Well, I guess you all can figure out that we got into the event. I've been a little worn out and not really feeling like blogging the last few days. So, I'll make this one short and sweet.
I've had a lot of people calling and asking how we're doing. We are doing great, working hard, digging it out of the dirt, and improving everyday. Thanks for the encouraging words and support from everyone.
As for this week, we played 7 holes in the Monday qualifier when we found out we were in the field. We then headed out to the course to register, practice and then we played a few holes late after the Monday Pro-am.
Tuesday and Wednesday was once again our normal routines. Practice round on Tuesday and a full day of practice today. We tee off in the morning at 8:50.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Lafayette / Houston Update (Monday)
I'm sure you all know by now, we missed the cut in Louisiana. Kevin was third alternate at the closing of committments on Friday for the PGA Tour Houston Open. We stayed in Lafayette Friday night and went out to the club to practice Saturday morning. Houston is three hours away so Kevin drove over with me after our practice session. On Sunday, we went over to the Monday qualifying course for a practice round. Kevin was nice enough to hook me up and get me out to play with him. It was nice to get out and swing the club. It took us about three hours to play nine holes so we decided to only play nine. Kevin is feeling good about everything so he just wanted to hit a few more balls at the range. We tee off today at 1:35. The first Tour update this morning has us moving to 2nd alternate. We will continue to go through our routine today and get prepared to play the Monday Qualifier.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Louisiana Open - First Round
We teed off at 12:30 today with Jeff Quinney and Travis Bertoni. Weather conditions were ideal. Kevin had a great warm up, continuing to hit it well with the same rhythm he had during yesterdays practice. Unfortunately, we were not able to maintain that out on the course. After hitting six out of the first seven greens, we were only able to hit two greens on the final 11 holes. We shot 74 (3 over). With the rhythm off slightly, we struggled getting the correct yardages out of our clubs and missed most of our greens long or short rather then left and right. Kevin's short game and wedge play was good with only one missed up and down from an almost impossible positon over the 13th green. The three other bogeys came from two missed sand saves and a drive into a water hazard off the 18th tee. After the round, we went back to the range and continued to work on syncing the arms with the body. We have an early start tomorrow, teeing off at 7:40.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Louisiana Open (Nationwide Tour) - Practice Days
We both left Sunday morning and drove to Lafayette, LA. Kevin rode with his good friend Scott Brown and a few other guys in Scott's motor home from Aiken, SC. I drove in from Morganton, NC. On Monday, I met Kevin and Scott at the RV park and we went to the airport so they could rent a car for the week. We then went out to the club, practiced and played nine holes after the Monday pro-am. Kevin was a little stiff after the 12 hour bus ride so it was nice to get out and play a few holes to get the blood flowing. After the round, we all went out for dinner at a local crawfish restaurant and tackled a few crawfish, shrimp and oysters. It was messy and a lot of work but worth it. I finally got the hang of cracking, tearing, peeling, pinching and then pulling the bite size piece of meat out after about 5 lbs of crawfish. We had a good time!!
Tuesday and Wednesday were our typical practice days. We played a practice round Tuesday morning and then practiced all afternoon. We were not in the Wednesday pro-am, so we had our normal practice day today - ball hitting, short game, putting. Kevin is improving everyday and I really like the rhythm and sequence in his swing this week. His arms and body finally look synced up and he was hitting it well.
We tee off tomorrow at 12:30pm.
Tuesday and Wednesday were our typical practice days. We played a practice round Tuesday morning and then practiced all afternoon. We were not in the Wednesday pro-am, so we had our normal practice day today - ball hitting, short game, putting. Kevin is improving everyday and I really like the rhythm and sequence in his swing this week. His arms and body finally look synced up and he was hitting it well.
We tee off tomorrow at 12:30pm.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday Practice - Bulls Bay Golf Club (Charleston, SC)
I drove up to Charleston from Jacksonville, FL and met Kevin about 10:00 at Bulls Bay Golf Club. Kevin's instructor is the Director of Instruction at Bulls Bay and his studio (The Ranch at Bulls Bay) is at the back of the range. Kevin also drove in this morning from Aiken, SC with good friend Scott Brown. Scott also works with Rickey and he just finished third last week on the Nationwide Tour.
The first thing Rickey noticed is Kevin was making too much of a lower body turn during the backswing and the club was not maintaining its width at the top of the swing. Kevin has worked extremely hard on his strength and flexibility that he had zero resistance with his lower body on the backswing. He was "overturning" his hips which caused a bad position at the top of his swing. This bad position could not allow him to get back to impact consistently. Basically, he was over-turning on the way back and under-turning on the way through. The first adjustment was in the set-up. Kevin's knees were too wide at address so they worked on putting them in a position that kept them under his hips. This set-up helps him resist the turn going back. During the backswing, he wants to maintain the width (not allowing his arms to "fold" or hands get closer to him at the top of the swing). From here, he then feels the club/arms drop down in front of him before he starts his body turn through.
We finished up about 4:00 and I made it home at 8:30pm. I'll have a few days home before I leave for Lafayette, LA on Sunday. We will play the Nationwide Tour next week and then head over to Houston, TX the week after for the PGA Tour Shell Houston Open. We are in the field by two right now but there is still a week and a half before commitments close. We do plan on going over and trying the Monday qualifier either way.
Here is a link to an article that was written last week in my hometown paper in East Hampton, NY.
http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/East-Hampton/346287/Bock-Trades-In-Clubs-For-A-Bag-On-Way-To-The-Top
The first thing Rickey noticed is Kevin was making too much of a lower body turn during the backswing and the club was not maintaining its width at the top of the swing. Kevin has worked extremely hard on his strength and flexibility that he had zero resistance with his lower body on the backswing. He was "overturning" his hips which caused a bad position at the top of his swing. This bad position could not allow him to get back to impact consistently. Basically, he was over-turning on the way back and under-turning on the way through. The first adjustment was in the set-up. Kevin's knees were too wide at address so they worked on putting them in a position that kept them under his hips. This set-up helps him resist the turn going back. During the backswing, he wants to maintain the width (not allowing his arms to "fold" or hands get closer to him at the top of the swing). From here, he then feels the club/arms drop down in front of him before he starts his body turn through.
We finished up about 4:00 and I made it home at 8:30pm. I'll have a few days home before I leave for Lafayette, LA on Sunday. We will play the Nationwide Tour next week and then head over to Houston, TX the week after for the PGA Tour Shell Houston Open. We are in the field by two right now but there is still a week and a half before commitments close. We do plan on going over and trying the Monday qualifier either way.
Here is a link to an article that was written last week in my hometown paper in East Hampton, NY.
http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/East-Hampton/346287/Bock-Trades-In-Clubs-For-A-Bag-On-Way-To-The-Top
Monday, March 14, 2011
Puerto Rico Open - Final Round
Daylight savings got us anyway!! I'm staying with Kevin this week and I had my watch alarm set for 5:30am, Kevin had his phone set at 5:40am. His alarm goes off and he rolls over, looks over at me (still sleeping) and says, "how's that 5:30 alarm treating you bigg'in"? I gave my watch a check and it tells me that it is only 4:40am. I look at our hotel alarm clock but it says 5:40am. Not understanding what was going on with my watch, I get up, shower and get dressed. Kevin is right behind me. We both leave the room about 6:20, I look around and say "boy it is awful dark out here." I knew something was not right because the last two day it was light outside when we left for the course. When I got down to the front desk, I asked "que hora es?" and sure enough, it was only 5:20am. How we doing?? I guess Kevin's phone and the hotel alarm clock automatically reset for daylight saving even though Puerto Rico does not observe daylight savings. So anyway, we were not late for our tee time this morning!!
Today was the same story as the last few days. The ball striking was not solid but Kevin dug deep and found a way to shoot 3 under par. The 4 under total was good enough for a t-42 finish. Even though Kevin is extremely frustrated with the week of ball striking, we must take the positives and remember he just finished 42nd in a PGA Tour event hitting the ball poorly. Just think what we can do when he hits it well!! It also shows us the importance of a solid short game. On a week that he could have packed it in, he showed us a little guts and got it done.
We are not the the field for the Transitions Championship in Tampa this week. Kevin and I are meeting on Tuesday in Charleston and we will be working with his instructor, Rickey Sullivan for the day. Our plans are to play in the Nationwide event in LaFayette, LA next week which is being played opposite the Bay Hill Arnold Palmer Invitational. Or, just maybe, Mr. Palmer will call and give us an exemption?? Not planning on it!!
Today was the same story as the last few days. The ball striking was not solid but Kevin dug deep and found a way to shoot 3 under par. The 4 under total was good enough for a t-42 finish. Even though Kevin is extremely frustrated with the week of ball striking, we must take the positives and remember he just finished 42nd in a PGA Tour event hitting the ball poorly. Just think what we can do when he hits it well!! It also shows us the importance of a solid short game. On a week that he could have packed it in, he showed us a little guts and got it done.
We are not the the field for the Transitions Championship in Tampa this week. Kevin and I are meeting on Tuesday in Charleston and we will be working with his instructor, Rickey Sullivan for the day. Our plans are to play in the Nationwide event in LaFayette, LA next week which is being played opposite the Bay Hill Arnold Palmer Invitational. Or, just maybe, Mr. Palmer will call and give us an exemption?? Not planning on it!!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Puerto Rico Open - Third Round
Exactly 70 players made the cut at 1 under or better. Since we shot one under, we had another early day with a 7:30 tee time. Kevin woke up this morning with an extreme headache. He told me he woke up about 3:30am with the headache and was not able to sleep. I could tell he wasn't feeling well. He went to the club early and had a neck message to help try to relieve the headache. By the time we started our warm up, he seemed to be feeling better.
Today was a little better then yesterday. We managed an even par round (72) on a pretty good scoring day. Our stats show that we only missed two fairways and two greens all day but it was "smoke and mirrors". He did drive the ball well but struggled again with his irons. The good thing was we were able to keep them in play and got away with our miss hits. We just never really had good looks at birdie. I thought he putted well but its too hard putting from 40 feet all day.
After the round, we went through our same routine- ball hitting, chipping, bunker and putting. We tee off tomorrow at 7:58. Puerto Rico does not observe daylight saving, so we will not have to move our clocks ahead an hour tonight....thank goodness!!
Today was a little better then yesterday. We managed an even par round (72) on a pretty good scoring day. Our stats show that we only missed two fairways and two greens all day but it was "smoke and mirrors". He did drive the ball well but struggled again with his irons. The good thing was we were able to keep them in play and got away with our miss hits. We just never really had good looks at birdie. I thought he putted well but its too hard putting from 40 feet all day.
After the round, we went through our same routine- ball hitting, chipping, bunker and putting. We tee off tomorrow at 7:58. Puerto Rico does not observe daylight saving, so we will not have to move our clocks ahead an hour tonight....thank goodness!!
Puerto Rico Open - Second Round
We had an early start this morning with an 8am tee time. Kevin did not have a good warm up and never got it going with his ball striking. A hot putter on the front nine (only 11 putts through 9 holes) got to 4 under at the turn (-6 total) but it all caught up to us on the back nine. Three straight bogeys on 10 -12 and two more on 16 and 17 gave us five over on the back nine for a round of one over par (73). Our one under par total will be good enough to make the cut but the frustration continues with the ball hitting. Kevin's patience is wearing thin and the attitude/mood is starting to show.
After the round, we went back out to the range and tried to work it out. It seems like the more balls he hits, the more frustrated he becomes. The consistency is not there and I just do not know what to say to him. It was a tough, trying day for both of us. We finished the day with some chips and putts. There is one good thing anyway...we get to try it again tomorrow!!
After the round, we went back out to the range and tried to work it out. It seems like the more balls he hits, the more frustrated he becomes. The consistency is not there and I just do not know what to say to him. It was a tough, trying day for both of us. We finished the day with some chips and putts. There is one good thing anyway...we get to try it again tomorrow!!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Puerto Rico Open - First Round
We teed off number 10 today at 12:40. When we teed off, the wind was blowing about 15-20 mph and the sun was shining. An hour later, the rain was pouring down. It lasted for about 45 minutes and when the rain stopped, the wind also died out. By the time we made the turn, the weather was perfect.
Kevin started out great. Hitting solid shots and making two birdies in our first four holes before the rain started. A bad swing on our 7th hole (number 16) gave us our first bogey of the day and we turned at one under through nine. Two more birdies and one bogey on the final nine gave us a 2 under par 70 for the day. Kevin is still not happy with the consistency of his ball striking. He is having a hard time understanding why the same feels are producing different results. But from my side, I only saw one real bad shot and all the other "bad" shots were still in play and manageable. His short game was good. The two bogeys we made today were from very difficult positions and he gave himself a chance at making a par putt on both of those. This is the type of round we need when he is not completely sharp. Two under par keeps us in the ballgame and when the consistency comes around, we will have that breakthough round.
After the round, we worked on some ball hitting and a few practice putts. We have an early start tomorrow so we went straight to dinner when we came back to the resort. We tee off tomorrow at 8am.
Kevin started out great. Hitting solid shots and making two birdies in our first four holes before the rain started. A bad swing on our 7th hole (number 16) gave us our first bogey of the day and we turned at one under through nine. Two more birdies and one bogey on the final nine gave us a 2 under par 70 for the day. Kevin is still not happy with the consistency of his ball striking. He is having a hard time understanding why the same feels are producing different results. But from my side, I only saw one real bad shot and all the other "bad" shots were still in play and manageable. His short game was good. The two bogeys we made today were from very difficult positions and he gave himself a chance at making a par putt on both of those. This is the type of round we need when he is not completely sharp. Two under par keeps us in the ballgame and when the consistency comes around, we will have that breakthough round.
After the round, we worked on some ball hitting and a few practice putts. We have an early start tomorrow so we went straight to dinner when we came back to the resort. We tee off tomorrow at 8am.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Puerto Rico Open - Practice
My flight arrived on Monday about 12:30. By the time I picked up my bags and took the 45 minutes ride to the resort it was almost 3:00 when I met Kevin. He was already through 14 holes in his pro-am and was doing just fine without me. We finished up the pro-am, practiced and went back to the resort. Kevin arrived at mid-night on Sunday and after a day of playing and practicing, he was ready for an early dinner and bed.
On Tuesday, we woke up early and played an early practice round with Kevin Chappell, Andres Gonzalas, and Peter Tomasulo. After lunch, we hit balls, chipped and putted. Kevin is having a little trouble getting his feel to match the swing. The ball flight looks great to me but he said it just does not feel good. He doesn't like how he hits three or four real solid shots and then hits a bad one with what feels like the same swing to him. I think we just need to continue working on the same things and the reps will clean up the loose swings. We are hitting too many good ones to worry about the few bad ones. Our short game will bail us out with those if need be.
Wednesday was our typical practice day. Ball hitting, chipping, bunker work and putting. Kevin didn't sleep well last night so he came back after a late lunch for some much needed rest. We tee off tomorrow at 12:50, a good night sleep tonight and he'll be ready tomorrow.
On Tuesday, we woke up early and played an early practice round with Kevin Chappell, Andres Gonzalas, and Peter Tomasulo. After lunch, we hit balls, chipped and putted. Kevin is having a little trouble getting his feel to match the swing. The ball flight looks great to me but he said it just does not feel good. He doesn't like how he hits three or four real solid shots and then hits a bad one with what feels like the same swing to him. I think we just need to continue working on the same things and the reps will clean up the loose swings. We are hitting too many good ones to worry about the few bad ones. Our short game will bail us out with those if need be.
Wednesday was our typical practice day. Ball hitting, chipping, bunker work and putting. Kevin didn't sleep well last night so he came back after a late lunch for some much needed rest. We tee off tomorrow at 12:50, a good night sleep tonight and he'll be ready tomorrow.
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