Round Three – Falcon’s Fire

Happy Friday everyone!
I carded a 5 over par, 78, during the last round of this week’s event. After a quick start with a birdie on the second, I made bogeys on the fifth and ninth hole to make the turn at +1, 37. I was feeling good about the first nine holes at the turn, but an errant third shot on the par 5 tenth left me with a tricky 12 footer up the hill to save par. I missed the putt and was now two over for the day. After pars on 11, 12 and 13 I was anxious for a birdie.

I thought the par five, 14^th would give me what I needed! The hole was playing a little longer due to wind and with a pin tucked in the back right corner of the green; I had a longer shot than I had on the previous days. I left my shot in the hazard short of the green. I managed an up and down to save par, but was dealt a very similar situation on the par four, 16^th. I did not manage to get up and down; therefore I doubled the hole, which was quickly followed by a bogey on the 17^th. At this point I am six over for the day and NOT a happy person. The 18^th played as a par five and I wanted nothing more than to finish this week strong with a birdie on the last. I hit two really good shots in and had 49 yards into the green. I hit the flag with my third, but the ball didn’t exactly drop. It stayed on the edge of the cup which left me with a tap in birdie!

This week was definitely a breath of fresh air compared to last week. My scores did not show it as much as I would have liked, but I am hitting the ball much better and have conquered some of the mental blocks that were occurring. I am very thankful for the next few weeks off to get prepared for the most important month of the Season. September not only hosts my little sister’s birthday (Happy early birthday!!) but it is the month I return to Alabama to give a go at the LPGA Navistar classic in Prattville Alabama. Most LPGA event’s host a one day qualifier before the tournament begins to give amateurs and professionals who have yet to make it to the tour, a try at making the cut. The qualifier is a one day event and the two lowest scores will have the opportunity to tee it up with the big girls later that week!Also, the most important four days of the year is quickly approaching. The last week in September is the Qualifying School to be eligible for the 2012 season on the Futures Tour. “QSchool” will be hosted by Plantation Golf Club in Venice Florida September 27^th-30^th.
I have many hours planned with my coach in the coming weeks and some much needed emphasis will be placed on my short game. I am excited to see what these next few events have in store for me and my future!

I hope you all have a great weekend and I will keep you updated as my journey back home gets under way!

Round Two - Falcon's Fire

The definition for the term “Déjà Vu” simply means - tedious familiarity. Today was just that. If you read last weeks blog following my very long days at Orange County National due to poor weather, you will soon begin to see a trend in today‘s round.
Today started out like most Florida mornings, sunny and hot! And then the clouds began to form. Not only in the sky, but within my bag as well. I started the day off with a par on the first and then began the second, which started the up hill climb for the remainder of the day. I bogeyed the next three holes in a row…and then the rain came. It started raining on #4, but didn’t stick around long. We played through the showers as I pared the next 2 holes. With a bogey on #7 and a birdie on #8, I made the turn at three over, 39.
After pars on holes ten and eleven, the clouds reappeared. Once my group finished number twelve, the weather sirens blew and we were called into the clubhouse due to a storm brewing around the course. Within an hour and a half the golf course had be drenched! Once the thunder and lightening cleared out, we returned to the very soggy thirteenth.
Obviously the wet grounds were making the golf course play much longer as well as slower. I came back from the rain delay with a bogey on #13 and a birdie on #15. With a par on #16 and bogeys on #17 and #18, I finished the day with a 6 over par, 79.
Today was an extremely disappointing day. I am really beginning to see improvements on some key fundamentals my coach and I are working on, but can’t seem to put anything together. It was very frustrating! Putting is usually my strong suite, and today it was the poorest part of my game.
With that being said, I am thankful to see improvements on the things I’ve been working so hard on. I know it will all come together SOON!
I tee it up for the final round tomorrow at 9:20 off of #1.
I will keep you posted as tomorrow comes to a close :)

Round One - Falcon's Fire

Hey Guys. I hope everyone had a great weekend! I teed it up today for round one at Falcon's Fire Golf Course in Kissimmee. The course is in good condition, with the exception of a few wet spots due to all the rain we received last week. The layout of the course has also been altered slightly. We are playing the course as a par 73 this week due to a very long par 4 which has had the tees backed up and converted into a par 5.
I played fairly solid today with the exception of one minor hiccup late in the round. I shot three over (76), with two birdies.
I started the day off with a birdie and a bogey on the front nine to make the turn at even par, 36.
After back to back bogeys on 12 and 13 I recovered nicely with a birdie on the 15^th. Then the “hiccup” happened. After a decent tee shot on #16, I short sided myself in the thick rough. My ball was sitting deep in the rough and I was unable to get anything on it. Needless to say a not so perfect situation and shot led to a very disappointing double. I finished the round with pars on 17 and 18 to shoot three over, 40 on the back 9.
I have taken away lots of positive thoughts from round one. My ball striking was much improved from last weeks event, as well as my thought process pre and post tee time.
I am excited to see what tomorrow holds! I feel like I am in a comfortable position to play well and capitalize on some opportunities.
I’ll keep you all posted as round two comes to a close!

Round’s Two & Three - Orange County National

Good evening everyone! I hope this finds all of you doing well and enjoying the start of your weekend. As you may recall from my last post, this week’s event did not go according to plan to say the least. I apologize for the late post so ill give a quick recap as it unfolded…
After the delay of round one, we were scheduled to resume play Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. By sunrise Orange County National was yet again surrounded by thunder and lightning with rain on the way. Due to lightening concerns, we had a delayed start but were able to hit it around 8:30. We played one and a half holes just to have the sirens blow yet again. We were in another rain delay! The heavy rain and lightening lasted for about an hour until the heavy stuff stopped. We resumed play in the rain around 10:00. I carded a very disappointing 84 that morning. No matter the circumstances surrounding round one, I made mental mistakes that have not shown up in my game in quite some time. I began second guessing the speed of the greens and could never get my distance on point.
After completion of the 36 hour round one, my second round began the same afternoon at 2:27 p.m. By this point the rain had temporarily moved out of the area and we were able to tee it up without a delay. I started the round off decent with an up and down to save par on the 2^nd as well as the 4^th. I was one over heading into the 8^th hole when the sirens blew once again. This time the rain delay only lasted for 30 minutes. I returned to the 8^th to begin a bogey train until the 11^th hole. I finished round two at 8 over par for an 80.
I teed off Thursday morning at 7:16 am to begin round three. It began quite the same way as the first two. I started off without any problems, but again, could never get anything going. Lots of minor mistakes with the putter led to yet another 80.
Obviously I am very disappointed with this week’s performance. With all the starting and stopping I never gained complete focus and confidence. BUT the good news is this is all a part of the process of this goofy game I love!! The sport that drives me crazy at times, yet still remains my focus and passion. This past week was a minor hiccup in the road, a mountain that I must climb and most importantly, learn from. A wise man once said, “On the way to where you’re going, don’t forget to enjoy where you’re at.” Even though I did not perform up to my standards, I’m enjoying the ride. I thank God for the position I’m in and the life lessons I am learning along the way!
I want to thank you all for your support and prayers again this week! They mean more than you know.
I will tee it up this Tuesday at Falcons Fire in Kissimmee Florida. I will keep you all posted as round one begins.

Happy Friday :)

Round One - Orange County National

Hey friends and family! After a few weeks away from tournament golf and a great vacation with my family, I teed it up this morning at Orange County National in Winter Garden, Fl. The course is in excellent condition, by far the best course I have played all season. It’s a different style golf course than I’m used to seeing here in Florida. Most courses seem very flat and open, but this week the lay out reminds me more of the courses I’m used to seeing back home. Strategy is key this week. Knowing where to place the ball and when to attack is going to be my determining factor of success.
As I said, I teed it up this morning on #1 with an 8:13 tee time, but I did not mention how quickly the round ended. I was 1 over after my first four holes when storms began brewing. By the time I reached #5 tee, lightening was all around. The weather sirens blew at around 9:30 and we were called into the clubhouse for a rain delay. We waited for a couple of hours, but radars showed heavy rain and storms for the remainder of the afternoon. Therefore, tomorrow is looking like a long day! We will resume play tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. After completion of the first round we will begin round two.
If all goes according to plan tomorrow I will have played 32 holes by night fall, therefore patients is key. I will keep you all posted as rounds 1 and 2 are completed.
Have a great night

If you try you may fail, if you never try you're guaranteed to fail