Golfweek Amateur Tour (Charlotte) - 2019 Season - Carolina Lakes Golf Club (Indian Land, SC)

It had definitely been way too long since the final tournament of the 2018 season and, to be honest, I was beginning to itch for some competitive golf.  I'd played so poorly leading up to this event that I had no clue what to expect.  Luckily, I had come out a few days prior to play a practice round so I had a pretty good idea of how the course was going to play. 

The big concern I had was that I just purchased a new set of irons.  I picked up a set of TaylorMade M5's with Fujikura Atmos Orange graphite shafts in them in hopes that it would help my hands since I've been dealing with some pain in a few knuckles on my right hand... and also hoping it would increase my launch angle a little bit. 

I couldn't have asked for a more ideal day to play my first round with those clubs.  February 2nd... and it was in the mid-60's with little-to-no wind.  Pretty much perfect.

So, with 114 players (30 in B Flight) on the course... I decided to arrive early for some practice time.  The first few swings were... well... they weren't good.  I slowed my tempo down and started hitting some better shots.  I hit about 50 balls on the range and then went to do some short game practice for a bit.  Following that, I spent about 15 minutes on the practice green and then relaxed a bit before we were set to go. 

My goal was an 85.  I figured that would be a good score to post for the opening round of the year... especially with new clubs and having played as poorly as I was leading up to the tournament. 

At 11:00, we were sent off to our tees.  My group started on hole 9.  Not much difficulty in that one, so... I drew a good starting tee. 

Hole 9 - Par 4 - 392 Yards

Even though the card says 392 yards, it was really only playing about 365 with the tees moved up a bit.  I've been playing a fade recently that I can't seem to get away from, so with the hole moving to the right, this really set up well for me.  I picked a target over the left edge of one of the fairway bunkers figuring if I hit the fade, I'd be in perfect position and if I hit a straight shot, I'd still be just fine. 

The ball came off with a nice fade and I carried the bunkers with no problem.  I was left with about 53 yards to the hole.  That was a perfect 'three-quarter' lob wedge for me.  I tugged it a little bit so it flew just a little longer than expected, but left me about 24 feet for birdie.  

My birdie attempt was a left-to-right curler down a slope.  The line looked good until about 5 feet from the cup then it broke off hard and ran out to about 4 feet from the hole.  I was able to make the putt coming back to open with a par.  

  ~ Even Through 1 ~

Hole 10 - Par 4 - 396 Yards

This was another hole they moved up a significant amount.  This time, the hole was playing only about 330 yards or so.  Just like the previous hole, it played a little to the right so my fade would have been perfect.  To prevent any issues with going through the fairway, I decided to hit a 3 wood off the tee.  This turned out to be a reoccurring issue for me throughout the day, but... I hit that club very poorly.  I popped it up to the right and it landed in one of the fairway bunkers on the corner of the dogleg. 

From there, I was blocked out by the corner so my only goal was to try and advance it about 150 yards or so into the fairway short of the green.  My 7 iron was just a bit thin, caught the lip and hopped forward into the next bunker.  At this point, I at least had a view of the green.  I caught my 8 iron well, but slightly heavy.  The ball ended up about 10 yards shy of the green. 

The chip I had left was not an easy one.  The pin was cut on the left side just off a slope.  I tried to bump a wedge into the slope but the ball checked up immediately and I was left with a 19 footer for bogey.  I gave it a good run... it looked good... and then it didn't.  I missed low and made the 3 footer for double.

  ~ +2 Through 2 ~

Hole 11 - Par 4 - 290 Yards

For the third straight hole, we were playing a dogleg right.  This one was not severe but you absolutely had to avoid the trouble up the right side.  A waste area well below the fairway was the only 'protection' from a hazard that ran the entire length of the hole.  The play was to bail out way left.  If you went too far left, there was a large retaining wall to help keep your ball in play... otherwise, there was no trouble over there. 

My target from the tee was the tree furthest left of the fairway.  I figured a nice fade would put me in the center of the fairway and a straight shot would funnel off the slope into the fairway.  I hit the fade and I was right in the middle.  With 64 yards to go and the pin way in the back with a hazard just beyond the green... my only thought was to play short of the hole and take a run at birdie from there.  I did not want to risk going long. 

I played a 54 degree wedge back in my stance and took another 'three-quarter' swing.  Just like on my first hole, I tugged it just slightly but because of where I was intending to hit the ball... it didn't put me in any trouble.  I was just off the left side of the green and about 12 feet shy of pin-high.  I putted from there and the ball trickled out to about 5 feet.  It was a tricky putt though, still going down the slope and I never committed to my line.  I tugged the putt just slightly and it lipped out leaving me a tap-in for bogey.

  ~ +3 Through 3 ~

Hole 12 - Par 3 - 145 Yards

Sucker pin alert!!!  This hole is always interesting because if you find yourself in the massive bunker that fronts the green and runs along the right side... you could be looking at double in a hurry.  The pin was tucked way back in the back-right corner of the green.  Going at the pin would be foolish.

Because I wasn't really warmed up yet and I didn't want to risk being short, I elected to hit a soft 7 iron instead of the normal 8 iron I'd hit from this distance.  I picked a target just left of the center of the green knowing that right was death.  I'm very glad I did because I did not give it a thorough swing which meant the ball leaked right.  It leaked so far right that I finished just 7 feet right of the pin.  That was only 1 foot outside the eventual closest-to-the-pin winner on that hole. 

There was no excuse for me to miss the birdie putt but... I did.  There was a bit of right-to-left break to the putt (or so I thought) so I played it just off the right edge.  It stayed there so I tapped in for my par.

  ~ +3 Through 4 ~

Hole 13 - Par 5 - 498 Yards

Nothing fancy here.  This hole is pretty much one of those holes that you see in front of you the whole time.  The only real trouble is the pond up the left side that begins at about 200 yards from the green.  If you hit a good drive and you're feeling it... you can get there.  Otherwise... be smart, play out to the right and take your shot at getting up & down for birdie. 

I made things difficult.  My drive was okay.  It went pretty much nowhere into the little bit of wind we did have.  I had zero shot at getting even close to the green.  Still... I was trying to get inside of wedge range so I decided to hit my 4 iron.  The trouble was, I almost missed the ball.  I topped it... and tugged it... so it trickled just inside the hazard line.

I had no real stance.  I put one foot on the only solid ground I could find in the hazard... the other was outside the hazard.  I attempted to hack a 9 iron over the corner of the pond back into the fairway... but instead, I knocked it 15 yards into the water. 

The rest of the hole was played out just to get it over with.  Drop into the rough... 5 iron out to the right of the green... pitch to 18 feet... 2 putts for triple.  

  ~ +6 Through 5 ~

Hole 14 - Par 4 - 373 Yards

This is typically the most difficult hole on the course.  It's 373 yards... but it plays like 420 because of how uphill it is.  It's also usually into the wind.  On this day, it was moved way up... so, it was only playing about 335 yards.  It was also downwind.  My target line from the tee was a dark patch near the left edge of the fairway.  I hit it solid and the ball tailed a bit and finished in the middle of the fairway.  I was left with 105 yards, but it was more than a club uphill.  The wind helped so I played it just a single club uphill.  I hit a smooth pitching wedge that pitched about 10 feet shy of the flag and settled just 4 feet left of the hole. 

It's always nice when you've left yourself a straight, 4 footer for birdie.  I made it with no issues and tallied my first tournament birdie of 2019!

  ~ +5 Through 6 ~

Hole 15 - Par 4 - 341 Yards

Another slight dogleg to the right but instead of trees on the corner, there's a pond that runs the entire length of the fairway along the right side and then beyond the green.  As with the previous holes that moved to the right... I was pretty comfortable with this tee shot.  There's a fairway bunker up the left side, so my target was the right side of that bunker.  I was playing for the fade and if I hit it straight, I was going to be fine.  I did hit the cut, though... and I found myself in the center of the fairway with about 90 yards to play. 

The pin was in a good position toward the front-left portion of the green which meant that the water was out of play unless you hit a very poor shot.  I elected to play a low, flighted gap wedge.  As had been my tendency with these shots so far on the day, I pulled it just slightly.  It was fine though and caught the back of the green leaving me 33 feet for birdie. 

My birdie attempt was pretty awful.  It was downhill and towards the water, so I really expected it to be fast.  Instead... I left my putt 5 feet short which meant a quick, ticklish putt for par.  I was able to make it and pick up a little momentum.

  ~ +5 Through 7 ~

Hole 16 - Par 3 - 158 Yards

This is a pretty intimidating hole.  There's a massive, deep bunker that fronts the green... and short of that is a pond.  The shot is all carry, but not very long.  Still... if you let it get to you, you can easily put up a big number on this hole.  The green is essentially split in half by a huge ridge.  The right side is raised up while the left side drops off a good 7+ feet or so below the level of the upper tier.  The pin was kind of on the ridge.  From the tee, there appeared to be not way to get it close. 

The play for me was to aim at the center part of the lower (left) tier and hope I hit a bit of a fade.  Unfortunately, we had a 15 minute wait at this tee.  When we arrived, the group in front of us was waiting on the tee for the group in front of them to putt out.  By the time we got to play the hole... I stiffened up a little bit and never committed to my shot selection.  This meant a low, bladed 7 iron that skipped off the bank of the pond and into the bunker. 

Luckily, my bunker game has been getting better and better.  I blasted out of there and to about 15 feet.  I was very pleased when I finally climbed out of the bunker and saw where my ball finished up.  I don't really think I could have come much closer than that.  To cap it off... I drained the 15 footer for a sand save par.

  ~ +5 Through 8 ~

Hole 17 - Par 5 - 472 Yards

If you take the aggressive line up the left side of the hole off the tee, you can easily reach this green in 2 shots.  It's uphill from the fairway to the green, but... it's a reachable hole.  I did NOT take the aggressive line, however.  In fact, I did the exact opposite and bailed out WAY right.  My ball finished just in the rough with a tough ball-above-my-feet lie. 

Instead of just punching a 5 iron up the fairway 175 yards or so... I tried to bite off a big chunk of the hole with a 3 wood from a tough lie.  It did not work out very well for me.  I kinda topped and pulled my shot and it trickled up the left side into the rough and left me 145 yards or so up the hill to the flag which was tucked up on a tiny tier at the back-left side of the green. 

I elected for more club because of how uphill the shot was and I ended up drawing it a bit with my 7 iron.  This put me in a little bowl long and left of the green.  I had truly short-sided myself.  The only play I had was to try and bump the ball into the slope shy of the green and hope it trickled down towards the hole.  I probably landed the ball a foot short of where I needed it to and the ball stuck on the fringe.  I was probably 20-25 feet from the hole at that point with a super fast, downhill putt.  I just got the ball started and let it get onto the green and watched as it stopped about a half-rotation short of dropping for par.  I settled for my tap-in bogey and moved to the 18th tee.

  ~ +6 Through 9 ~

Hole 18 - Par 4 - 387 Yards

Once more, they moved our tees up quite a bit.  I believe we were playing from about 340 yards.  This took driver out of my hand since that would have brought some OB into play for me.  There's a fairway bunker at the corner of the right-to-left dogleg which was my target.  I should have been easily able to carry that and it would have left me a 9 iron or less into the green.  I just put another horrible swing on my 3 wood and topped the ball.  It trickled out short of that fairway bunker and left me no shot at the hole.

From about 210 yards out, I just played a 5 iron out to the right of the green to give myself a good angle to the back-left pin position.  I was left with around 60 yards or so to the hole from there and the green was wide open.  Another 'three-quarter' wedge from there was tugged just slightly and grabbed immediately, leaving me just off the green. 

The only play I had was a low, running chip which I executed pretty well from the fringe of the green.  The ball took a peek at the cup but just missed the lip for par and ran out to about 5 feet.  I was able to make that coming back for a bogey.  It could have been way worse, so... I wasn't too upset by that score.

  ~ +7 Through 10 ~

Hole 1 - Par 4 - 370 Yards

This is never a tough hole but they made it even easier on us by moving the tees up to about 340 yards away.  There's a fairway bunker up the right side that's not in play from where the tees were and another bunker up the left side that was absolutely in play.  I decided to aim off the right corner of the left bunker.  I didn't catch the tee shot very solid, but it faded over the right fairway bunker and finished in the rough up the right side leaving me about 125, slightly uphill to the hole. 

Even though it was uphill... it was downwind, so it offset.  This meant I could give it a solid go with a full 9 iron.  A slight pull from that position hit the green and I was positive it was going to trickle off the left side of the green and into the fairly deep hollow leaving a next-to-impossible up and down attempt.  Instead, when I arrived... the ball had spun enough that it stayed on the green and left me a fairly easy two-putt for par.  

  ~ +7 Through 11 ~

Hole 2 - Par 4 - 368 Yards

I would say this is one of the more intimidating tee shots on the course.  Along the right side is OB and houses.  The left side is trees and a deep set of fairway bunkers.  A little too far past that on the right side is another fairway bunker.  You have very little to aim at.  Short hitters like me don't really have the option of hitting a 3 wood or something because then you leave too much into a difficult green. 

I elected to hit driver and start it at the right edge of the left bunker.  I knew that unless I absolutely mashed one, I wasn't going to reach the right bunker.  I hit a very solid drive that landed perfectly in the fairway and left me about 120 or so to a front-right pin. 

My right hand was hurting at that time and I had just put some pain relief cream on it... so my grip was a little tentative on the club.  Instead of going after a pitching wedge, I chose to hit a smooth 9 iron.  It was a little too much club, but I still hit the green.  I left a tough, 42 footer for birdie though. 

My birdie putt was quick and had a bit of left-to-right break to it.  When I first hit it... I thought it was going in.  The ball funneled toward the hole and at the last second, it moved back to the left and just missed.  An easy little tap in for par.

  ~ +7 Through 12 ~

Hole 3 - Par 5 - 563 Yards

I don't think this hole played the full yardage.  I believe we were moved up to about 530 yards or so instead.  I hit one of my weaker tee shots of the day here.  Very high off the toe.  Luckily, it hung enough that it didn't feed into the fairway bunker up the right.  It kicked off the slope of that bunker and into the fairway.  Even though I had little confidence in my 3 wood at that time... I knew I needed to hit it to give myself any shot at making birdie or better here.  I hit it solid, but the fade was way more than I wanted to see on it.  Luckily, it again caught the slope up the right side and trickled down into a flat lie and left me about 130 to the hole. 

The hole was a little downwind and the green was slightly raised.  With the ball just slightly above my feet... I aimed to the right of the pin expecting a little draw.  Instead... I pulled it again.  This time... it was a massive pull that resulted in the ball going 15 yards past the flag, way down below the back of the green. 

My only play from this position was to try and hit a high pitch that carried just onto the green.  I knew once it got on, it was going to release hard.  I committed to the shot and executed to perfection.  The ball landed just on the green.  From there, I could not see it but my playing competitors were yelling for it to slow down.  When I got up to the green... the ball was on the front portion about 18 feet away. 

Similar to the 15 footer I had drained on #16, this putt was uphill and I knew I could be aggressive with it.  From 18 feet, I played it like it was 25 feet and the ball never had a chance to miss.  I drained it for an unlikely par to keep my momentum going.

  ~ +7 Through 13 ~

Hole 4 - Par 3 - 150 Yards

This is a pretty hole and has long been one of my favorite par 3's that we play on the Golfweek Amateur Tour.  There's trouble short and left in the form of a creek.  Bailing out right is not really an option because of a steep slope that would leave an awkward stance to chip from.  This hole is pretty much hit the green... or else.

On this day, the pin was in the back-left portion of the green.  From the tee, it was 152 yards to the hole.  With the downhill slope, I would say it was playing more like 142 yards.  For me, this meant a solid 8 iron.  My aiming point on this hole was just to the right of the flag.  I'd been hitting a consistent fade for most of the day and I figured a tiny pull would have given me enough room to stay alive... a straight shot would be perfect... and a fade would find the right side of the green. 

My swing off this tee was one of my best of the day.  The contact was crisp and the flight of the ball was gorgeous.  It was high and straight.  I was worried initially that I took too much off my swing so I watched intently... but the ball landed a few feet to the right of the flag, hopped once and spun back a bit.  When we got up there, the closest-to-the-pin marker listed 9 feet.  We measured mine out at 7 feet and 1/2 an inch.  As this was towards the end of the day... I was pretty confident it would hold.  It did... and I won $120 for that shot!

One of my playing competitors was about 3 feet outside of my ball on a very similar line.  His putt drifted very little right-to-left and he sank his 10 footer for birdie.  I had the line... I just needed to make a solid stroke on the ball.  I did... and watched as it took a hard turn just at the hole to the left and lipped out!  I tapped in for what was a disappointing par. 

My misfortune turned out very well for my playing competitor though as he won 1 of 3 skins on the day that paid him $190+ for his birdie!

I now had only 4 holes left to play and I was sitting inside the money spots on the leaderboard.  The B Flight was paying out the top 5 spots and I was now in 4th place.

  ~ +7 Through 14 ~

Hole 5 - Par 4 - 389 Yards

Number 5 is the toughest rated hole on the course.  The tee shot is tough because if you hit it too far and up the left side, it can run down into a creek at the end of the fairway.  If your ball sticks up in the rough up the left, you can be blocked out.  The right side brings a lost ball into play.  On a calm day, I'd hit 3 wood here every time.  It was just a little breezy at this point though... and it was cooling off, so I went with my driver.  I picked a spot on the slope up the left side and let the ball peel off of that. 

I found a flat-ish lie on this hole which is tough to find.  It was still a little below my feet and sloping downhill, but... all-in-all, it wasn't awful.  I had 135 yards to the pin which sat on the front-middle portion of the green.  9 iron would have been short and would have brought all kinds of trouble into play.  8 iron was a little too much but was the safer option... so I went with that club.  I pured the shot and watched as it went directly at the flag.  The ball landed at probably 155 yards or so and spun back about 20 feet towards the hole.  Still... I was left with about 30 feet for birdie.

Again, I had the fortune of having a playing competitor on a very similar line to me.  Even though the putt looked like it was going to break right-to-left... his putt never really took the break and stayed out to the right of the hole.  I decided to play to the right edge of the cup and hit it exactly where I wanted.  I was positive the ball was going to drop for birdie, but with about 18 inches to left, the ball trailed a little further left than I thought and just missed what would have been a massive birdie (and would have paid a skin too).  I tapped in for my 5th consecutive par.

I believe at this point I had moved up into 3rd place with just 3 holes to go and I was just 2 strokes off the lead with 3 holes to play.

  ~ +7 Through 15 ~

Hole 6 - Par 5 - 512 Yards

I have never, ever been a fan of this hole.  There's a creek at 250 yards from the tee.  Basically, if you carry the ball 225 up the left side over the fairway bunker... your ball will find the hazard.  This meant I had to hit my 3 wood, which I was struggling with on the day.  I took aim at the right edge of that left bunker and peeled my 3 wood off of that and into the center of the fairway. 

From here, it should have been an easy hole.  I had about 315 yards left to the hole... up the hill.  For some reason, I had convinced myself that the best play was to try and hit my 3 wood again and get up to within 120 yards or so of the green.  Well... I topped the 3 wood and watched as it trickled into the creek.  I then dropped from the penalty area and hit a 5 iron to about 80 yards.

I made a mess of the hole and ultimately recorded a triple bogey.  Looking back... the play on my 2nd shot should have been a 4 iron up the right side that would have left me about 145 yards to the hole. 

I was dejected by my poor shot selection and suddenly knocked myself completely off the leaderboard with just 2 holes left.

  ~ +10 Through 16 ~

Hole 7 - Par 3 - 154 Yards

Things simply went from bad to worse at this point.  Although there is water on this hole... it shouldn't come into play if you hit a decent shot.  I believe the hole was playing 145 yards with where the pin was located, so it was a perfect 8 iron for me.  I got up on the tee still thinking about the previous hole and made probably my worst swing of the day.  I swiped at the ball and pulled my head up way too quickly.  This resulted in a thin, ugly shot that had zero chance of clearing the water. 

SPLASH!  That was my tournament right there.  I hit another from the tee (we weren't using drop zones) and pulled it just a little left.  I failed to get up and down a recorded a 2nd consecutive triple bogey.

  ~ +13 Through 17 ~

Hole 8 - Par 4 - 363 Yards

Now I was just angry.  I had a side bet going with my buddy and needed a birdie to break the number we had set (85).  I absolutely annihilated the ball from the tee here.  The fairway on this hole was wide open so, I knew taking a hard swing wouldn't hurt me unless I sliced it wildly.  Game Golf measured it at 280 yards and I was left with 84 yards to the back pin location. 

I hit my 54 degree wedge with a pretty close to full swing... but I purposely drove it in low.  It landed about 20 feet left of the flag and spun to the right a bit leaving me around 12 feet for my birdie.  The left-to-right swinger just barely missed on the high side and I was left with a tap-in for par to close out my round.

  ~ +13 Through 18 ~

---------------------------

There really wasn't much to be said at that point.  I came into the round having played 5 rounds in 2019.  They were all over the map (101, 94, 106, 98 and 86).  I had new irons in the bag that I had hit literally the night before at Topgolf and then that morning on the range.  I had very low expectations for the day. 

To shoot an 85 with a trio of triple bogeys on the day was actually pretty damn impressive.  I won't forgive myself anytime soon for the mental error on my 16th hole but... it will be a learning experience. 

I finished in a tie for 10th place out of 30 entrants to B Flight.  I was 2 shots out of the money.  Ultimately, the winner shot an impressive 76.  I didn't have a shot to win, but... if I had held my ground on those 2 holes... I would have finished in solo 2nd on the day. 

Lessons Learned

1. Hitting the safe shot is ALWAYS going to be better than hitting the aggressive shot unless the situation absolutely calls for aggressive play.  I really hurt myself on 3 of the par 5's by trying to bite off more than I needed to.  Those 3 holes accounted for being +7 of my +13 score. 

2. I need to work on putts inside 8 feet.  I missed 4 putts from 5-7 feet on the day.  I was too tentative on those strokes.  If I had played all of them firm and to the back of the cup... I would have made each of them. 

3. My game, despite some pretty awful scoring lately, is still there.  I need to make it a focus to get out and practice more often.  Work has been busy but I can always find an hour here and there for some practice. 

The next tournament is on February 16th.  I'm still undecided on if I'm going to play it or not.  Until that point, I've got 2 nights of Topgolf League play and hopefully at least 1 round on a course somewhere to prepare.  In between... I'll be doing some putting and short game work. 

'til the next one... 

Charlotte Area Golfweek Amateur Tournament - 9/17/2016 - River Hills Country Club (Lake Wylie, SC)

Scorecard Link - 9/17/2016 

Game Golf Link - 9/17/2016 

When you only play a course once a year or so, you tend to forget certain things.  River Hills Country Club is one of those courses for me.  I had only played it one time, which was last season in August.  I wasn't playing overly well at the time and I ended up posting an ugly 102 which was adjusted to a 98 by tour rules.  I didn't remember a whole lot about the course, but one thing I did remember is that is was a tight course.  I knew, going in, that it was going to be a round which put a premium on keeping the ball in play.

One of the things I failed to remember, is that the greens are excessively quick.  Foolishly, I tell people that I 'love' putting on fast greens... which I do.  I just recently joined as a member of Rock Hill Country Club, and while the greens aren't ultra-quick... they're certainly fast enough that I'd label them fast.  I spent a good 75 minutes on the practice green at RHCC on Friday working on 6 foot putts.  I wanted to ensure that those weren't going to cost me extra strokes on Saturday.  Well... suffice it to say that, by the time I reached the practice green at River Hills on Saturday... it didn't much matter.  The greens there are F-A-S-T!  Do NOT get above the hole or you risk a three-putt at any moment.

Anyway... I was looking forward to the round and, honestly, I felt like I was going to have a pretty good shot at posting something reasonable and within the top four spots which would put me 'in the money' at another tournament.  Unfortunately... things didn't go as planned, but... despite some struggles, I actually had some moments where I felt pretty good throughout the day.

As always... details are below.

Hole #11 - Par 3 - 158 Yards

I wasn't able to properly go through my practice routine at the range prior to my round.  The club only allowed us to hit off the mats, which were essentially just a thin carpet placed on top of a cement platform.  For this reason, I never really got warmed up.  So, when we got to this tee, I measured the distance as 140 yards, up a hill... so, playing about 145.  We also had a helping wind behind us, so... I figured it was a perfect club for my 8 iron.  I hit that club about as well as I could have from the tee, but I came up a good 7 yards short.  I was left with a tough lie on a slope in front of the green and my chip shot was horribly heavy and I advanced the ball about 5 feet.  This left me with, pretty much, the same shot.  This time, I nipped it perfectly and watched as the ball hit the pin and dropped in for an unlikely par.  As you'll see throughout the round, hitting the pin or the cup became a theme throughout the day for me.

Hole #12 - Par 5 - 519 Yards

One of the major downsides to the range situation at this course is that hitting driver to warm up is not a realistic proposition.  I took maybe 4 swings with the club on the range and then realized that, due to the stance I was forced to take, it wasn't going to work out for me... so, I didn't get an idea of how I was going to hit the driver that day.  Typically, I'll hit 10-15 shots with my driver on the range to 'work out' any issues I'm having and know what kind of a shot shape I'd be playing with, so... having only 4 swings did nothing for me.

On the tee at #12, this was apparent as I pull-hooked my tee shot into the woods on the left.  I then hit a similar provisional, but that one stayed in play.  I was left with nothing more than a punched 5 iron beneath the trees and back into the fairway.  This then left me about 140 to the hole out of the rough and over a tree.  My 8 iron clipped the top of the tree but still made it to the green.  From 43 feet, I was somehow able to two-putt for a double bogey.

Hole #13 - Par 4 - 339 Yards

After my troubles on the tee on the previous hole, I wanted to be safe here, so I elected to hit a 4 iron from this tee.  It found the fairway and left me about 155 yards to the hole.  Unfortunately, I hit a dead-pull 7 iron that landed in a bush left of the green.  After an unplayable lie, I hit the ball to the back of the green and watched as it rolled into the fringe.  An extremely ugly putt from there left me 18 feet to avoid a triple, and I was somehow able to sink that for a second straight double bogey.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 344 Yards

There is really no need for a driver on this hole but, I stood on the tee and wanted to make a good swing with that club, so I chose to hit it.  I hit a straight shot when I was looking for a cut and the ball ended up out of bounds by a few inches.  This meant I had to go back to the tee.  I hit a solid shot from there just off the right side of the fairway.  That left me about 85 yards to a front pin.  My lob wedge from the rough was short.  I then chipped up and hit the pin again, but the ball didn't fall.  Instead, it kicked out to about 9 feet where I was unable to save a double bogey this time and instead, settled for a triple on a fairly simple hole.  

Hole #15 - Par 4 - 368 Yards

I made an angry swing with the driver on this hole.  Still, I tugged it left and watched as it hit the tree to the left of the fairway.  Luckily, I found the rough next to the fairway trap which left me about 130 yards up the hill and into the breeze.  I hit a 7 iron from there and caught the green, leaving me about 14 feet for birdie.  Although I hit a good putt, it didn't drop and I settled for a tap-in par.

Hole #16 - Par 4 - 393 Yards

Another driver... another pull.  I got a beneficial kick off the cart path and back to the right, finishing in the fairway.  This left little more than a wedge up the hill.  I didn't hit the greatest shot from there, though, as the ball finished short and in the fringe.  I putted from there to about 4 feet and was able to make that for a second consecutive par.

Hole #17 - Par 3 - 184 Yards

My 6 iron from this tee was (you guessed it) pulled a bit.  The ball stayed out to the left and finished pin-high in a bunker.  I hit a pretty good shot from there to about 10 feet.  Although it was only 10 feet, it was extremely quick.  I somehow managed to find the proper line and the ball dropped giving me three straight pars and putting me in a good little groove.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 347 Yards

I love this hole.  I think it's a pretty hole and can be trouble if not played properly.  I hit a solid 4 iron that ran out to 225 yards and left me a 9 iron from about 135 yards to the back pin.  I hit my shot right on line but it finished up in the middle of the green which left me about 28 feet for my birdie.  I totally misread the green, however, and my putt finished about 5 feet to the right of the hole.  I was unable to make that as the ball lipped out and I was left to settle for a tap-in bogey.

** NOTE - After the rough patch from 12 through 14, it was nice to put together some solid holes.  As I headed to the front 9 with 10 holes left to play, I felt like I was very much in it.  I just needed to avoid the big numbers and I'd be fine.  My focus was on trying to keep the ball in play from the tee.  If I could have done that, things would have been fine.   

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 360 Yards

I hit a solid drive from this tee but watched as it leaked just a bit towards the fairway bunker.  Fortunately, it stayed out but finished just off the fairway.  I was left with a 9 iron from there.  I caught it well, but the ball only got to the front of the green.  I was left with a 24 footer for birdie but I hit a horrible putt.  I managed to make the 5 footer coming back for my 4th par in the last 5 holes.

Hole #2 - Par 4 - 335 Yards

Another short hole meant another 4 iron from the tee.  I didn't catch it very well, but the ball found the fairway and left me a good look up the hill at the pin.  My 7 iron from there was about 18 inches from being perfect but instead, I watched as it hit the rough just shy of the green and rolled down into the bunker.  I blasted out from there to about 15 feet and very nearly made that for par... but settled for a bogey instead.

Hole #3 - Par 3 - 163 Yards

Looking back on my round, I'm pretty sure this is where I threw my chance out the window.  I was on a roll having played the last 6 holes in +2, but on this tee... I hit the worst 7 iron I possibly could have.  I watched as the ball hooked wildly to the woods on the left and then hit a house.  I had hoped that I hit the house hard enough that the ball kicked back into play, but... it was out of bounds.  My provisional was on line, but well short and in the bunker at the front of the green.  A heavy blast from there left me 52 feet from the cup and I was unable to make that.  The 2 foot tap-in gave me another triple bogey and took all the wind from my sails.

Hole #4 - Par 5 - 491 Yards

Not knowing a course is almost always a big disadvantage.  This came into play on this hole.  I did not remember this hole from my round here last year, and... looking at the scorecard, I figured it was a reachable hole.  I didn't realize that only a perfectly placed bomb from the tee would allow a shot at getting to the green with my second shot.  If I had known that, knowing that I was struggling with the driver, I probably would have elected to hit a 4 iron from the tee... but, instead... I went at the ball with everything I had and a driver in my hand.  This resulted in a pull-hook into a hazard.  My drop, up the left side, meant that I had nothing but a punch out.  That left me in the fairway but nearly 200 yards away.  My hybrid from there was left in a good position, and I hoped that I'd have been able to get up & down from there, but a poor pitch put that to rest and I ultimately settled for a third triple bogey and the realization that, unless I did something really special down the stretch... my shot at finishing in the money was gone.

Hole #5 - Par 3 - 160 Yards

I hit an ugly, fat 8 iron from the tee here as it was only playing about 140 yards or so.  My pitch shot from short of the green hit the cup with some pace on it which prevented it from falling, but left me a fairly simple 4 footer for a par in the midst of all the chaos in my game.  

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 531 Yards

I finally managed to put a good swing on the ball with a driver here, unfortunately, my line was a little too aggressive and the ball ran through the fairway, preventing me from an opportunity to go for this green.  Instead, I had to punch below some trees up the right side and back into the fairway.  This left me a wedge, but I picked the wrong wedge and ended up 70 feet short of the hole.  A three-putt from there, while expected, was painful and led to a bogey while wasting a good drive.

Hole #7 - Par 4 - 352 Yards

A 4 iron from this tee found the fairway (I hit 4 fairways in 4 attempts with that club throughout the day) and left me a perfect 8 iron distance to the hole.  I tugged it and watched as it kicked off the hill and to the left, right towards a pond.  Luckily, it got caught up in the rough and left me a pitch up to the hole.  As I had been doing all day, I hit another pin.  It didn't drop, but it left me a 6 footer for par... which I promptly proceeded to miss.  Another bogey after being in great position off the tee.  

Hole #8 - Par 4 - 367 Yards

Even though it's a short hole, it plays uphill the entire way.  This led to me hitting the driver again, but I hit a good one here.  Just as with the 6th hole, I took the wrong line and ended up through the fairway.  Another 8 iron... but this one came up short.  The way I was chipping the ball, I should have chipped this one... but, I went with the putter through the fairway.  Luckily, the ball hit the pin, again, but it still left me 9 feet above the hole.  I hit a horrible, ugly putt from there that ran 6 feet past the hole and I couldn't make that coming back.  A three-putt double bogey that felt more like a four-putt because I putted from just off the green.  

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 385 Yards

After the last hole... I was stewing.  My goal had become to finish second in my group because I knew that one of my playing competitors was going to win the tournament by this point.  He'd been playing solid golf all the way through.  This is a hole I could have gotten away with hitting a 4 iron from the tee, but I wanted to be aggressive and hit my driver.  Once again, my line was too aggressive and it resulted in putting myself out of position from the tee.  I was left with nothing but a 4 iron beneath some trees which ran into a bunker in front of the green.  I blasted out to about 24 feet then hit a decent putt to about 3 feet.  Then I completely fell apart standing over that ball and pushed it well right, leading to another double bogey.  

Hole #10 - Par 5 - 493 Yards

I figured, standing on this tee, that I would need an eagle to have any shot at being in the money.  I ended up hitting one of my better drives of the day into the left side of the fairway.  I was left with about 220 yards, down a hill and over a pond to the green.  I knew if I struck a hybrid well, I'd carry the water and get to the green.  Whether it was a lucky thing or not, I hit a horribly fat shot from there.  The ball ran out into the fairway leaving me a sand wedge to the green.  I put that to about 20 feet for a birdie attempt.  I hit a putt that was right on line but came up about 4 feet short... then, for the 4th consecutive green, I missed a putt inside 6 feet and was left with a tap-in bogey to close out my round.  

Round Stats

• Score - 93
• Penalty Strokes - 5
• Putts - 35
• Fairways - 6 of 14
• Greens in Regulation - 5 of 18
• Up and Downs - 4 of 8
• Sand Saves - 1 of 4

Even though I felt like I threw away my chances on the holes where I put the ball out of bounds from the tee, the struggles I had on the greens were ultimately what did me in.  The winner was the guy from my group who posted an 88.  A 92 would have put me in a tie for 4th.  It reiterated to me that, playing in the C Flight, I'm never really out of it and I need to focus on every shot because it has the potential to be THE shot that puts me into or takes me out of the money.

Next weekend is the final tournament of the year for the Charlotte tour.  It's a 2 day major played at Country Club of Salisbury and Irish Creek, which are 2 of my favorite courses.  After that, there is a 3+ week break until the National Championship in Hilton Head.  That means that the tournament next weekend is my final opportunity at a major and my final opportunity to win my way into the National Championship.  I know I've got some work to do between now and then!

Until next time...

CY

Charlotte Area Golfweek Amateur Tournament - 8/20/2016 - The Palisades Country Club (Charlotte, NC)

Scorecard Link - 8/20/2016

Game Golf Link - 8/20/2016 

We're down to only a handful of tournaments remaining on the 2016 schedule, so it's becoming crunch-time as we head towards the National Championship in October.  The C Flight leader was just about out of touch for me to catch, but... I was still hoping to go in and make a run at catching him.  To do that... I would need to have another strong showing, but at a course that is much, much more difficult than where we played last week.  This week, we headed to The Palisades Country Club on the south side of Charlotte, just over the border from South Carolina.  I got to play there twice last season and really enjoyed the course, but didn't play overly well during either visit to that course.  

Things didn't end up as well as I'd hoped.  I played some decent golf for a good portion of the round, but there were a few holes where I just made poor decisions, poor swings or both... and they added strokes to my total.  In the end, I posted a 93 which was good for 7th place.  The problem is that the C Flight leader ended up winning the tournament and made it impossible for me to catch him unless he doesn't play in the final 2 events of the season.  

It's frustrating, but... it now allows me to focus on playing good golf and finishing as high in the standings as possible.  I'm already locked in for Hilton Head, so now it's just a matter of maintaining the momentum I've built and making sure I put up as good a showing as possible when the time comes in October.

As always, the details of my round are below.  

Hole #15 - Par 5 - 483 Yards

I caught a break as I got to start on a pretty simple hole.  There was a hazard to the right of the fairway, but... with how wide the hole was... it shouldn't have been a problem.  I hit what I thought was a really good drive, but it didn't go very far and it hopped just off of the fairway into the first cut of rough.  From there, I caught my 4 iron ever-so-heavy but it still put me in good position, leaving me about 126 yards to the hole, up the hill.  My 9 iron was thin and finished over the green in a really poor spot.  It took me 2 shots to get on the green from there and then I tapped in from just about 2 feet for a bogey to start.

Hole #16 - Par 4 - 368 Yards

This hole was a case of not having much course knowledge.  I wasn't really sure how far it was to reach the pond at the end of the fairway, so I played chicken and hit a 4 iron from the tee.  Although it was a good shot, it still left me 160+ to the hole.  In my mind, all I wanted to do was clear the hazard and finish on dry land... but, that didn't go as planned.  My 7 iron was thin and I ended up short and in the water.  My drop left me in some pretty thick rough, so from 100 yards, I hit a 50 degree wedge that found the green.  I couldn't make the bogey putt from 16 feet, so I tapped in for a double.  

Hole #17 - Par 4 - 360 Yards

Going into the round, I had no intentions of hitting driver on this hole.  There hole tilts from right-to-left and there is a ton of trouble left... but, I knew a 4 iron was going to leave me a long way to go up a hill, so... when I got to the tee and realized that it was pushed back a bit, I pulled my driver.  I proceeded to blow 2 shots dead right and into the woods.  Luckily, we managed to find my original shot, but it was a LONG way back and in the rough.  I smacked a 4 iron up into the fairway and then hit a lob wedge a little deep onto the green.  2 putts from 24 feet left me with a bogey.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 422 Yards

This hole is a monster.  Trouble left... out of bounds right... and IF you find the fairway, you still have a long shot with a carry over a hazard to the green.  It's safest to play it as a par 5 and if it you make a crazy up & down for par... great!  My tee shot drew right towards the fairway trap on the left but stayed short.  I hacked a 9 iron back into the fairway, leaving myself about 90 yards to the flag.  I hit what I thought was a perfect sand wedge, but it landed shy of the green and rolled down the hill.  I hit an okay chip from there to about 6 feet, and then tugged the bogey putt just a bit, forcing myself to take a double.  An ugly bogey - double - bogey - double start.

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 362 Yards

Again, I had zero intention of hitting driver here, but it appeared longer than it probably was.  I went with driver and pulled it left.  It hit a tree branch and dropped down.  My provision was dead center... but we found my first in an ugly spot in the woods.  It took me 3 shots to get it from there into the fairway.  From that point, I hit a good 5 iron onto the green and took 2 putts from 23 feet for a triple.  I was now beginning to get discouraged.

Hole #2 - Par 4 - 408 Yards

This was a hole where I thought I killed my drive, but it still left me miles to go.  I hit the fairway, but my drive only went 228 yards, leaving me about 185 to the flag.  My 4 iron was dead on line but came up short and in the greenside bunker.  I blasted out from there to about 22 feet and then nearly hole that for par, but it finished on the lip.  I tapped in for a bogey.

Hole #3 - Par 5 - 492 Yards

I hit a pretty good drive on this hole and left it in the center of the fairway.  I didn't feel that there was any way I was getting to the green, so I hit a 4 iron up as far as I could.  It finished just off the right side of the fairway.  A lob wedge from there looked great but finished on the front fringe.  I elected to putt from there and got it to about 4 feet.  I was able to make that for my first par of the day!

Hole #4 - Par 3 - 144 Yards

My 8 iron from this tee started out exactly on the flag but drifted off to the right just a touch.  I was left with an 18 foot birdie attempt.  I played too much break and never gave it a shot, but settled for an easy 2 foot putt for a second consecutive par.  

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 290 Yards

I was feeling pretty good at this point.  I had played the previous few holes pretty well and was coming to my favorite hole on the course.  It's a wide open hole and the only trouble is a bunker in the middle of the fairway at about 210 yards from the tee.  If you avoid that bunker, it should be a simple hole.  My drive went way right and was found nestled next to a small tree.  I was able to advance it out of there and into the rough, but then I just made a mess of it from there.  A fat wedge was followed by a sh-nk... and then I putted from the fringe to 9 feet.  I couldn't stop the bleeding and settled for a triple bogey on what is quite possibly the easiest hole on the course.

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 496 Yards

I hit a bullet of a drive here, but because of the wet fairway, it didn't go anywhere.  I couldn't get to the green because of the trouble short, so I hit a 6 iron into a good position and that left me a simple little wedge shot.  My lob wedge was at the flag but finished just shy.  I had a difficult pitch from there but got it to 6 feet.  Unfortunately, I couldn't save my par and had to settle for a bogey.

Hole #7 - Par 4 - 346 Yards

When I stood on this tee, I made a comment about disliking this hole.  I then hit a 4 iron into a great position in the fairway.  I was left with about 150 yards, up the hill... and then I hit an ugly, fat 7 iron that finished in the hazard.  I made a mess of it from there, resulting in a third triple bogey on the front side.  

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 146 Yards

I hit a choked-down 7 iron from the tee here as the pin was way back.  I found the right side of the green, but I was 33 feet away.  I proceeded to blast my first putt 8 feet past the hole and then was unable to make that coming back for par, settling for a three-putt bogey.

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 357 Yards

Oddly, I played this hole very similarly to how I played it last year.  My drive was up the left side but caught an overhanging branch, kicking it into the woods.  I couldn't advance it very far, but I got the ball out and into the fairway.  I had about 160 to go, so I played a low, cutting 6 iron that finished just behind the hole.  I couldn't make the 16 footer for par, but finished the front side with a bogey.

** NOTE - After making 3 triples on the front side, I really didn't expect much of a score.  I knew that I played pretty well except for those holes, but I was still upset with myself.  When we added things up, I sat at a 49 for that side.  Knowing I had opened the first 4 holes in +6, I wasn't expecting to be able to do much heading in.  Still... I was optimistic about possibly making a birdie or two and finishing inside the top 4.  

Hole #10 - Par 3 - 143 Yards

This hole was playing much shorter... in the neighborhood of 120 yards, and downhill.  My pitching wedge was pin high but pulled a little left.  I pitched on to about 12 feet from there, but couldn't make the par putt.  From 2 feet, I made the bogey putt.  Not the start to the last few holes I was hoping for, but... at least it wasn't a triple bogey.

Hole #11 - Par 4 - 316 Yards

I hit another very solid drive here which left me about 85 yards, up the hill to the hole.  I hit a pretty good sand wedge from there but pulled it a little, leaving me 23 feet from the hole.  A frustrating three-putt from there led to another bogey.

Hole #12 - Par 5 - 470 Yards

My drive on this hole was beautiful.  It caught the slope in the fairway and fed down the hill a bit more, leaving me about 190 to the flag.  I debated between a 4 iron and my hybrid, but I elected the 4 iron from that position.  It was nearly perfect and I watched as the ball cleared the hazard short of the green, landed on the front edge and rolled into the middle of the green.  I was left with 30 feet for my eagle try, but I didn't get close.  I left myself a testy 5 footer for birdie, but I was able to sink it, giving me hope for a skin.

Hole #13 - Par 3 - 161 Yards

I thought I was going to be dead on the flag but my ball actually carried all the way to the back of the green.  I was left with an impossible putt and I never got close.  My initial putt fan from there 7 feet beyond the hole and I couldn't make that for par, settling for ANOTHER three-putt bogey.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 414 Yards

I was on my final hole, and to be honest... I really was kind of done at that point.  I had very little hope of finishing in the money, but I wanted to finish strong.  I hit one of my better drives of the day, finishing in the center of the fairway.  I had about 153 yards to the flag and I caught my 7 iron a little heavy, leaving it short... but it ran onto the green.  From 36 feet, I JUST about sunk the putt for birdie, but it dropped off the right at the last second.  I tapped in for a par to close out my round.

I ended up posting a 44 on the back side.  With the horrible start I had to my round, I wasn't at all upset about this.  In fact, when we added it up and I saw I had posted a 93 (and I was the best score in my group)... I had a tiny sliver of hope that others had struggled as well.  When we got in... it wasn't to be.  The winner posted an 84 and then the money spots were a pair of 88's and an 89.  

Round Stats

• Score - 93
• Penalty Strokes - 2
• Putts - 36
• Fairways - 8 of 14
• Greens in Regulation - 6 of 18
• Up and Downs - 1 of 6
• Sand Saves - 0 of 1

There are now 4 weeks until the next tournament on our schedule.  This means that I've got to find a way to keep my game moving in the right direction.  I hope to play once or twice per week, but... with work getting busy, I'm not sure if I'll find the time each week to do that, so... I'll have to see what I can do.

Until next time...

CY

Charlotte Area Golfweek Amateur Tournament - 8/13/2016 - Cabarrus Country Club (Concord, NC)

Scorecard Link - 8/13/2016

 Game Golf Link - 8/13/2016

I've been on a roll lately and it's a really nice feeling.  After this round, my handicap index has dropped to a new 'career' low of 15.0 as of the August 15th revision.  In addition, my tournament scores have been consistently solid.

Since winning my first event in June, I posted back-to-back poor finishes in a pair of two-day major events (including the visit to Kiawah).  The day after that, however, I came back and posted a 2nd place finish with an 85 at TPC Piper Glen.  Then in the next tournament (another two-day major), I shot 87 at Cowan's Ford and 89 at Carolina Lakes to finish 4th.  After having to miss a tournament due to some much needed family time, I came back and posted another victory by shooting an 83 at Cabarrus Country Club.

This bumped me all the way up to 3rd place in the points standings and has me feeling really good as we head down the home-stretch of tournaments leading to the National Championship at Hilton Head in October.  As always... the details of my round are below for you to read through if you so desire.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 345 Yards

I started things off with a fairly simple hole.  There was really no trouble to be found as there were holes on either side of us, so losing a ball would be a difficult thing to do.  With that in mind, I decided to hit my driver from the tee.  I had hit a slight pull, but it found the first cut of rough which was only marginally fluffier than the fairway, and on a lot of courses, it would have been the same height as the fairway.  That left me about 120 yards to the hole.  With the wind into our faces a bit, I choked down on a 9 iron and hit a solid shot that finished just above pin-high and about 19 feet to the right of the hole.  My birdie attempt broke more than I thought, but left me a simple 2 footer for par.

Hole #15 - Par 3 - 147 Yards

This is a short par 3, but it's all carry over the water.  I hit a solid 8 iron, but I pulled it left of my target.  I ended up in a very thick lie below the green and had no real shot at getting it close.  To be safe, I played left of the hole to take running off the green out of play.  My pitch landed where I wanted but ran out to about 20 feet.  Until the last few inches, my putt looked good, then it dove below the hole.  A tap-in for bogey to put me at +1 though 2 holes. 

Hole #16 - Par 4 - 347 Yards

Even though it's listed at 347 yards, this hole was playing more like 370 and it was into the wind.  I would have ordinarily hit a driver from this tee, but because there was some trouble on the left side, I decided to be safe and hit the 4 iron.  I struck it well, up the left side, but it finished just off the fairway in the first cut of rough again.  I was left with about 160 yards into the breeze, so I took a 6 iron.  Even though I made solid contact, it started right and drifted on me, finishing to the right of the green.  I hit an okay shot from the rough that finished about 15 feet from the hole, but I was unable to convert that for par so I took another bogey.

Hole #17 - Par 4 - 350 Yards

A downhill dogleg to the left with a trap at the corner.  My target was a tree at the end of the fairway to the right of the bunker at the corner.  I hit a near perfect 4 iron and left the ball in a great position.  From about 130, I hit a very poor 9 iron that never had a shot.  It finished below the green on the right side.  I managed to hit one of the best shots of the day from there to about 5 feet and made the putt to save my par.

Hole #18 - Par 5 - 484 Yards

I've started looking at par 5 holes as birdie opportunities instead of holes where I can blow-up... which is what made this such a disappointing hole for me.  I hit a decent tee shot, but the breeze pushed it right and it caught the fairway bunker.  I hit an extremely heavy 6 iron from there that didn't advance very far.  From that position, I had no shot at the green, so I laid back with a 5 iron to keep it short of the creek fronting the green.  I was left with about 50 yards and hit a solid, but pulled lob wedge to about 27 feet.  I had my first real putting troubles from there as I missed the first putt by about 6 feet and was unable to make that for bogey, so I took an ugly double on a fairly simple hole.  That put me at +4 through my first 5 holes, which was my target going into the round.

Hole #1 - Par 5 - 486 Yards

Another par 5 into the wind.  On the tee, I wanted to make a good swing and just put myself in position to lay up to a good number.  Although I hit it well, the ball drifted right on me and finished in the rough.  I was able to punch a 4 iron below the tree and run it up to leave me about 130 yards.  My 9 iron was directly on line but I caught it just a little heavy.  It found the green but I was about 40 feet from the hole.  A really solid two-putt from there gave me a par.
  

Hole #2 - Par 4 - 332 Yards

Of all the tee shots I hit with a 4 iron on this day... the one from this tee box was the worst.  I pushed it right and it found the rough and left me with some tree trouble.  The lie was good in the rough and I had only 1 overhanging limb to contend with so I took aim at a tree beyond the green well to the left of the flag and played for a fade with an 8 iron.  I executed the shot perfectly and watched as the ball drifted towards the pin.  Ultimately, it settled just over 20 feet from the hole.  I missed that putt, leaving me a 4 footer... but I yanked that and had to tap in for a disappointing bogey.

Hole #3 - Par 4 - 330 Yards

A solid 4 iron from this tee left me no more than 130 to the hole.  It was into the breeze still, so I choked down on an 8 iron and hit it just to the right of the flag, but a little shy.  From 16 feet, I blasted my putt and watched it roll 7 feet beyond the hole.  I couldn't make the curler coming back for par and settled for a second consecutive three-putt bogey.  I was now +6 through 8 holes on the day.

Hole #4 - Par 4 - 334 Yards

I took a very aggressive line with my driver over some trees on the corner of the dogleg (which turned to the right).  This put me in perfect position and left me 94 yards to the hole.  Unfortunately, that put me between clubs.  My sand wedge from that position would have been too much, but a lob wedge wouldn't have been enough.  This led to a three-quarter swing with my sand wedge and the ball ended up on the front of the green, almost 50 feet shy of the hole.  I hit an awesome putt from there that peeked in the left side of the cup but didn't drop.  That left me a tap-in from about a foot for par.

Hole #5 - Par 3 - 158 Yards

I hit a choked-down 7 iron on this hole that started at the right side of the green, but the wind pushed it a little too far to the right.  The ball caught the fringe and then trickled down into the bunker on that side.  I hit a fairly decent shot from there, but the ball ran out to about 18 feet beyond the hole.  I hit the second-best putt of the day (the best is coming up) and it rolled into the center of the cup for an up & down out of the trap for par.

Hole #6 - Par 4 - 352 Yards

Another shot hole with the wind at our backs... another 4 iron off the tee.  Even though I caught it a little off the toe, I found the fairway and left myself about 155 to the hole.  I knew I'd rather be short than long, so I took an 8 iron from that position instead of a choked-down 7 iron.  I caught it perfectly and the ball carried just beyond the hole, hopped once and stopped.  From 20 feet, I had the ball perfectly on line, but it stopped trickling just shy of the hole, so I had a tap-in for a 3rd straight par and I was just +6 through the first 11 holes.

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 137 Yards

This tee shot was nearly an identical distance as the 8 iron I hit off the previous fairway, so I used the same club from this tee.  I didn't catch it quite as solidly and I started it a little right, but it caught the green.  I had over 40 feet left, and coming up the slope, I left it about 6 feet shy.  I was unable to make that putt and had to settle for a tap in bogey to move me to +7 with only 6 holes to play.

Hole #8 - Par 5 - 473 Yards

I'll be honest.  I stood on this tee feeling great.  I was striking the ball well... I was hitting some good shots around the greens... and my putts (with a few exceptions) were all looking good.  This was a short par 5 that turned to the right.  I just wanted to get the ball around the corner and I figured I could take it up over the trees on the right.  I hit it about 3 yards further to the right than I intended and the ball didn't clear the final tree, nipping a branch and dropping down into the rough.  This left me about 190 to the hole, but out of a really thick lie in the rough.  I figured if I hit it solidly, the ball would run up towards the green.

With the thick lie, my hybrid got slowed down significantly and the ball only ran about 160 yards.  I then turned what should have been a fairly simple 30 yard pitch into a disaster.  I caught the ball off the hosel of my lob wedge, which pushed it into a horrible lie on a downslope of a bunker.  I thinned that into the lip and it fell back into a horrible position.  I barely escaped from there and got it onto the green.  I was left with a putt from about 30 feet for a bogey.  I didn't come close and made the 4 footer for a double.  I was now +9 with 5 holes left in my round.

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 348 Yards

There was trouble on both sides of this hole, so putting the tee shot in play was my focus.  A 4 iron that I caught slightly heavy found the fairway and left me about 160 to the hole.  It should have been a perfect 7 iron distance, but I caught that heavy as well and left it in the fairway short of the green.  I didn't want to have a rehash of the previous hole, so instead of opening the face up on my lob wedge, I tried to play a lower pitch shot.  It carried a little deep onto the green and left me with a tough putt above the hole.  I really couldn't figure out if the ball was going to turn right off the slope or turn left.  Luckily, a playing competitor left his ball a few feet further away than I did on a similar line.  I watched his putt break slightly left, which gave me a good idea of what mine would do.  From 16 feet on exceptionally fast greens... down the hill... I hit a perfect putt and watched as it rolled into the heart of the cup to save my par!

** NOTE - When we tallied up the scores for the front side, I had posted a 41.  Because I was in my own little zone, I hadn't been paying much attention to what my playing competitors had been doing.  One of them had posted a 40.  This kinda of took me by surprise because what I had remembered of how he had been playing, it seemed to be much worse than that.  When I looked at the scorecard, I realized his poor holes were early on and while we were playing up the finishing holes on the back side.  In looking at everything, I was going into the final 4 holes with a 2 stroke lead on him.  

Hole #10 - Par 4 - 334 Yards

I made my poorest decision of the round on this hole.  It was a short hole and there was no need for me to hit a driver.  Still, when I got to the tee and I looked down the fairway, it appeared wide open... especially on the right side.  The left side had some thick tree trouble, and if you went too far left, there was some OB... but overall, it appeared to be a hole I could get aggressive on.

I aimed up the right side of the hole, over a bunker that I needed about 200 yards to carry.  I then took an aggressive swing and pulled the ball.  I watched as it cleared the bunker up the left side, and then disappeared into the darkness of the trees.  I hit a provisional, which I bailed on and pushed way right.  I was nervous driving up to find my ball, but luckily my playing competitor spotted it up in some wood chips.  I was left with no clear path to the green.  My only real shot was a low punch that would run up onto the green.  I tried that with a 4 iron, and I thought I had executed it perfectly.  Sadly, it caught one last tuft of rough and killed it, leaving it 50 yards short in the fairway.  I hit a really good shot from there to about 9 feet, but I misread the putt and had to settle for a bogey.  I was now +10 with just 3 holes to go.

Hole #11 - Par 5 - 480 Yards

From this tee, I hit my best drive of the day.  It was a rope that finished in the middle of the fairway.  With some trouble left, I didn't want to get too aggressive.  I had about 223 yards to the hole, but if I mishit my 3 wood... it could have gone OB left.  Instead, I took my hybrid and figured if I didn't get to the green, I'd leave myself a fairly simple pitch.  I tugged it just slightly and the ball ended up short of the left-side bunker.  This left a fairly simple pitch which I managed to get to about 7 feet... and then I converted that for my first birdie of the day!  

Hole #12 - Par 3 - 129 Yards

This is a super short par 3 that plays entirely down hill.  I had measured it at about 115 yards to the flag, and it was playing about a club downhill.  Still, I didn't want to be short, so I played a pitching wedge.  I caught it VERY heavy and I ended up directly on line with the flag, but short and in the fairway.  I hit what I thought was a good pitch to about 6 feet.  It was a quick little putt that I could have sworn was going to turn left but somehow, it turned right and stayed on the lip.  I tapped in for an unexpected bogey.

Hole #13 - Par 4 - 369 Yards

Heading back into the wind and being uphill, I knew I couldn't use my 4 iron off this tee.  I opted to take a slow, easy swing with my driver and just try and get the ball in the fairway.  I managed to do that, but it was a short shot, measuring only 204 yards and leaving me about 162 yards up the hill to the hole.  I hit a solid 6 iron which finished just off the right side of the green.  A chip which I thought was going to settle next to the cup (and nearly went in) ended up running 12 feet beyond the hole.  My putt for par was nearly perfect but died off to the left at the last instant and I had to settle for a tap-in bogey to end my round.

** NOTE - After posting a strong 41 on the front, I posted an almost as strong 42 on the back to total 83 for the day.  I had a bad feeling in my gut that the missed putts on 12 and 13 may haunt me.  When we got back to the scoring area, none of the scores were posted yet.  While speaking with a few others from the club, it appeared that my 83 was leading.  In the end, it was good enough, by a single stroke, to hold on and win!  This was my second tournament victory of the year and I've now finished 2nd, 4th and 1st in my last 3 tournament events.

Round Stats

• Score - 83
• Penalty Strokes - 0
• Putts - 36
• Fairways - 7 of 14
• Greens in Regulation - 8 of 18
• Up and Downs - 3 of 9
• Sand Saves - 1 of 2

There's a quick turnaround on this one as the next tournament is just 1 week after.  We're playing a course I REALLY enjoy and I'm very much looking forward to it... and hoping that my solid play over the last month or so will carry over and mean another finish in the money.

Until the next time...

CY