It was a solid day. We didn't do anything special but we managed the round and gave ourselves some good opportunities. We were just a few putts from having a great round. The ball striking was a little shaky to start the round but Kevin hit every fairway and green on our final nine holes. The back nine 33 got us back to even (70) for the day and keeps us in the tournament.
We tee off tomorrow at 8:40am
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wyndham Championship (Greensboro, NC) - Practice
Kevin and I arrived Monday morning and played in the Monday pro-am. We both had a nice week off and we're ready to get back at it. This is the last event before the FedEx playoffs. We will need a top 2 finish to have a chance to make the playoffs. Our back up plan is to play the Nationwide Tour next week in Knoxville, TN and then go defend at the Mylan Classic in Pittsburgh, PA the following week.
On Tuesday, we played a practice round with Jim Renner, Andres Gonzales, and James Driscoll. It was a solid day all around. After lunch, we went through our practice routine and called it quits about 4pm.
I have the family with me this week so Kevin gave me the day off on Wednesday. I spent the morning with them swimming at the pool and then headed out to play my own practice round. I am trying the NC Mid-am qualifier in Winston Salem, NC on Monday so I met up with my friend, Dennis Woolard, and we played our practice round. I've only played one round in the last six weeks so I have a lot of work to do on my own game.
We tee off today on number 10 at 1:40pm.
On Tuesday, we played a practice round with Jim Renner, Andres Gonzales, and James Driscoll. It was a solid day all around. After lunch, we went through our practice routine and called it quits about 4pm.
I have the family with me this week so Kevin gave me the day off on Wednesday. I spent the morning with them swimming at the pool and then headed out to play my own practice round. I am trying the NC Mid-am qualifier in Winston Salem, NC on Monday so I met up with my friend, Dennis Woolard, and we played our practice round. I've only played one round in the last six weeks so I have a lot of work to do on my own game.
We tee off today on number 10 at 1:40pm.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Reno Tahoe Open - Round One
The day got started off on a good note. After a good warm-up session, Kevin played solid on the front. We only missed one green and turned at even par. The back nine was a different story. A blocked 3 wood off of the 10th tee finished up against the lip of the fairway bunker and we could only advance it about 20 yards down the fairway. We failed to get it up and in from about 90 yards and the bogey was the start of the struggles. We were only able to find 2 fairways and 1 green on the back nine. The short game could not bail us out and the final result was a 5 over par round 77.
Some good news is the top 70 after the first round falls at 1 over. We can still work our way back into the event with a solid round tomorrow. We'll probably need a 4 under par round to hang around for the weekend but it's definitely possible. Time to get back into hitting fairways and greens.
Some good news is the top 70 after the first round falls at 1 over. We can still work our way back into the event with a solid round tomorrow. We'll probably need a 4 under par round to hang around for the weekend but it's definitely possible. Time to get back into hitting fairways and greens.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Reno Tahoe Open - Practice Days
Kevin flew in from The Greenbrier on Sunday night. I was not able to get here until Monday evening. Kevin went out to the club on Monday and practiced. He was excited to find Jose Maria Olazabal practicing his short game. Kevin asked a few questions and the next thing you know, Jose is explaining his technique and giving Kevin a short game lesson. What a great opportunity to learn something from a two-time Masters Champion who learned his short game from the greatest of all time, Seve Ballesteros.
On Tuesday, we played a practice round with Colt Knost, Andes Gonzales and Chez Reavie. Kevin was not happy with his ball striking and was very aggravated with how he was hitting it. After a long, tense practice round, we went to the range and worked on it. It was a tough day on both of us but we left the golf course with some positive thoughts and we were looking forward to getting back at it on Wednesday.
Today, we decided to get our work done on the golf course so we played nine holes before the pro-am at 6am. Kevin hit it great. We had a nice practice round with just the two of us. He was able to hit some extra tee shots and get some work in around the greens. It was exactly what we needed. After a little breakfast, we went through out normal practice routine (shooting balls, chipping and putting) and finished up around noon. Kevin was chosen for the Sponsor Value Program this week, so he had a meet and greet function at 2:30. He left to get his workout in before his function.
We tee off tomorrow at 8:50 with Sunghoon Kang and Creighton Honeck.
On Tuesday, we played a practice round with Colt Knost, Andes Gonzales and Chez Reavie. Kevin was not happy with his ball striking and was very aggravated with how he was hitting it. After a long, tense practice round, we went to the range and worked on it. It was a tough day on both of us but we left the golf course with some positive thoughts and we were looking forward to getting back at it on Wednesday.
Today, we decided to get our work done on the golf course so we played nine holes before the pro-am at 6am. Kevin hit it great. We had a nice practice round with just the two of us. He was able to hit some extra tee shots and get some work in around the greens. It was exactly what we needed. After a little breakfast, we went through out normal practice routine (shooting balls, chipping and putting) and finished up around noon. Kevin was chosen for the Sponsor Value Program this week, so he had a meet and greet function at 2:30. He left to get his workout in before his function.
We tee off tomorrow at 8:50 with Sunghoon Kang and Creighton Honeck.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Vancouver / Greenbrier Update
It's been a while. I told everyone that I would not be blogging from Canada but I did not realize that it would continue into last week. I was staying so far away from The Greenbrier (about 1.5 hrs away in Roanoke, VA) and with the family out with me, I just did not have the time or energy to blog last week. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be taking one more week off from blogging in Reno. I'll be staying at The Grand Sierra Resort which most likely will be charging for the Internet. So, to all my friends that are giving me a hard time about paying for the Internet, its not about the cost - its about principle. If McDonalds can offer free Internet, why can't a four star resort include it into the price of their overpriced rooms?
Vancouver was a great week. A good friend, Rick Newsome, from Victoria, BC and his fiance, Bev came over for the week. Rick caddied for me during my days playing on the Canadian Tour. I also ran into one of my roommates from my Canadian Tour days, Dave Jukes, and his wife Antonella. It was great to catch up with them and it brought back great memories. The golf course was extremely difficult. With tight fairways and high rough, it was referred to as a "US Open test." Any drive that finished in the rough could not be advanced to the green and it was like a half shot penalty for driving into it. Kevin played great and put us into contention going into the weekend. A few missed putts on Saturday and a loose driver on Sunday took us out of contention and we finished 59th for the week.
The week at The Greenbrier got off to a horrible start. I flew home Sunday night and Kevin stayed behind to do a charity outing for Andres Gonzales in Seattle, WA on Monday. Our plan was to meet up on Tuesday for an afternoon practice round at The Greenbrier. Kevin called about noon on Tuesday to let me know that his flight was cancelled out of Chicago and that he would not be getting in until later in the afternoon. Kevin then calls back around 3pm and tells me the next flight has also been cancelled. He was now working on getting a private flight to West Virginia and he would not be arriving until late. We ended up playing a 9 hole practice round before the Wednesday pro-am at 6am. The limited 9 hole practice round made it very difficult. Kevin had to play the front nine "blind" on Thursday. Combine that with a tired mind/body and we struggled all week.
Kevin's parents and Brittany came in for the week. He was staying at The Greenbrier for the weekend to get some much rest and relaxation with the family. I came home for the weekend and had a great little birthday party Saturday night with my family. I'll be leaving for Reno tomorrow morning. I just found out the US Air pilots are on strike and the Charlotte airport is a mess. I'm hoping my travel plans go smoothly tomorrow!!
Vancouver was a great week. A good friend, Rick Newsome, from Victoria, BC and his fiance, Bev came over for the week. Rick caddied for me during my days playing on the Canadian Tour. I also ran into one of my roommates from my Canadian Tour days, Dave Jukes, and his wife Antonella. It was great to catch up with them and it brought back great memories. The golf course was extremely difficult. With tight fairways and high rough, it was referred to as a "US Open test." Any drive that finished in the rough could not be advanced to the green and it was like a half shot penalty for driving into it. Kevin played great and put us into contention going into the weekend. A few missed putts on Saturday and a loose driver on Sunday took us out of contention and we finished 59th for the week.
The week at The Greenbrier got off to a horrible start. I flew home Sunday night and Kevin stayed behind to do a charity outing for Andres Gonzales in Seattle, WA on Monday. Our plan was to meet up on Tuesday for an afternoon practice round at The Greenbrier. Kevin called about noon on Tuesday to let me know that his flight was cancelled out of Chicago and that he would not be getting in until later in the afternoon. Kevin then calls back around 3pm and tells me the next flight has also been cancelled. He was now working on getting a private flight to West Virginia and he would not be arriving until late. We ended up playing a 9 hole practice round before the Wednesday pro-am at 6am. The limited 9 hole practice round made it very difficult. Kevin had to play the front nine "blind" on Thursday. Combine that with a tired mind/body and we struggled all week.
Kevin's parents and Brittany came in for the week. He was staying at The Greenbrier for the weekend to get some much rest and relaxation with the family. I came home for the weekend and had a great little birthday party Saturday night with my family. I'll be leaving for Reno tomorrow morning. I just found out the US Air pilots are on strike and the Charlotte airport is a mess. I'm hoping my travel plans go smoothly tomorrow!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Viking Classic - Fourth Round
Tough day today. We struggled getting the ball in the fairway off the tee. Only hitting five fairways, we were not able to control the ball from the rough and we had limited opportunities at birdie. Our one over par (73), -14 total, dropped us to a tie for 27th.
After the round, I hopped in the car and drove 10 hours back to Morganton. I got home at 2:30am, doing some laundry this morning, and then heading to the airport for Vancouver. My flight leaves Charlotte this evening at 6pm for Seattle. I'll be renting a car in Seattle and then driving up to Vancouver, expecting to arrive at my hotel around midnight (3am EST). It's going to be a long day. Kevin is flying in from Jackson, MS today and we plan to meet about 8:30am Tuesday morning.
Unfortunately, my hotel in Vancouver is charging for the internet. I refuse to pay for the internet in a hotel so I will not be blogging next week from Canada unless the business center offers free internet.
After the round, I hopped in the car and drove 10 hours back to Morganton. I got home at 2:30am, doing some laundry this morning, and then heading to the airport for Vancouver. My flight leaves Charlotte this evening at 6pm for Seattle. I'll be renting a car in Seattle and then driving up to Vancouver, expecting to arrive at my hotel around midnight (3am EST). It's going to be a long day. Kevin is flying in from Jackson, MS today and we plan to meet about 8:30am Tuesday morning.
Unfortunately, my hotel in Vancouver is charging for the internet. I refuse to pay for the internet in a hotel so I will not be blogging next week from Canada unless the business center offers free internet.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Viking Classic - Round 3
Damn it!! Our first "missed shot" of the week. A thin 3 wood from 243yds didn't cover the hazard on the par five 18th and we finished with a bogey. It was our only bogey for the day and it dropped us to 15 under for the tournament - 3 shots behind the leader.
Kevin's 3 under par (69) was once again solid. We got off to another great start with birdies on the 1st and 4th holes. We added two more birdies on the back on 12 and 16. It just seemed like we could not get a comfortable yardage to the pins today. We had a lot of shots that were between clubs which made it difficult to get the ball close to the hole. When you get between clubs it is natural to get a little conservative, play the ball to a safe spot, and try to let your putter do the talking. That was a test on Kevin's patience because he felt like he should have been hitting the ball closer. But I thought we managed the round correctly and it gave us the best opportunity to shoot low.
Even with the disappointing finish, Kevin is in contention and has an opportunity to go out tomorrow and post a low score. Patience will be the key because this golf course will allow you to make a run of 4 or 5 birdies in a row. You can do it early, in the middle of the round, or late. There isn't any part of this golf course that doesn't allow it. I feel if we can post a solid number tomorrow, we tee off far enough ahead of the leaders that you never know what might happen.
Kevin's parents and sister drove in today. They left Aiken this morning and made it here for our back nine this afternoon. Kevin made a nice par saving putt on the 10th hole, heard a cheer, and said "that's got to be my mom". After the round, we all had a nice dinner and we're looking forward to tomorrow. We tee off at 11:01 with Woody Austin.
Kevin's 3 under par (69) was once again solid. We got off to another great start with birdies on the 1st and 4th holes. We added two more birdies on the back on 12 and 16. It just seemed like we could not get a comfortable yardage to the pins today. We had a lot of shots that were between clubs which made it difficult to get the ball close to the hole. When you get between clubs it is natural to get a little conservative, play the ball to a safe spot, and try to let your putter do the talking. That was a test on Kevin's patience because he felt like he should have been hitting the ball closer. But I thought we managed the round correctly and it gave us the best opportunity to shoot low.
Even with the disappointing finish, Kevin is in contention and has an opportunity to go out tomorrow and post a low score. Patience will be the key because this golf course will allow you to make a run of 4 or 5 birdies in a row. You can do it early, in the middle of the round, or late. There isn't any part of this golf course that doesn't allow it. I feel if we can post a solid number tomorrow, we tee off far enough ahead of the leaders that you never know what might happen.
Kevin's parents and sister drove in today. They left Aiken this morning and made it here for our back nine this afternoon. Kevin made a nice par saving putt on the 10th hole, heard a cheer, and said "that's got to be my mom". After the round, we all had a nice dinner and we're looking forward to tomorrow. We tee off at 11:01 with Woody Austin.
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