Charlotte Area Golfweek Amateur Tournament - 2/27/2016 - Edgewater Golf Club (Lancaster, SC)

Scorecard Link - 2/27/2016

Game Golf Link - 2/27/2016

I'm now in my second season with the Golfweek Amateur Tour.  Last season was a learning experience and gave me a solid idea of how things work out, what to expect at each tournament, approximately what winning scores will be and most importantly, that I need to focus on each and every shot because a single shot can be the difference between finishing in the money and finishing at the bottom of the pack.  

Last year, at this same tournament, I had a pretty bad week.  Leading up to the tournament this year, I was feeling pretty good.  I had focused on some different things during practice, and I was ready to get going.  Unfortunately, as confident as I was leading up to my first hole... things fell apart.  I struggled for the second consecutive tournament.  The results are below.

Hole #16 - Par 4 - 370 Yards

Things went south from the first swing.  I teed up... aimed towards the right-center of the fairway... and pulled the ball horribly, sending it into the woods.  I hit a provisional into the center of the fairway, and we never found my first, so I played the provisional ball.  I had about 150 to the pin from the fairway, and I topped my 7 iron.  That left me around 70 yards.  I hit a sand wedge that found the green, but left me about 42 feet from the hole.  I needed 3 putts from there to open with an 8, adjusted to a triple bogey.

Hole #17 - Par 5 - 429 Yards

This is easily one of the shortest par 5 holes I've ever played.  I wanted to make up for a poor start, so I was trying to cut the corner of the dogleg.  I didn't hit the ball well at all and I watched as it flopped into the fairway bunker protecting that corner.  I tried to punch a 5 iron out of there up the fairway, but I sliced across it and it went flying across the fairway towards the woods.  I was able to find the ball, but it wasn't in a good position.  I was able to advance it back towards the fairway with a 4 iron punch out.  I had about 90 yards left, up the hill but my wedge from the rough was right the entire time.  I then proceeded to play ping-pong with the ball sending it over the green, duffing a chip and then finally chipping on to around 18 feet.  2 putts from there for a second consecutive quad adjusted to a triple by club rules.  

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 378 Yards

This should be an easy hole.  It's fairly open and not overly long.  My drive was pushed and stayed out right, finishing up in the woods.  The ball was laying almost against a tree trunk, and my only option was to try and slap it out into play.  I almost whiffed, but it trickled away from the trunk, giving me a shot to at least punch it into the fairway, which I did.  My pitching wedge was thin, which meant it went long, and left me over the green.  I pitched on from there to about 37 feet and needed 2 putts for a triple bogey, which put me at +9 through just 3 holes.  

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 315 Yards

I was finally able to hit a serviceable drive.  It was just off the fairway, but left me about 70 yards to the hole, downhill.  I hit a soft little gap wedge, but it landed in the fringe and stuck there.  I putted from the fringe to about 5 feet, never really scaring the hole.  From there, I was able to make the putt for a par.  Hopefully that would settle me down.

Hole #2 - Par 5 - 509 Yards

Another wide open fairway... another shot I pulled so far right it was unimaginable.  My ball hit a tree about 120 yards up and then kicked back about 50 yards, into the woods.  We were able to find it, but I had no play but to hack it out, which I did with a 7 iron into the rough across the fairway.  From there, I pulled a 4 iron into the rough up the left side.  Unfortunately, it settled into a patch of dirt, leaving me a very bare lie and about 220 to the hole.  I couldn't get there, so I was just trying to advance it into a good spot, and I hit a decent 4 iron that left me in the fairway.  From there, a sand wedge to about 18 feet and 2 putts gave me a double bogey.  Not what I was looking for, but better than a triple!

Hole #3 - Par 4 - 353 Yards

I finally hit a fairway!  This is a very tight hole with trouble on both sides.  Everybody in my group laid back with a hybrid or iron, but I was angry at how I had been playing, so I took my driver and hit probably the best drive of the year for me so far.  It split the fairway and left me 132 yards to the flag.  With the wind in my face, this was going to be a perfect 8 iron.  I had been practicing almost all week with the 8 iron, so I felt very comfortable with that.  I then lifted up, hit the ball thin and watched as it flew over the green into the lake beyond the hole.  I hit a fat pitch from where I dropped... then got the ball on to the green... and somehow managed to sink a 26 foot putt for a double bogey. 

Hole #4 - Par 3 - 173 Yards

This hole was playing into a stiff breeze, and it's slightly uphill.  I think the flag was 166 yards from the tee, but uphill and into the wind, it was playing more like 180 yards.  I elected to hit a 5 iron after watching one of my playing competitors come up short.  I didn't hit the purest shot, but it worked out very well.  I watched it fade into the pin and stop about 5 feet from the hole.  I made the putt for my first competition birdie of 2016.  I also later found out that my shot won the closest-to-the-pin on that hole, earning me a $25 gift card!

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 381 Yards

I hit an extremely poor tee shot on this hole and I got lucky with it.  I was aiming up the right side (playing for my pull) and I hit a low, running shot that was cutting towards the woods.  It hit the fairway bunker and killed all the speed.  When I got up to the bunker, I realized that my ball was just outside the bunker on the front lip.  This left me with no stance, so all I could do was try and advance it forward a bit.  I got it to go about 3 yards, and left it in the rough.  With about 160 yards to go, I hit a 6 iron that stopped on the right side of the green.  My par attempt from 27 feet was low the entire time, but I was able to tap in from 5 feet for a bogey.  Not a horrible result considering it looked like I was headed for another lost ball off the tee.

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 550 Yards

I actually hit a pretty decent shot from the tee here.  It got out there, but finished just off the fairway on the right side.  I was way too far away to even think about anything, so I just wanted to put myself in position.  I hit a 4 iron a bit thin and nervously watched as it skirted the fairway bunker up the left side.  It finished up in the fairway about 135 yards from the hole.  Again, a perfect 8 iron for me... and again, I managed to mess it up.  I hit it solidly, but the ball stayed out right.  I thought I was going to be on the green, but I found out the green was smaller than I had anticipated, so I was over the back-right side.  I pitched to about 15 feet and missed the par attempt by an inch or so and had to settle for another tap in bogey.

Hole #7 - Par 4 - 355 Yards

This hole was ugly from the start.  I tried to play smart and hit an iron off the tee.  It ended up ballooning towards the woods on the right side.  I found the ball in a very muddy lie and tried to hack it to the fairway, but I was only able to advance it a small distance.  My next swing was another punch out attempt, but the ball ran through the fairway into a horrible lie on the left side.  I had about 140 yards to the hole over a pond with the ball above my feet, but on a downhill slope.  I topped the ball into the pond and elected to pick up and take my triple bogey max.  

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 144 Yards

I got exceptionally luck here again.  I pulled an 8 iron WAY left... it hit the trees a good 20 yards into the woods... yet somehow, the ball kicked out just left of the green.  I was left with a good look at the pin.  My chip from the rough there checked up way quicker than I thought it would, leaving me a 9 foot attempt for par.  I ran that putt over the lip and then tapped in from 2 feet for a bogey.

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 281 Yards

I thought I hit a good tee shot here, but it never faded back for me.  Instead, it ran into the fairway bunker up the left side.  I caught the sand first and advanced the ball into the fairway, but still left myself a tough pitch to the hole over a greenside trap.  My pitch was long and settled into the fringe.  I tried to putt through the fringe, but I should have chipped the ball instead.  The ball never got close, leaving me a 13 foot attempt for bogey, which I missed.  I closed out my front side with a tap in double.

** NOTE - Despite having started so poorly, I was able to turn it around (for the most part) on the front nine.  I finished with a 47 (+11) including a triple and 3 doubles.  I had hopes that I could finish the last 6 holes strong and at least post something in the high 90s.  

Hole #10 - Par 4 - 389 Yards

For only the second time all day, I found a fairway.  My drive didn't go far because it was playing into a strong wind, finishing up less than 200 yards from the tee, but it was in the fairway, so I was happy.  It left me a long, uphill shot to the green.  I decided on a hybrid, which turned out to be a good choice.  Although the ball didn't reach the green, I left it in the neck short of the green.  I chipped up with a 9 iron to about 7 feet, but my par putt didn't fall.  I tapped in for a bogey, which was not a horrible score on this hole.

Hole #11 - Par 3 - 178 Yards

Ugh.  I was so concerned about the bunker to the right of the green on this hole that I bailed out WAY left.  I then bladed a pitch that ran over the green into that trap anyway.  I popped the ball out of the trap but it stuck in the fringe.  I putted from there to 8 feet and never really came close, forcing a tap in for a triple bogey.

Hole #12 - Par 4 - 317 Yards

The triple train kept rolling from there.  My drive here was crushed, but pulled.  Luckily, I found it up the left side in the rough.  I had what should have been a fairly easy shot from there, but I sh**ked my sand wedge into the bunker fronting the green.  I then tried to pitch it out of there but managed to double-hit the ball, incurring a penalty and then picked up out of frustration, not realizing that I could have made a double.  Instead, I had to write down a triple on my card again.

Hole #13 - Par 5 - 506 Yards

A weak drive into the woods up the right side was followed by a poor attempt to pitch it out.  It got caught in the rough up the right side.  I then tried to hit a 7 iron up over the trees back to the fairway, but it caught them and dropped into a crappy lie.  My 5 iron advanced the ball into the fairway where I was left with about 35 yards.  My pitch stopped 15 feet shy of the hole and I needed 2 putts from there for a double bogey.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 348 Yards

I wanted to be done at this point.  It was well on the way to a 6 hour round... I was playing poorly... and I was embarrassing myself again.  This should have been an easy hole, but I made a mess of it.  My drive was right and landed in some trees.  I had no shot at anything but to pitch it out into the fairway, so I did that.  I was left with about a 75 yard shot, which I sh**ked again, into another bunker.  My shot from the trap was long... so I chipped from the rough to about 9 feet.  A horrible attempt from there was well short and I made the 3 footer for a triple bogey.

Hole #15 - Par 3 - 211 Yards

Luckily, this was the last hole and it was overly quickly for me.  I took 2 attempts from the tee with a 4 iron... both of which were yanked dead left into the trees never to be seen again.  I elected to pick up at that point and card a triple to close out my round.  I watched my playing competitors finish up the hole and I played the part of caddie.  I was done and I couldn't have made it back to my car quick enough.

** NOTE - Although I posted a semi-respectable 47 on the front side, I finished with a hideous 60 on the back for a total of 107.  My frustration was becoming evident to my playing competitors as one asked if I had been playing the same in off-schedule rounds.  I laughed and told him that I hadn't been able to play much outside of the club, but it was clear that I was going to need to get some practice in.  

I've now got 2 weeks until our next tournament round.  I'll be looking for a 'key' of some sort to get me back on track and hopefully back into the thick of things with the tour.  If I don't find something quick... I will certainly not qualify for the National Championship in October, which is a very large goal of mine.  

Until next time!

Round Stats

  * Score - 110 (AGT Score of 107)
  * Course Handicap - 20
  * Net Score - 90 (AGT Net Score of 87)
  * Penalty Strokes - 6
  * Putts - 34
  * Fairways - 2 of 14
  * Greens in Regulation - 1 of 18
  * Up and Downs - 1 of 5
  * Sand Saves - 0 of 3

Round Review - 2/20/2016 - Tega Cay Golf Club - Cove Course (Fort Mill, SC)

This was a bit of an unexpected round for me.  My wife suggested we spend some additional time with the kids on an individual basis and said that I should take my son, Tyler, with me to play some golf.  Seeing as how it had been almost a year and a half since he had played... I figured I'd take him to a fairly short course, and one that I could get some decent practice in.  With that in mind... I headed to Tega Cay to play the 9 hole Cove Course.  

As usual... I played the black tees while I had my son play up a little further from the red tees.  It ended up being a pretty nice day, despite some sprinkles, and we had a good time.  The details of my round are below.

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

Hole #1 - Par 3 - 186 Yards

The tee had been moved up some, and the pin was closer to the front of the green, so this hole was playing much shorter than the listed distance on the card.  I had been working on trying to change my swing over the previous few weeks and was anxious to try it out on the course.  I had varying results... but this was one of the 'not so good' swings.  My 7 iron was topped and pretty much ran 140 yards up just shy of the greenside bunker.  From there, I pitched on to about 19 feet and then had some troubles, needing 3 putts to finish up the hole.  The greens were much slower than I was anticipating based on how fast they were last year at the same time.  I opened up with a double bogey.

Hole #2 - Par 5 - 448 Yards

If you've read any of my reviews from the past at this course, you'll know that this is a huge dogleg and anything more than an iron off the tee will end up in somebody's back yard.  Unfortunately for me, I topped another iron off this tee, this time a 4 iron, and it ran into the fairway, leaving me a long way back.  I wanted to just lay up towards the bottom of the hill, but I wiped across my 6 iron and it disappeared out of bounds on me.  I dropped and tried again, this time sending it into the right rough.  I was left with about 150 yards to the pin and hit a solidly struck 7 iron that found the right side of the green.  Another three-putt from about 27 feet and I was writing down a triple bogey.

Hole #3 - Par 4 - 428 Yards

I had not practiced with my driver since my last round, so I really had no idea what to expect.  I caught it well, but watched as it faded towards the hill up on the right side.  At that point, I knew it was safe, but I didn't know where it ended up.  When we got up to that area, I found the ball had rolled down the hill into the fairway.  I was left with about 195 to the hole.  I decided that a 4 iron wasn't going to get there, but it also wasn't going to go over the green.  I managed to get the ball just shy of the green and left myself what should have been a simple little chip.  I bladed it.  Badly.  I watched the ball go out of bounds... walked to the ball... picked it up... and dropped it back where I had started.  This time, I got it on the green, but I left it well short of the pin.  2 putts from 16 feet and I had started double - triple - triple.  

Hole #4 - Par 4 - 376 Yards

No surprises here.  I blew the tee shot.  I cold topped a 3 wood that dribbled about 40 yards into the left rough.  I had no real shot at anything, so I smacked a 5 iron through the fairway into the right rough, leaving about 170 yards up the hill to the hole.  From there, I hit what I thought was a perfect 5 iron that worked around the trees, but my son said it had found the bunker.  He was right.  I blasted out to about 25 feet, left the bogey attempt woefully short and then made the 9 footer for another double bogey.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 310 Yards

This hole is always a confidence booster for me.  It's a straight forward par 4.  The only trouble is if you really mishit your tee shot or if you find the fairway bunker.  I hit a screaming 4 iron that finished just off the fairway on the left side, but it was wide open to the green.  A wedge from there finished pin high but in the rough left of the green.  My chip from there got to about 6 feet and I was able to finally make a par.

Hole #6 - Par 4 - 312 Yards

This is another hole that can make you feel good about yourself if you play it right.  Unfortunately, I didn't.  My tee shot ended up in the woods up the left side.  We found my ball, and when I tried to punch it out... it caught a tree trunk and kicked backwards a bit.  My only play from there was to punch out again, this time into the fairway.  My sand wedge from 82 yards was a little deep onto the green, leaving me about 24 feet... from where I three-putted again.  Another triple bogey, which has become the theme of my game early on this season.

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 195 Yards

My rangefinder told me 185 to the flag, with a downhill drop.  I hit a 5 iron bullet that found the green, pin high, about 21 feet from the hole.  I proceeded to, of course, three-putt for a bogey.  Even after a good tee shot, I couldn't find a way to make par.

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 149 Yards

This one was playing about 130 yards with a bit of a breeze into our faces.  My 8 iron was long and left, but it should have been a simple chip from there.  I did what I had been doing all day, and I bladed another one.  It ran off the front of the green into the deep bunker.  It took me 2 shots to get out of there, and then another 2 putts from 16 feet to finally get the ball in the hole.  Simple hole... triple bogey.

Hole #9 - Par 5 - 488 Yards

As we got to this tee, the breeze started to pick up and it started to rain a bit.  My tee shot was slightly left, hit the cart path and kicked it further left.  I had no play but to try and punch the ball into the fairway.  I advanced it a bit, but not much, and it stuck in the rough.  A dead pull from there hit the trees again and kicked into the fairway.  I had about 160 to go, and my 6 iron was struck well... but pulled again.  A sand wedge from the rough found the green, but left me 81 feet from the hole.  At least I didn't three-putt... instead, I needed 4 putts to finish out my day with a quadruple bogey!

Recap

Things could have definitely been worse.  I was pleased with how I had hit some of my shots, but for the most part, I was still struggling.  My son, for his part, posted a 73.  This was actually a pretty good score for him considering he hadn't touched his clubs in forever.  I look forward to getting back out there with him sometime soon!

Round Stats

• Score - 56
• Penalty Strokes - 2
• Putts - 23
• Fairways - 2 of 6
• Greens in Regulation - 1 of 9
• Up and Downs - 1 of 2
• Sand Saves - 0 of 2

Charlotte Area Golfweek Amateur Tournament - 2/6/2016 - Carolina Lakes Golf Club (Indian Land, SC)

Scorecard Link - 2/6/2016

Game Golf Link - 2/6/2016

I've been playing golf now for about 23 years... with a handful of seasons missed here and there for various reasons.  I'd estimate that I've played somewhere in the neighborhood of about 300 rounds throughout that time period.  Some 9 holes... most 18 holes.  I know that's not a 'lot' compared to some people... but it's enough for me to be able to make the statement I'm about to make:

I have NEVER played a worse round of golf in my life than I did on February 6, 2016.

Sure... I've posted worse scores, but I have never felt so disconnected from the club in my life.  From the first swing on the range that morning right on through to when the last putt mercifully dropped that afternoon... I had zero control of the club, the ball and anything in between.  I apologized to my playing competitors for making them watch that throughout the day... and even then, I still felt like I needed to apologize again when we were done.  It was bad, and I'm not sure it could have been any worse.  The details, unfortunately, are below.  Read on at your own risk.

Hole #17 - Par 5 - 472 Yards

One thing I knew for certain was that I had what should have been an easy opening hole.  It's an uphill par 5 that doglegs to the left from the tee.  On the range, I was slicing my driver pretty badly, but this hole is so wide open that as long as I didn't go left... I would have been fine.  I aimed to the left of the tree in the middle of the landing area and hit a poor shot.  It was slightly topped... but had enough to clear the hazard in front of the tee and find the fairway.  I just wanted to lay up to about a 7 iron distance from there, but I almost sh**ked my 4 iron.  It rolled up into the rough along the right side, leaving me about 175 yards or so to the hole.  That was actually a good 4 iron distance for me, so I went with that club again and I wildly sliced that into the rough again.  I topped a gap wedge short of the bunker... slid my sand wedge beneath the ball entirely and advanced it about 5 yards into the bunker... blasted out just short of the green... pitched on to about 2 feet and tapped in for a triple bogey to open my competitive season.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 387 Yards

If you've read my past reviews from this course, you'll know I really like this hole.  That didn't help me though.  I hit a fading drive that didn't eclipse 200 yards... topped a 4 iron that ran to about 75 yards shy of the green... sh**ked a gap wedge... pitched well shy to about 20 feet and two-putted from there for a double bogey.  I was not feeling overly confident at that point, but I had hopes that I was going to be able to 'figure it out' early enough in the round that I could still post a low-to-mid 90's score.

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 370 Yards

My poor start continued here.  I aimed at the fairway bunker up the left side, playing for a fade, and then proceeded to slice it all the way across the fairway into the bunker up the right side.  I got my 7 iron out, but hit it heavy, so it didn't really go anywhere.  I had around 100 yards to the flag... and my wedge from there found the greenside bunker.  It took me 2 swings to get it out of there, and I needed 2 putts from 15 feet for another triple bogey.

Hole #2 - Par 4 - 368 Yards

This hole was where I hit my ONLY 'passable' drive all day long.  There is a fairway bunker up the left side that I figured I would start my ball left of and let the slice I'd been playing with all day carry the ball short of the bunker up the right side.  I hit the ball well enough that it was only a slight fade, and it was long enough that it carried that bunker.  Still, I was in the rough with about 105 to go, up a hill.  I decided to take an easy swing with a 9 iron, but I didn't get the ball there.  It found the fairway just shy of the green.  I pitched to about 15 feet and took 2 putts from there for a bogey.  It was better than the last few holes, so... I was hoping it was some progress.

Hole #3 - Par 5 - 563 Yards

Another 'okay' drive up the left side left me a long way to go, and I was just trying to give myself about 120 yards or so to the hole.  I topped a hybrid that ALMOST ran into a hazard, but stayed up... and then I kinda punched a 4 iron into the rough next to the fairway bunker, leaving me about 60 yards or so to the pin.  My wedge from there wasn't horrible, leaving me about 15 feet short... but then I three-putted for the first time this season and posted another double bogey.

Hole #4 - Par 3 - 150 Yards

This is another hole that I really like on the course.  I've played it fairly well the few times I've played the course, posting a pair of birdies here on this hole.  Today was no my day to post another decent score.  Instead... I wiped a 7 iron short and right and then hit a very, very poor pitch that left me 42 or so feet for par.  I left that putt 9 feet short, but was lucky to have made the bogey attempt from there.  

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 389 Yards

As bad as things had been through the first 6 holes I played... they got REALLY bad starting here.  My tee shot on this hole started well down the left side of the fairway and then made an abrupt turn towards the right before disappearing into a hazard.  Where I was able to drop didn't really leave me any shot at the green, so I punched a 9 iron to the flat area short of the hazard crossing in front of the green.  My gap wedge from about 85 yards was disgustingly short, and my pitch from there still left me almost 50 feet from the hole.  A two-putt from there and I was writing another triple bogey on my card.

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 512 Yards

This was another hole where my drive wasn't horrible, but it still had a big slice to it.  I hit it well enough, though, and it found the fairway.  I still had a long way to the hole and I was trying to get as close as possible, but I topped my 3 wood.  Luckily, it cleared the creek crossing the fairway... but I only advanced it about 70 yards.  I sliced another 4 iron across the fairway and into the rough, then I pushed my sand wedge from the rough just to the right of the green.  My chip from there settled to about 4 feet... and then my brain went to sleep and I three-putted for another triple bogey.

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 154 Yards

The one and only green I hit in regulation came here.  I took an extra club (6 iron) and still managed to slice the ball, but it caught a piece of the green.  I was 35 feet or so from the hole... left that 7 feet short... missed that and three-putted my 2nd consecutive green for a bogey.

Hole #8 - Par 4 - 363 Yards

I kinda like this hole... usually.  From the tee, it's WIDE OPEN to start the ball left and have it come back to the right... and I certainly started it well left, but it worked its way entirely across the fairway and into the trees.  I had no play from there, so I punched a 4 iron low and out of the trees, leaving me about 50 yards from the hole.  I sh**ked ANOTHER sand wedge... then pitched to about 15 feet... and three-putted my 3rd straight green... and had to put another triple bogey on my card.  This would begin a streak of 6 consecutive holes at triple bogey or worse.

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 392 Yards

Nope.  I don't want to write about this one.  I'll summarize it this way.  Drive... right.  Whiff from a hazard.  Hardly advanced the ball on the next swing.  Stuck in a clump of tall grass.  Hacked an 8 iron short of the green.  Bladed the chip.  2 putts from 51 feet.  Triple bogey.

** NOTE - The front side was bad... but it was going to get worse.  I carded a 56 on the front... and I felt that even THAT was a kind of low score considering how I was playing.  

Hole #10 - Par 4 - 396 Yards

This hole was set up PERFECTLY for how badly I was slicing the ball today... but I still managed to blow it WAY right and into the hazard.  A drop left me an awkward stance and no shot at the green, so I hit the straightest iron all day... a 5 iron into the fairway that left me about 55 yards to the hole.  I tried to hit a low pitching wedge into the green, but it got caught in the fringe.  I putted on to about 11 feet... missed the double bogey attempt and tapped in for a triple.

Hole #11 - Par 4 - 290 Yards

As far as positioning for an approach shot, this was one of my best positions all day.  My drive found the fairway and left me only 80 yards to the hole.  I freakin' sh**ked ANOTHER wedge into the bunker... bladed it out of there and over the green, where it rolled into a hazard... dropped... pitched on and two-putted from 35 feet for another triple bogey.

Hole #12 - Par 3 - 145 Yards

I was the recipient of some bad luck on this hole.  I finally hit a solid iron... an 8 iron from about 130 yards... and the wind picked up as soon as I hit it, knocking my ball down and into a hazard.  Seeing as moving forward 5 yards or so wasn't really going to benefit me... I hit the same club again.  It looked perfect, but I never saw it hit the green.  When I got to the ball... it was COMPLETELY buried in the lip of the bunker.  I could hardly see the top of the ball.  I did my best to hack it out, but it rolled down into the bottom of the bunker.  It took 2 more swings to get it out... and a two-putt for an amazing 8 on a par 3.  For tour scoring purposes, it was reduced to a triple bogey.

Hole #13 - Par 5 - 498 Yards

All the real estate in the world to work with on the left, and I still found the right side and a fairway bunker.  My 4 iron advanced me MAYBE 60 yards.  Another 4 iron from the fairway that was topped, sliced and ugly.  A gap wedge off the hosel short and right of the green.  A pitch to around 32 feet from the hole... and finally... a three-putt for, you guessed it... a TRIPLE BOGEY!

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 373 Yards

Uphill the entire way... dead into the wind.  This hole had the makings of getting REALLY ugly, REALLY fast.  I hit an okay drive here... finding the fairway and leaving me about 160 up the hill to the pin.  I started my 4 iron to the left of the bunker at the left side of the green and watched as it worked its way to the bunker at the right side of the green.  I positively HACKED my sand wedge from there and watched it slam into the lip and bounce up to the green where my playing competitors groaned when it slammed into the pin and didn't drop for a birdie.  Instead, it settled a few inches away and I tapped in for my only par of the day.  It was not deserved, but I wasn't going to complain at some good fortune.

Hole #15 - Par 4 - 341 Yards

I found another fairway.  That should be where I leave it, but... nope.  Wedge off the hosel into the bunker.  Shot from there caught the right edge of the green and rolled into the hazard.  Dropped there... pitched to 10 feet... two-putted... triple bogey.

Hole #16 - Par 3 - 158 Yards

A big part of me just wanted to take the max score triple bogey and save myself the embarrassment of playing this hole... but I didn't.  My 7 iron sliced... no shock there.  It was short... no shock there either.  It landed in the HUGE bunker fronting the green... no shock still.  First shot hit the lip and it rolled in to my footprint... still not shocked.  Second shot was long, but caught the green and started to spin back towards the hole... and then caught a ridge that funneled the ball ALL THE WAY across to the left side of the green.  It took 3 putts from 40 feet to close out my historically poor round with another triple bogey.

** NOTE - An abysmal 61 which was reduced to a 59 for tour scoring... and a posted score of 115, which was good enough for ALMOST dead last.  Somehow, someone came in with a worse score than I did... so I placed 24th out of 25 entrants in C Flight.

There is a 3 week break until the next tournament.  I don't intend to touch the clubs for the next week (except to clean them).  I'll hit the range the week after and HOPE that I can figure out what was going wrong.  If not... it's going to be another extremely long tournament in a few weeks.

Until next time!

Round Stats

  * Score - 117 (AGT Score of 115)
  * Course Handicap - 20
  * Net Score - 97 (AGT Net Score of 95)
  * Penalty Strokes - 5
  * Putts - 40
  * Fairways - 6 of 14
  * Greens in Regulation - 1 of 18
  * Up and Downs - 1 of 4
  * Sand Saves - 1 of 7