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!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, July 18, 2011
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!!!
Friday, July 15, 2011
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!
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!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, July 4, 2011
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!!!!!
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!!!!!
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