trusting my yardages/judgement of the wind, and focus on hitting fairways and greens.  I played the next eight holes two under par!!!!  I ended up carding a 79 for the day.  So, although there was a very ugly stretch of play today, I was proud of finishing so strong.  This is just a constant learning process, and I've got to be more patient and trust my preparation to do the job.

I tee off #10 tomorrow morning at 8:35 EST (somehow we're in the eastern time zone up here).  Thank you for all of your encouraging texts, posts, and calls.  I would appreciate any thoughts and prayers you could send my way tomorrow.  Sorry again for the brain freeze, I promise to post more promptly next time!  Have a great night!

Monday Qualifier - State Farm Classic

Well, today I played GREAT!  Not good enough to make it into the event, but I carded a 73 (two 68s made it in).  I played so much better than a 73, though!  I hit greens, and stuck it close A LOT.  I made three birdies today, but had so many putts that just didn't fall.

I was really proud of the way I played today, because I stayed in the moment and process-focused through nearly every shot!  In the past, I've let my surroundings intimidate me.  But not today!  Before I ever stepped out of my car, I made up my mind that my opponent for the day was the golf course, and everyone else had to play it, too.  Instead of letting my surroundings intimidate me, I took them in and enjoyed the experience!  I hit balls on the driving range next to Grace Park, putted next to Paula Creamer, and played a course set up for an LPGA event...and played well!  Afterwards, I had dinner with a couple of girls that are playing on the LPGA and were already in the event.  If you're watching the tournament this week, watch out for Dori Carter, Cindy LaCrosse, and Shasta Averyhardt.  They're cool girls, and really good golfers!

Also, a special thanks to Rick Eades for being a last-minute caddy for me!  He was nice enough to come down on short notice.  I was fortunate enough to have him carry my bag today, and really enjoyed playing with him.  Thanks so much, Rick, for everything!!!

So, although I didn't make it into the event, this was definitely a great experience and a good confidence builder!  I'm currently waiting to see if I get into a couple of Futures Tour events, but if not, I'll be heading down to Florida to play in the Suncoast Series this July.  I am excited to make the journey home tomorrow, and once again, am so thankful for all of your encouragement this week!

Have a great night!

Final Round - Marion, IA

Hey everyone, sorry again for another late posting!  Hopefully, if you were really anxious to see the results, you were able to follow the Futures Tour link pretty easily.  If not, I ended up carding a 74 today and tied for 51st.  It was actually a MUCH better day than my score may suggest!  I started the day off with several great saves for par, and a 30 foot birdie on #16 to move to 1 under for the round.  Then, on the very next hole, I found myself with a 10 foot putt for birdie...and made it!  I was 2 under on the most difficult side of the golf course!!!!  I hit an errant approach shot on #18, leaving me with a tough sand shot which I could not manage to get up and down for par.  Nevertheless, I made the turn at 1 under!

I continued to play really well the second nine, but unfortunately lost some momentum coming down the last stretch.  I had a couple of birdie putts that were inside of 10 feet that didn't fall.  One was a slick putt downhill that I somehow managed to leave short, and the other was a nice uphill putt that moved a bit more than I thought it would.  Looking back, I probably began to get a "scramble" mentality in my head on the last couple of holes instead of maintaining a solid and process-focused "fairway, green, putt" mentality I had played with the entire day.  This resulted in a focus on "making birdies," which undoubtedly lead to missed greens...which lead to a couple of bogeys.

All in all, I am very proud of the way I played, and this tournament was a great learning experience for me!  Plus, although I didn't finish as well as I would have liked, coming in tied for 51st allowed me to take home a pay check!

A unique opportunity came up while I'm out here in the midwest.  There is a Monday qualifier for the LPGA State Farm Classic in Springfield, IL...which just happens to be on my route home!  So, as soon as I finished playing, I packed up and got back out on the road.  I arrived here in Springfield four hours later and have officially "crashed" in my hotel room!!! Haha!  Luckily though, I'll be able to get some good rest because I have a late tee time tomorrow.  For those who are unfamiliar with the LPGA qualifiers, basically there are several events this season that the LPGA has opened up to allow other professionals and amateurs the chance to qualify for a spot in the event.  So, tomorrow I have the opportunity to play for a spot in the State Farm Classic!  I tee off #10 at 1:44, and once again would GREATLY appreciate any good vibes, thoughts, and prayers you could send my way!

I can't begin to tell you how much your encouraging texts and comments have meant to me this week!  I am truly, truly grateful that the Lord has surrounded me with such a supportive community of friends and family!  Thank you again, and I'll update tomorrow!  Have a great night!

Round Two - Marion, IA

Today was a long day, but MUCH better!  So please forgive this rather short entry, I'm exhausted and it's late...and I MADE THE CUT...so I have to wake up for a 9:40 tee time in tomorrow's final round!!!!!!!!  I had an afternoon tee time that got pushed back 45 minutes due to some lightening that came into the area this morning.  So instead of teeing off at 1:50, I teed off at 2:35.  We finished at 7:45.

My goal today was to really trust myself, and focus on the shot I wanted to create.  This really helped, especially in my short game!  With chipping and pitching, I put most of my energy into visualizing the shot I wanted, where it would land, how it would roll out, etc.  When putting, I still did everything necessary to decide just how the putt would break and what speed might be best, BUT, once I placed my ball back on the green, I made a conscious decision to commit to that line and to trust my stroke.  I did have a couple of hiccups, and three putted twice.  Other than that, it was a much better day on the greens.  

I finished the day with a one over, 73.  That paired with yesterday's 80 puts me at 153 for the tournament.  When the results came in, I was sitting right on the number, 153 made the cut!  So I will play in my first "final round" on the Futures Tour tomorrow, and I'm so excited!  I tee off #10 at 9:40 a.m.

Thanks for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers!  I'll keep you updated!

Round One - Marion, IA

Well, today was not so great...I carded an 80...yuck.  I hit the ball pretty well, I just couldn't get anything going with my short game.  Plus, the wind was ridiculous today!  I teed off at 9:30, and there was a solid one and a half to two club wind ALL day long.  So that made it difficult to hit greens, and unfortunately I struggled with my putting as well.  With the exception of one beautiful birdie on #16, I hit some really great putts that didn't go in and then struggled with a couple of three putts.  It was a bit frustrating because I've been putting and chipping pretty well during practice and even in practice rounds, I'm just having trouble translating that to the course during a tournament round.

All in all, with an 80 on the scoreboard, I stand tied for 96th which is not as bad as I thought it might be.  Tomorrow I am really going to focus on trusting myself and on the shot I want to execute, instead of the shots I want to avoid.  I am going to pick a target, trust my instinct and read, and produce the best stroke I can.  I'll be teeing off #10 at 1:50 tomorrow afternoon!

Thanks for all of your support and encouragement!  Check back tomorrow, and remember, you can follow my round live by clicking the LPGA Futures Tour link above!

Have a great night and weekend!

Tee Off Tomorrow! - Marion, IA

Well, today was a bit of a weather curve ball!  Since I arrived, the weather in Iowa has been really nice.  It's a bit cool in the morning, but bright and sunny.  Yesterday's high was around 80 degrees with a nice breeze all day.  Unfortunately for the Pro-Am participants this morning I woke up to a stormy, significantly cooler day!  It stayed cool and rainy all day, but there was a small break in the weather where I did manage to get in a couple of hours of rain free practice.

The tournament begins tomorrow, and I'm ready to go!  I tee off #1 at 9:30, and it's supposed to be a clear day with a high of 93 so I will feel right at home in that kind of "Alabama" weather!  If you get a chance to say a quick prayer and send some good vibes my way I'd really appreciate it!

You can follow the tournament's live scoring online if you just click the LPGA Futures Tour link above.  Once on the page, you'll see a "real time scoring" tab in the upper right hand corner.  Click there and you can follow us hole by hole!

Thanks again for your support, and have a great night!

Futures Tour - Marion, IA

I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

I'm in Iowa this week for my first Futures Tour event of the season!  I am participating in the private housing program that the Futures Tour offers this time, and I arrived at my host family's home last night.  I have to say that they are absolutely fabulous!  We all had dinner together last night, and had a chance to get to know each other.  They are extremely welcoming and I am so very thankful that they've volunteered their home for the week!

I played this course last year, and was sure to get my yardage book for this trip.  My practice round was this morning, and it was a little rushed to say the least because of a pro-am event that was scheduled to tee off around lunch.  So now I am VERY glad to have my yardage book from last year because it was much easier to remember holes, yardages, and notes about the course!  I still managed to get a good refresher look at the course this morning and got some good practice in this afternoon.  The tournament starts Friday, so tomorrow will also be a good day for practice, and to get better feel for the greens.

I'm off to a "Meet the Pro's" party tonight where everyone gets a chance to meet tournament sponsors, pro-am participants, and other players in the field this week.  Thanks for visiting, and I'll keep you updated! Have a great night!

Druid Hills Golf Club - Atlanta

Sorry everyone for the late post, but a 36 hole day is a long day...and yesterday was an extra LONG day. 

I was the next to last tee time, and a player withdrew at the last minute leaving us a two-some, so we were prepared for a slower round than usual.  We were not prepared for the first three holes to take a little over an HOUR!  I still have no idea what caused such a back up, but it seemed to be somewhere towards the first groups because everywhere I looked, there were groups waiting.  I got to the course at 7:30 a.m. to begin my warm up and left at 6:45 p.m.  On top of that, the conditions were bizarre yesterday!  We started out with a cold, overcast morning in the high 50s...strange enough to experience this in Georgia in the middle of May!  About the fifth hole, the wind began to pick up and rain rolled in.  We played the next nine holes in an intermittent rain.  Finally, as we approached number 18, the rain was over, and bright hot sunshine came out!  It was crazy.  You could see everyone across the course immediately start stripping off their rain gear because of the sudden heat!  The sun eventually went back into the clouds and we finished the day in cold, extremely windy, overcast conditions!  I don't believe I have ever experienced such a range of weather conditions in one day of golf as I did yesterday!

Now, for my score.  It was a no good, very bad day for me.  I carded a 78 the first round, followed by a 79 the second.  I just couldn't get anything going.  It was as if all the things I worked on and executed well in practice for the past week just left me!  I didn't hit greens, missed short putts, put myself in bad situations off the tee.  You name it, I probably did it.  The low score for the day overall was one over, 145, so that can attest to how tough the course conditions were yesterday.  Still, no excuse for my poor play.  The only positives I can draw from yesterday:  I didn't make any big numbers...just a lot of bogeys.  My chipping was pretty solid...I just had to chip a little too often, haha.  I did make some birdies, and continued to give myself some good looks at birdie. 

I'm a little unsure as to what my next event will be.  The Suncoast event I was entered to play in next week was canceled today, and I'm waiting to see if I get into the Iowa Futures Tour event the first week in June.  I'll keep you updated on what's coming next, though.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for continuing to follow my adventures and for your encouraging texts, posts, and calls! 

Have a great week!

Druid Hills Golf Course - Atlanta

After a nice week at home, I'm back on the road and in Atlanta, GA this week playing Druid Hills Golf Course.  I'll be playing a 36 hole qualifier for the Women's U.S. Open.  My dad and I drove up this morning, and I teed off this afternoon for my practice round.  I really like this course!  It is definitely a shot making course, with some tight fairways and holes that curve hard right and left.  The entire course is in great condition, and the greens are rolling great.  I feel good about my practice round today, and am excited about playing tomorrow!

I tee off tomorrow at 9:10 and again at 2:30!  Thanks for following, and I'll keep you updated!

Eastwood - Round Three

Hey everyone, sorry for the delayed update!  I got home late last night, so I'm just now getting a chance to write. 

Yesterday was better, still not good, but better.  I definitely putted better, with a grand total of 27 putts and two birdies!  The wind was a little gusty yesterday, which made hitting greens a little tougher.  On top of that I think I got a little ahead of myself as far as my mental game goes.  I was so excited that my putts were falling.  But when it came to my approach shots, I think I lost focus a little bit.  I caught myself looking up a few times to see the great shot I hit...before I actually hit it...resulting in a not so great shot!  I only hit SEVEN greens yesterday.  It was a great day for short game practice, haha.  Hitting seven greens means I had 11 "up and down" (or saves for par) opportunities.  I made 6 of those saves for par.  So that was an okay statistic for such a rough day.

I ended up carding a three over, 75 for the day.  I finished at 12th place for the tournament.  Definitely not my best tournament, but we all have "off" weeks, so I'm just going to keep working hard.  I'll take this next week and really work on my game and fine tune some things for my next event which is the Women's Open qualifier in Atlanta.  

Thanks again for all your encouragement, and for keeping up with my golfing adventures!  Have a great week!

Eastwood - Round Two

Hhhmmm....where to begin with today....

All in all, it was a really rough day.  I got off to a really bad start.  I double bogeyed the first hole, with a bad chip and a short missed putt.  I'm not entirely sure why I started off so shaky.  I was the first tee time, and had one of those mornings where time just flies by.  I thought I had enough time to warm up, but found myself a bit rushed through my routine trying to fit everything in.  Whatever the reason, I managed to calm myself down, and got through the first side with only one other bogey.  Making the turn at three over, I have to admit I was becoming frustrated.  Other than that ugly start, I was hitting the ball well, and giving myself good looks at birdie...but they just weren't falling!

I am sorry to say that I let this get the best of me for a while.  I began the backside with a sloppy chip and a lip out for par.  I missed the next two greens, but made great up and downs.  Then...number #13 (that incredibly strange hole I referred to the first day...it's a U-turn right) was next.  I hit a great drive just to the 150 yard mark which was exactly where I wanted to hit it.  I hit what I thought was a good second shot, but it landed in the bunker to the right.  I had a difficult lie in the sand, and was only able to advance the ball a couple of yards towards the green.  My next chip was well executed, but gained a little more speed than I thought it would and ran about 12 feet past the hole.  And then, what do you know...a putt decided to fall!  It was a save for bogey...but it was a save!  I had a great attempt at birdie on #16, but it broke more than I thought.  I made a great save on the next hole for par, and found myself on the last hole with a six footer for birdie!  I made a good stroke at it, and the ball dipped into the right edge, ran along the rim and lipped all the way out back in front.  I tapped in for par to finish with a 77.

It obviously was just "ONE OF THOSE DAYS" for me!  On the positive, I am glad that I was able to recognize and deal with my frustration early in the round instead of letting it compound throughout the day.  Also, despite my putting woes, I did give myself great opportunities for birdie and made some great saves today.  I am currently in 11th place, and 11 strokes behind the leader.  Although I'm a bit behind the leader, I'm only a couple of strokes back from the top five, so a solid final round could do me some good.  I'm just going to keep trusting my stroke and be patient tomorrow.  My goal is continuing to hit fairways and greens...and to keep making the best stroke I can!

Thanks for keeping up with me, and have a great night!

Eastwood - Round One

Today was  a little bit of a struggle, but ended up okay.  I had a rough start, missing the first green but recovering with a sand save for par.  I felt like I hit the ball well, but just put myself in difficult situations with a couple of misplaced drives.  I made the turn at one over par with one birdie.  The back side had it's fair share of tricky holes, but I did find a birdie on 16.  I finished the last four holes strong, at one under and carded a round of 74.

Overall, although my score wasn't the best, I was pretty proud of the way I played.  When I hit greens, I gave myself really good looks at birdie.  I struggled a little bit with the speed of the greens and had two putts for birdie that were right on line, but stopped just short of the hole.  So that's a little frustrating.  But I did make two birdies today.

After lunch I reinforced some good swing thoughts and drills on the range and worked on my putting with a few drills as well.  Right now, I'm in eighth place with my 74.  The leader posted a 70 for today's round.  I'm the first group off #1 tomorrow morning at 8:00!  Thanks for checking in, and I'll keep you posted!

Eastwood Golf Club

Hey everyone!  I'm back on the road, and playing in a Suncoast event this week!

This week we'll be playing at Eastwood Golf Club in Orlando.  I got in a good look at the course this morning, and had a great practice session afterwards.  The course is stretched out a bit, but the real challenge is the set up.  It is a tricky, shot maker's course.  There is even one par 4 with an entirely blind shot into the green....and when I say blind shot, I mean BLIND shot.  I've never played a hole like this.  It's not a dog-leg right, it's literally more of a U-turn!  Your approach shot is over this marsh where the bushes and tree-like growth is so tall that absolutely none of the green is visible.  Nevertheless, after multiple attempts and shots...I am pretty confident that I know just where to aim to hit the green!!!!

Other than that, the course is in nice shape.  The greens are typical bermuda and are pretty grainy and slow.  After last week's qualifier in Mobile, my speed was a little off to say the least.  However, I got a good feel for the greens by the end of my practice session today.

Tomorrow is round one, and I tee off #1 at 8:27.  Thanks for all your encouragement throughout this season so far!  I appreciate all of your support!  Have a great night.

Monday Qualifier

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay!  Unfortunately, yesterday didn't go as well as planned so I had to hop in my car and drive back last night.  With a 1:00 tee time, I didn't get home till almost  10:00 last night!

Anyway, about yesterday's round.  It started off strong, I think I was just so focused on certain issues (mainly those five REALLY tough, long holes) that I didn't focus enough on the "easier" holes.  Or, rather, I didn't focus on each hole as I came to it....I caught myself thinking about the outcome (score) or the other "hard" holes I still had left. 

I ended up carding an 81 with a triple and a double...NOT good.  However, those two holes were the bulk of my strokes, so I actually did not play that bad for the majority of the day.  I made great up and downs on those "hard" holes, and actually got through three of the five with pars!  Unfortunately, my focus just got a little lop-sided and I had a mental hiccup.  After the triple bogey, I let it get to me...and although I came back with a great par on the next hole, I let those residual thoughts linger just enough to compound into a double bogey on the hole after that par.

So...what positive can come out of this?  Well, although I was nervous and worried about the length being my ultimate challenge, it was not the length of the course that got me!  My mental mistakes were what ultimately ruined my round...and those are things I can learn from and get better at in the next event!  Length could have helped, but it was NOT the problem yesterday.  That's my positive for the experience.

I'm obviously back at home for the week, and will leave next Sunday for another Suncoast event in Florida!  I'll keep you updated!  Have a great week! 

Mobile - LPGA Classic Monday Qualifier

Hi everyone, and Happy Easter!  I'm in Mobile this weekend for the Monday qualifier for this week's LPGA tournament at the Robert Trent Jones course, Magnolia Grove.  First, let me say how wonderful it was to have an entire week at home!  After three weeks in a row, it was so nice to sleep in my own bed, spend time with my friends and family, and get some good practice in at Farmlinks.  Also, thank you so much for all your encouragement and kind words while I was at home!

I got to Mobile Saturday afternoon, jumped out of the car and onto the course!  I was a little shell shocked to be honest because the course sets up pretty hard for a short knocker like me.  There are five holes that play particularly long and tough for me.  The classic RTJ undulations don't help.  SO...this will be a good challenge for my golf game and my mental game as well.  With that being said, it is so exciting to just be in the qualifier and to practice here while everything is getting ready for a big LPGA event!  It's fun to play with grandstands and TV towers being constructed around you.  I'm also excited to have a tour caddie for this event!  It'll be nice to have an extra pair of eyes to read my putts!  All in all, I'm a little nervous (of course...not gonna lie) and a LOT excited!

I tee off tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 off #1.  I'm not sure how many players are in the qualifier, but the top two move on to the tournament which will begin Thursday.  I'd appreciate any thoughts and prayers you could throw my way!  Hope everyone has had a fantastic Easter weekend!

He is Risen!

Third Round - Apopka

Overall, I played well, but today's round had a strange quirk in it to say the least!  I started out the day very strong, making two birdies in the first four holes.  I continued the front side at two under until #9.  It is a par 5 with a tree in the middle of the fairway.  My drive leaked right and ended up in the center of the fairway...directly behind the tree...and I was forced to punch under the branches to the 150 marker.  I made a great shot into the green, but it ended up just over the green.  I was left with a simple chip that I had practiced a thousand times.  I hit the shot...and then for a brief, strange second, my ball and clubhead collided in mid-air.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that again if I tried.  Anyways, this unlucky fluke resulted in a two shot swing, giving me a double bogey!  I was proud of my rebound, though.  I knocked it to three feet to make birdie on #10!  

I remained at one under through the majority of the back nine, but #17 (that long par 3) got me today.  I mis hit my wood, and ended up with a 60 footer.  I three putted for bogey.  I made a par on #18, ending both the day and the tournament at even par!  That score was good enough to move me up two spots to finish sixth place in the tournament.  

Thanks again for all of your good luck wishes, thoughts, and prayers this week!  As always, they are truly appreciated!!!  I am happy to have a week off, and excited to have a nice break to prepare for my next event!  I'll be playing in the Monday qualifier for the LPGA event at the Robert Trent Jones course in Mobile, AL at the end of April.  

I'll be sure to keep you updated, but until then, have a great week!

Round Two - Apopka

Well, today I want to complain...but I can't!  I ended up carding a two under, 70 to leave me at even par for the tournament!  I'm currently nine behind the leader and sitting at eighth place overall.

I started out the day strong, hitting every green on the front side and leaving myself with excellent opportunities for birdie.  I stayed committed to my game plan, and focused on my process especially with the putter, but the putts just didn't fall.  I did make a much better putt at the hole, though.  I made the turn at even par and bogey free.  My first birdie finally came at #11!  I got into a little trouble on #13 and #14, missing my first greens of the day, but managed to make great saves for par.  Another putt fell for birdie on #16, and I found myself sitting at two under with two holes to play.  #17 is that tough par 3 I was telling you about yesterday, but luckily the wind was calm and the pin wasn't in the back today.  I hit a great wood, but it drifted left and took a big hop off the green.  I made a great pitch shot and sunk a downhill 6 footer to save par!  I finished #18 with a two putt for par to keep me at two under for the day.  I realized afterwards that I played a bogey free round!  So...now you understand, I wish some of those great looks at birdie had fallen, but I can't complain about a bogey free round!  Hopefully, tomorrow I can keep giving myself those opportunities and a few more will fall!!!

Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement!  I'll tee off #1 tomorrow morning at 8:38!

Round One - Apopka

I played well today, but struggled with my putting a little.  I ended up carding a two over, 74 to put me into a tie for 10th overall.

I got off to a rough start with a drive that found a fairway bunker.  The next couple of shots weren't pretty, and I tapped in for a bogey.  I did hit a great shot on #3 to leave me with a seven footer for birdie...and made it!  That would not be the last opportunity of the day, but unfortunately, it was the last birdie to fall.  I didn't hit it as close as I'd like, but I gave myself enough legitimate opportunities that could have resulted in a nice score.  I had several unlucky putts that just burned the lip and didn't go in.  From there, I got a little frustrated and I think I got too focused on "going low."  I forgot to focus on my process during those putts.

On the positive, I did finish really strong with solid saves for par on the last three holes.  I had to make some clutch putts coming in, and I really had to keep repeating to myself "process" to get the swarming thoughts about my score out of the way....and what do you know...those putts went in!   Also, #17 is a tough 185 yard par three.  Today, it was straight into the wind with a pin ALL the way in the back...which makes it even tougher for a short knocker like me!  I stood on the tee with a 3 wood and a driver in hand, secretly afraid the 3 wood wouldn't make it but slightly embarrassed to be hitting a driver off a par three.  When it was my turn to hit, I knew that I felt more comfortable to hit an easy driver than try to crush a 3 wood...so I teed it up!  Embarrassed or not, I chose the driver, hit the green, and ended up being the only one in the group to par the hole!  Haha!  So that was a welcomed confidence booster!

After lunch, I went back out to the course and got in some good putting practice.  I made an effort to ingrain the idea of focusing on my process and went through my complete routine for every putt as if I was out on the course.  I worked on my speed, and practiced some chip shots too.  I feel better about tomorrow's round, and look forward to playing again!  I'll tee off at 8:09 tomorrow morning.

Have a great night!

Apopka, FL

I'm back in Florida this week for another Suncoast event!  The tournament is at Rock Springs Ridge Golf Course in Apopka, FL.  I played my practice round this morning at 8:30, and was able to have a nice, long look at the course.  The fairways are not in the best condition, but the lay out is fun and the course isn't playing terribly long.  The greens may not be in as good of shape as the last two courses, but they roll well and they are a bit faster (and less grainy) than the last course.  I think that overall, the course conditions may not be ideal, but there are lots fun holes and opportunities out there!

My goal this week is to keep that process and target focused mindset that I was able to capture last week.  I'm just going to hit as many fairways and greens as I possibly can, and trust my preparation and process!  After my practice round this morning I was able to get in a good, solid practice session.  I worked a lot on the speed of the greens, and went through the rest of my putting drills.  I practiced different chip shots that I encountered during my round this morning, and finished off the afternoon with some drills on the range.

I'm ready to play, and excited about tomorrow's round!  I'll be teeing off #1 at 8:47 tomorrow morning.  Thanks again for your continued interest and support!  I appreciate all your kind words, thoughts, and prayers!!!!

Final Round!

I ended the day with a birdie/bogey combination on the last two holes, but carded another even par, 72 round today!  That was good enough to earn me second place!

I played better today than yesterday.  I hit a lot of greens, and gave myself a lot of good looks at birdie.  However, I just had one of those days where the putts wouldn't fall.  At first, I wasn't making good strokes and I'll attribute that to my nerves.  I have to admit I was a little nervous for the first couple of holes.  This was my first time playing in the last group as a professional, BUT I acknowledged the nerves, and made it through them even par.  I finally settled down, and started making better strokes, but the birdies just wouldn't fall.   Hang on the edge, burn the lip, broke opposite of my read...you name it, they did it!  On the positive, I did hit a lot of greens and at least gave myself chances.  Also, I chipped much better today, leaving myself inside of 6' to save par just about every time...and I DID make those, so that is always a great confidence builder!  On the back a couple of putts began to fall, starting with a 15 footer to save par on #12.  I didn't hit the best drive on #17, leaving myself with a hybrid into the green.  Thankfully, I hit a solid shot into the green and it rolled to about 9 feet for birdie...and that putt decided to fall!  I was VERY happy to come into #18 with a birdie under my belt since it played SO long for me.  Long story short, I didn't get up and down to end with a bogey.  BUT, finishing the round at even par, and the tournament at three under earned me second place all by myself!

I am thrilled and proud of my play this week!  I am so thankful that everything came together for the entire week, and I was able to harness my mental energy and work it in a positive direction during my rounds.  I can't begin to tell you all how thankful I am for your interest, encouraging comments, and prayers!  They were GREATLY appreciated this week and always!

I'll be back on the road next week for another Suncoast event, so until then, have a great weekend!

Round Two!

Today's round went well, and I ended up carding an even par 72!

The weather was absolutely beautiful with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s.  However, the wind was a little brutal!  There was a consistently strong wind with an occasional gust that made you question your club selection, haha.  It definitely helped on some longer holes, but then made some shorter holes a little longer.  I started out #1 making an 18' putt for a great par save and birdied #3.  I didn't hit as many greens, but managed some great saves.  I made the turn at one under, and bogey free!  The back side seems to be the tougher of the two for me, and it was nice to have a little cushion going into it.  My first bogey of the day came on #12.  There was a stiff wind that would come and go, and so I clubbed up on my second shot.  Unfortunately, it rolled off the back and into a bunker!  I managed to birdie the next par 5, but then had some poorly executed chip shots that resulted in back to back bogies.  My approach shot on #17 was into another stiff wind, and I clubbed up but it still came up short of the green.  I came dangerously close to getting down on myself since I was one over going into the last two holes (which are both tough finishing holes) and I didn't have a legitimate birdie chance....BUT, I returned to my game plan:  target, process...and a quick prayer...and CHIPPED IN for birdie to put me back at even par!!!!!!!  It was a little divine intervention, but I'm happy to take it!  The last hole (#18) was already a 400 yard par 4, but was playing even longer with that strong wind in our face today.  I hit two solid shots and ended up 30 yards from the pin.  I hit a pretty good pitch shot to 9', and made a great putt to save par!

I was able to get some good short game work in afterwards, and had some time later this afternoon to visit Downtown Disney!  Again, I'm proud of the way I played the course and stayed focused on my target and my process.  I am very thankful that we had such wonderful weather, and that today's score allowed me to remain tied for second place.  I'll be teeing off at 11:46 tomorrow, and once again, THANK YOU for all of your encouragement, thoughts, and prayers!!!

Have a great night!