Columbia CC Round 2

Believe it or not, but I kind of got off to another slow start. Today's 2nd round was delayed for 90 minutes because of thunderstorms. I got to the course just as the morning wave was coming off of the course. I proceeded to sit around for 90 minutes and all of that waiting nearly put me to sleep. When I began warming up I felt lethargic and weak. I knew I had to shake that feeling asap. Not helping was the extreme humidity and sun beating down on me as I warmed up.

Teeing off of #10. I was determined to get focused quick and key in on my round, but a lazy approach shot on #10 came up short and spun back 20 feet off the front of the green. That poorly executed shot helped snap me awake and I got up and down for par.

On #12 I had 111 yards to the pin, but the hole was slightly uphill. I wanted to play the shot 114 yards and I remembered that my approach on #10 was 114. I knew I couldn't make the same lazy swing I made on #10. I made a good one #12 and hit the approach to 4 feet, making birdie.

The very next hole, I once again had 114 yards to the pin. Same club (52 degree wedge), but this time I hit it to 10 feet and made the putt for birdie.

A quick run of 3 birdies on 12, 13, and 14 got my round off and running. I had confidence to make aggressive swings without thinking about what the cut might be.

I continued my good play on the second nine with a nice approach to 4 feet on #3. Then I two-putted for birdie on the par-5 5th. My big mistake came on #6 where my approach sailed right of the green and into a hazard. It was a horrible swing. I was in the middle of the fairway with 133 yards to the pin. The shot was uphill, but downwind so I tried to hit a hard pitching wedge and simply swung too hard.

It was nice to back up Wednesday's good round with a solid round today.

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Neil

Columbia CC Round 1

This week's tournament is in Blythewood, SC and again we're playing 2 good golf courses. eGolf Tour has a reputation of playing good courses and I've enjoyed them. The last couple weeks the courses have been great and the weather has warmed up, which has awoken the dormant bermuda grass. No longer hitting off of crusty yellow grass - it's now turning green.

My first round got off to a slow start. I struggled on the short par 5 3rd, even after hitting a perfect tee-shot I had to make a 5 footer for par. Then on #6, I 3-putted for bogey. It was a horrible 3-putt, but I bounced back immediately with a birdie on #7. I made a 10 foot putt on #7 so that helped me regain confidence in my putter.

My drive on #10 went right, into the trees, and came to rest on the cart path. The paths are concrete, they're sand so there is no relief. That was just fine, because I had an opening through the trees and it wasn't a problem hitting a punch shot off of firm sand path. If the path had been concrete, my choice to take a drop would've closed the opening I had to the green. I hit the punch shot to 15 feet and made the putt for birdie.

I made a great save for par on #16. My drive went left into the trees and I chunked my 2nd shot, but got it back to the fairway. My 3rd shot was from 70 yards and I hit it to 2 feet, and tapped it in for par. That absolutely kept the momentum going on the back nine and allowed me to hit my approach on #18 to 2 feet to finish with a birdie.

Round 2 is at 12:30 on a different course.

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Neil

Southport, NC Round 2

Today's 2nd round didn't feel much different from yesterday's 1st round - except that I made a few more putts in round 2. I've hit a lot of greens in both rounds and a few of today's approaches were a bit closer so I was able to make a few more putts.

The wind was blowing out of a different direction than it was the past 3 days. That made the golf course play completely different than when I played it in the practice round. During the practice round, holes 5-9 were down wind. Today they were all into the wind and they all played tough!

Round 3 is Friday morning on the same course I played Thursday.

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Neil

Southport, NC - 1st Round

Last time I was in Southport, NC the tournament was canceled because of rain. My last tournament was canceled because of rain. Thankfully the weather is cooperating and we're playing.

My first round was a struggle on the greens. I 3-putted the 11th hole for par and then 3-putted the 16th hole for bogey.

I started on the front nine and shot a 2-under 34 - no bogies and 2 birdies. I had good looks for birdies on several holes, but I wasn't able to make any putts. Most of my putts were left short. The greens are rolling great, but they look faster than they are. The course I play on Thursday has faster greens so I hope my pace is set for those greens.

I tee of at 12:30 Thursday afternoon.

Learderboard

Neil