It was a rainy, nasty day. With gusty winds, temperatures in the 50's and a steady rain all day, Kevin played a solid round shooting two under par (69). The conditions were brutal. The umbrella was up all day and everything was absolutely soaked through. I did the best I could but I was a drown rat out there. I went through three towels and it was still impossible to keep anything dry. But Kevin and I worked well together. We had a good, solid routine together and handled the conditions as good as anyone. He was able to make four birdies with only two bogeys. His two under par moved up to t-13th heading into Sunday.
Kevin's ball striking was excellent today in those conditions. He drove it good and hit 15 greens. A missed short putt on our 17th hole for par and then missing a six foot birdie putt on the last hole put a damper on what was a very solid round. Kevin is a bit upset about the missed scoring opportunities with the putter but when you look at the stats, he is ranked 15th in total putts and 12th in putts/GIR through three rounds.
Due to the forecast of heavy rain overnight and then the chances of rain going down tomorrow afternoon, the Tour pushed the tee times back. The fourth round will not start until 11:00am, teeing off again in threesomes off the 1st and 10th tees. Our tee time is 12:06 on #1 with Rafael Echenique and Tim Petrovic.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Athens, GA (Round Two)
When I showed up at the golf course this morning, it was raining and the wind was causing it to come down sideways. After a wet warmup, the rain finally stopped by the time we teed off.
Playing in gusty wind conditions, we got off to a tough start on the front nine. After only missing one fairway, were only able to hit three greens on the front and made the turn at two over par. Kevin hit it better on the back, only missing one green (due to a poor drive where we had to chip out) and he was able to bring it in at two under for an even par round (71). His even par total leaves him t-35th heading into the weekend.
Even though the conditions were tough, Kevin still does not like the way he hit the ball today. We headed to the range after the round and focused on the things he has been working on with his coach. In the windy conditions, he has the tendency to get his ball position back which leads to most of the problems. After the session on the range, we called it a day.
Due to the weather forecast for rain, the Tour moved the tee times up, playing in threesomes, and teeing off both tees. We will be going off at 8:22 on number 10. With the leaders only at 7 under and bad weather in the forecast for the weekend, we are still right in the ball game.
Playing in gusty wind conditions, we got off to a tough start on the front nine. After only missing one fairway, were only able to hit three greens on the front and made the turn at two over par. Kevin hit it better on the back, only missing one green (due to a poor drive where we had to chip out) and he was able to bring it in at two under for an even par round (71). His even par total leaves him t-35th heading into the weekend.
Even though the conditions were tough, Kevin still does not like the way he hit the ball today. We headed to the range after the round and focused on the things he has been working on with his coach. In the windy conditions, he has the tendency to get his ball position back which leads to most of the problems. After the session on the range, we called it a day.
Due to the weather forecast for rain, the Tour moved the tee times up, playing in threesomes, and teeing off both tees. We will be going off at 8:22 on number 10. With the leaders only at 7 under and bad weather in the forecast for the weekend, we are still right in the ball game.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Stadion Classic at UGA (Athens, GA) - Round One
After a a good week of practice, Kevin had a solid start to the week. We were first off this morning at 7:15 with Jason Gore and Andrew Loupe. I'm staying about 30 minutes away from the course, so that was an early wake up call for me. It was overcast, windy and misty rain for most of the morning. Kevin hit the ball well, but he just missed on a few scoring opportunities with the putter. A sloppy three putt on the last hole gave us an even par (71) for the day.
After the round, we hit some putts. Kevin mentioned that the putter didn't feel good all day. We just focused on the same things we have been working on over the last few weeks on with the putter. Making sure his setup is good and hitting some putts holding his head still. We then hit some balls and a few chips before calling it a day. Its time to get some rest and recharge for tomorrow.
We tee off tomorrow at 12:30.
After the round, we hit some putts. Kevin mentioned that the putter didn't feel good all day. We just focused on the same things we have been working on over the last few weeks on with the putter. Making sure his setup is good and hitting some putts holding his head still. We then hit some balls and a few chips before calling it a day. Its time to get some rest and recharge for tomorrow.
We tee off tomorrow at 12:30.
South Georgia Classic (Valdosta, GA)
I'm a week late updating the blog for the South Georgia Classic. The Internet in my motel was absolutely awful (along with the motel itself) and I couldn't get online long enough to blog. I'm happy to say my accommodations are just a little bit better this week.
Kevin finished the week one under par and tied for 34th place. The golf course was the longest on Tour at over 7800 yards. With the length, big fairways and big greens; it definitely wasn't built for his style of game. But with that said, Kevin birdied the last hole on Friday to make the cut on the number and then had a solid weekend. When we finished Sunday, we were both pretty pleased with the finish.
Beginning this year, Kevin started working with a new teacher, Scott Hamilton. Scott has students on both the PGA and Web.Com Tours. He was in New Orleans earlier in the week on the PGA Tour working with some players and came to Valdosta on Thursday. They worked hard after each round and Kevin's game is looking good.
After Sunday's round, we left Valdosta and headed three and half hours north to Athens, GA. He was looking forward to getting back into UGA Bulldog territory!!
Kevin finished the week one under par and tied for 34th place. The golf course was the longest on Tour at over 7800 yards. With the length, big fairways and big greens; it definitely wasn't built for his style of game. But with that said, Kevin birdied the last hole on Friday to make the cut on the number and then had a solid weekend. When we finished Sunday, we were both pretty pleased with the finish.
Beginning this year, Kevin started working with a new teacher, Scott Hamilton. Scott has students on both the PGA and Web.Com Tours. He was in New Orleans earlier in the week on the PGA Tour working with some players and came to Valdosta on Thursday. They worked hard after each round and Kevin's game is looking good.
After Sunday's round, we left Valdosta and headed three and half hours north to Athens, GA. He was looking forward to getting back into UGA Bulldog territory!!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
WNB Classic - Second Round
The ball striking was better today. Kevin was able to keep it in play off the tee on a very difficult driving course. His four birdies, two bogeys, gave us a two under par round (70). The even par total left us two shots short of the cut.
Even though it was a short week, we took away some valuable things. We learned a lot about the importance of swinging within himself, with good tempo and rhythm, especially while playing in the wind. He continues to work hard on the short game and putting. And we also worked on a new routine between player/caddy that gets us both working together on every shot. So, even though the results were not what we wanted, it was not a wasted week.
After the round, Kevin was able to get a flight out and headed home Friday night. He is scheduled to play in the Monday after the Masters Pro-am in Myrtle Beach, SC on Monday. I was not able to change my flight until Sunday so I will not be leaving until Sunday morning. Fortunately for me, Kevin invited me to stay in private housing with him this week. We are staying in the home of Larry and Anne Phillips, who were nice enough to open their house to us even though they were going to a wedding this weekend in Dallas. Its a little lonely, but at least I have a golf tournament to watch on TV!
We are off once again next week. Our next start will be in two weeks in Valdosta, GA.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
WNB Classic (Midland, TX) - First Round
The golf was a little loose today. We made three birdies and an eagle but backed those up with seven bogeys for a two over par 74. After two great days of practice on Monday and Tuesday and hitting it great; we had to play in the Wednesday pro-am yesterday morning in 20 mph winds with a wind chill of 27 degrees. Kevin's swing got a little out of whack in those conditions. When he came out today, he felt a little off. We started the day hitting the opening tee shot in the "junk" where we were forced to chip out sideways. Kevin came back with a nice birdie on the next hole but another drive into the left trees on our ninth hole (#18) led to another bogey. We made the turn at one over par.
The back nine was a roller coaster. Two birdies, an eagle, five bogeys and the only one par coming on the last hole. It was a total mixed bag. We had some great shots, poor shots, a penalty shot, a three putt and then topped it all off with a tee shot, finishing on the edge of the fairway, that stopped up against a stick that was blown off a nearby tree. Not being able to move the stick, we tried to hit a 9 iron but it only flew about 100 yards. When it was all said and done, we shot another one over par, therefore, finishing the day two over (74).
We tee off tomorrow at 8:45. Hopefully we can take advantage of some lighter wind conditions in the morning and post a number that will keep us around for the weekend.
The back nine was a roller coaster. Two birdies, an eagle, five bogeys and the only one par coming on the last hole. It was a total mixed bag. We had some great shots, poor shots, a penalty shot, a three putt and then topped it all off with a tee shot, finishing on the edge of the fairway, that stopped up against a stick that was blown off a nearby tree. Not being able to move the stick, we tried to hit a 9 iron but it only flew about 100 yards. When it was all said and done, we shot another one over par, therefore, finishing the day two over (74).
We tee off tomorrow at 8:45. Hopefully we can take advantage of some lighter wind conditions in the morning and post a number that will keep us around for the weekend.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
2013 Blog / Off to Midland, TX
As I'm packing up and getting ready to leave for Midland, I figured it was about time I started to blog and get everyone up to speed with what is going on. As most of you know, Kevin started the year with three events out of the country. After two missed cuts in Panama and Bogota, Kevin picked up a win at the Chile Classic. Unfortunately for me, I was not there for those events. Because of the high travel expenses associated with these events, I had to make a tough decision to stay home. I decided to stay home and work the odd jobs I had to get me through the winter. After four months of driving a delivery truck, working in a woodworking shop, working on a ranch and herding cattle, cutting firewood, coaching basketball, coaching indoor soccer, and eBaying; I am ready to get back to my real job. I found out quickly how blessed I am to be able to have a job I love waking up and doing every single day.
So now it is off to Texas. Kevin did not play this week in Brasil so he is playing in the Monday proam in Midland. Kevin skipped this event in 2010 when he was on the Nationwide Tour. The extra day will help him get familiar with the course. It's time to go chase down win number two.
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