Callaway Gardens - Final Round

Well I'd like to think that I had a chance to win the event, but Alex Hamilton's 8-under 64 was crazy good on the final day. His 64 was 3 shots better than the next best score of the day and he blew open the tournament to win by 3 shots when there were about 12 guys within 4 shots after 2 rounds. The wind blew for the first time all week and that makes his 64 even better.

Despite what Hamilton did, I was tied at 13-under with 5 holes to go. My birdie putt on #13 was only 10 feet and it lipped-out. The 14th hole was a par-3 into the wind and the pin was tucked front right side of the green, over a bunker. I was in between 5 and 4 iron - decided on the 4 iron because hitting a hard 5 may have ballooned up and buried into the front bunker. The 4 iron was too much; it bounced through the green and left me a tough up and down. The next hole I hit a 3-wood right down the middle, but hit a loose wedge just through the green and into the fringe. After saving par on 15 I knew I was trailing and needed to make something happen on the par-5 16th, but an errant drive into a fairway bunker and than a horrible approach into a greenside bunker resulted in a bogey. I had good looks for birdie on #17 and #18, but made a disgusting stroke on 17 and misread the putt on 18.

It was a good week, but I'll admit that nerves were a negative factor during the final round. During the last round, thirteen of my eighteen approach shots were "in between clubs". During the first two rounds, when nerves are non-existent, it's much easier to select a club when you've got an "in between yardage". You don't feel like hitting a hard 5 that may burry into a bunker is a life/death decision.

When I won in Marshall earlier this summer, I had an "in between yardage" on #18. I had a one shot lead and the person chasing me was already on the green with an eagle putt. Factors like a higher familiarity with the players, with the course, and with the Dakotas Tour made the club selection easier then. I hit the shot to 10 feet and easily two-putted for the win.

More experience with the Egolf Tour and continuing to put myself in those nervous spots will make those decisions easier and the nerves will seem more natural. It's pretty obvious that Hamilton didn't respond to the nerves like I did - the week before Callaway Gardens he was in contention in the PGA Tour event!

I'm off this week, but next week begins Q-School for me. I'm at the same course that I was at last year - Pinehurst, NC.

Neil