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!