Finished 9th in Rapid City. After playing I drove 9 hours home to Wisconsin. After a few hours of sleep, I'll be travelling to Sheboygan, WI for the WI State Open. That tournament starts on Monday.
I'll post some more info when I'm more rested.
Neil
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful
After finishing in Yankton, I drove to Kansas City. Most of Iowa was construction and one lane traffic. Then most of Missouri/Kansas was strong thunderstorms. I spent the night in Kansas City and drove three hours to Springfield, MO monday morning. One hour into my drive I ran into some more strong thunderstorms. I thought about turning around and starting my drive to Rapid City - my thinking was that I wouldn't even get to play in Springfield. However, at the time the storms were all north of Springfield and maybe they would slide by.
They did not. When I showed up to the golf course, all the players had been pulled off because of incoming storms. That was 2 1/2 hours ago. I left the course because it's boring standing around the clubhouse. I'm now sitting in a Panera Bread restaurants, eating a bagel, and waiting to see if the weather turns around. It doesn't look like it will.
I've never had a Nationwide monday qualifier get rained out. I'm not sure if they push it back to Tuesday. Perhaps they just cancel the whole thing. Either way, it is very likely that I'll be driving to Rapid City at some point this afternoon. I don't think I can wait until Tuesday to try and make it.
Summer schedule has been ** UPDATED ** It now has stroke average, total money won, and cumulative under/over par on the bottom.
Neil
They did not. When I showed up to the golf course, all the players had been pulled off because of incoming storms. That was 2 1/2 hours ago. I left the course because it's boring standing around the clubhouse. I'm now sitting in a Panera Bread restaurants, eating a bagel, and waiting to see if the weather turns around. It doesn't look like it will.
I've never had a Nationwide monday qualifier get rained out. I'm not sure if they push it back to Tuesday. Perhaps they just cancel the whole thing. Either way, it is very likely that I'll be driving to Rapid City at some point this afternoon. I don't think I can wait until Tuesday to try and make it.
Summer schedule has been ** UPDATED ** It now has stroke average, total money won, and cumulative under/over par on the bottom.
Neil
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Hillcrest Invite Final Day
Didn't get much going on Sunday. I managed a mini run of birdies on 14, 15, and 16. I ended with a 69 and finished T13. I beat Jesus by 3 strokes!
At times this week I hit great iron shots and made some great putts. But those moments only lasted for a few holes, never an entire round. This golf course has really small greens and most of the holes are lined with pines trees and tall oak trees. I never seem to get into a comfortable rhythm because of the claustrophobic feeling I get from the small greens and large trees.
Somehow, I was able to score consistent all weekend. My nine holes totals were as follows:
36, 33, 35, 36, 36, 34, 35, 34
For the second straight tournament, I found myself on the unlucky draw for tee-times. First off, I had an afternoon tee time on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday - half of the pros only had 2 rounds in the afternoon. By far the worst times to be playing were Thursday afternoon and Saturday afternoon. It rained for about 9 holes during my Thursday round and the wind was brutal on Saturday.
Amazingly 15 guys from each wave made the cut, but it certainly seemed way less equal. Allright, enough complaining about tee times. It's just luck of the draw.
Neil
At times this week I hit great iron shots and made some great putts. But those moments only lasted for a few holes, never an entire round. This golf course has really small greens and most of the holes are lined with pines trees and tall oak trees. I never seem to get into a comfortable rhythm because of the claustrophobic feeling I get from the small greens and large trees.
Somehow, I was able to score consistent all weekend. My nine holes totals were as follows:
36, 33, 35, 36, 36, 34, 35, 34
For the second straight tournament, I found myself on the unlucky draw for tee-times. First off, I had an afternoon tee time on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday - half of the pros only had 2 rounds in the afternoon. By far the worst times to be playing were Thursday afternoon and Saturday afternoon. It rained for about 9 holes during my Thursday round and the wind was brutal on Saturday.
Amazingly 15 guys from each wave made the cut, but it certainly seemed way less equal. Allright, enough complaining about tee times. It's just luck of the draw.
Neil
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Hillcrest Invite 2nd & 3rd Round
No update yesterday because I checked out of my hotel and moved into a house where I don't have access to internet.
Friday's round wasn't pretty, but I managed to shoot under par - 71. That was my only round in the morning (both the 1st, 3rd, and 4th rounds I tee off after 1pm) so I would've liked to have taken advantage of smoother greens, cooler temperatures, and calmer wind, but I just didn't hit it well enough to make it into the 60's.
On Saturday, weather was the story. It was forecasted to be the hottest day of the year. Temps were supposed to reach 100, with high humidity. It was very sticky when hitting range balls, but a steady wind kept it cool and storms began to brew off in the distance. The storms never reached us, but they definitely altered the wind. It shifted a few holes into my round and that made the golf course different than what it had been all week. I shot an even par 36 on the front side, with a bogey on number 9. My start to the back nine was horrendous. I bogied 10 and 12, with a lucky par save on 11.
Things turned around on 13. I made a 15 footer for birdie, then followed that up with another birdie on 14 - this time a 20 foot birdie putt. I then made a bad par on the short par 5 15. On 16, I knocked a 4-iron to 8 feet and made the putt for birdie. Number 17 was playing downwind, but I could only managed a par on the par 5. Then on 18, I made a 10 footer for birdie to shoot a 2-under 70. I was very lucky to birdie 4 of the last 6 holes.
I hit the first 6 greens today and played those holes 1-under par. I missed the next 6 greens and played those 3-over par. I then hit the final 6 greens and played those holes 4-under par. Quite a roller coaster of emotions!
Final round is Sunday. I am at 6-under and the leader is at 13-under. I think I'm in the top-15, but I'm not sure. Results will be posted later tonight. You can check them out at this website.
After my round on Sunday I will be driving to Kansas City, MO to get ready for my Nationwide qualifier on Monday.
Neil
Friday's round wasn't pretty, but I managed to shoot under par - 71. That was my only round in the morning (both the 1st, 3rd, and 4th rounds I tee off after 1pm) so I would've liked to have taken advantage of smoother greens, cooler temperatures, and calmer wind, but I just didn't hit it well enough to make it into the 60's.
On Saturday, weather was the story. It was forecasted to be the hottest day of the year. Temps were supposed to reach 100, with high humidity. It was very sticky when hitting range balls, but a steady wind kept it cool and storms began to brew off in the distance. The storms never reached us, but they definitely altered the wind. It shifted a few holes into my round and that made the golf course different than what it had been all week. I shot an even par 36 on the front side, with a bogey on number 9. My start to the back nine was horrendous. I bogied 10 and 12, with a lucky par save on 11.
Things turned around on 13. I made a 15 footer for birdie, then followed that up with another birdie on 14 - this time a 20 foot birdie putt. I then made a bad par on the short par 5 15. On 16, I knocked a 4-iron to 8 feet and made the putt for birdie. Number 17 was playing downwind, but I could only managed a par on the par 5. Then on 18, I made a 10 footer for birdie to shoot a 2-under 70. I was very lucky to birdie 4 of the last 6 holes.
I hit the first 6 greens today and played those holes 1-under par. I missed the next 6 greens and played those 3-over par. I then hit the final 6 greens and played those holes 4-under par. Quite a roller coaster of emotions!
Final round is Sunday. I am at 6-under and the leader is at 13-under. I think I'm in the top-15, but I'm not sure. Results will be posted later tonight. You can check them out at this website.
After my round on Sunday I will be driving to Kansas City, MO to get ready for my Nationwide qualifier on Monday.
Neil
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Hillcrest Invitational 1st Rd
Rainy afternoon in Yankton, but I stayed relatively dry and shot a 69 - 3 under par. I made all 4's on the front side (birdied the par 5, bogied the par 3). On the back nine I birdied one of the par 5's and one of the par 3's. My only bogey on the back side was a 3 putt, where I got too aggressive with the first putt and rolled it 5 feet past.
The exciting part of my round was the last hole. Number 18 is a drivable par 4 - it was only playing 290 yards on Thursday. The wind was at my back so I didn't even have to hit a full driver to reach the green. There were about 100 people gathered behind the green checking out the leaderboard, drinking, and watching people play the 18th hole. I hit my drive to 10 feet, but it rolled right by the hole. Somebody at the green was calling for it to go in!
I made the putt to finish with an eagle and a 69.
Second round is Friday morning. The weather forecast is for more thunderstorms - especially in the morning. Hopefully the rain holds off.
When I see some results, I'll link to them. Lot's of results there. It would take too long to explain every game that is scored in this tournament.
Neil
The exciting part of my round was the last hole. Number 18 is a drivable par 4 - it was only playing 290 yards on Thursday. The wind was at my back so I didn't even have to hit a full driver to reach the green. There were about 100 people gathered behind the green checking out the leaderboard, drinking, and watching people play the 18th hole. I hit my drive to 10 feet, but it rolled right by the hole. Somebody at the green was calling for it to go in!
I made the putt to finish with an eagle and a 69.
Second round is Friday morning. The weather forecast is for more thunderstorms - especially in the morning. Hopefully the rain holds off.
When I see some results, I'll link to them. Lot's of results there. It would take too long to explain every game that is scored in this tournament.
Neil
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Wichita Nationwide Qualifier
No good news from Wichita. I shot 1-under 71, but needed at least a 69 (if not a 68). My front nine was a solid 35, but on the back nine I hit a few horrible shots that led to 3 bogies. I was fortunate to make 3 birdies on the back nine to counteract those bogies, but just too many mistakes.
Now, I'm back in Yankton, SD resting for the next Dakotas Tour event. It begins Thursday and runs for four days.
Neil
Now, I'm back in Yankton, SD resting for the next Dakotas Tour event. It begins Thursday and runs for four days.
Neil
Monday, August 03, 2009
Fox Run - Final Round
Shot a 69 in the last round. No idea where that placed me. Probably around 30th. I was on the tough side of the draw because the wind blew much worse for my tee times. I played morning on Saturday and afternoon on Sunday. It was very windy on Saturday morning, but somehow calmed during the afternoon. On Sunday it was calm for most of the day, but it did get windy around 5pm - when I made the turn.
When I see final results, I'll post them here.
Neil
When I see final results, I'll post them here.
Neil
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Fox Run Round 1 - Yankton, SD
72 in round one. Double bogeyed the last hole. Very windy day and it will be windy tomorrow, which has kept scores higher.
Final round is Sunday.
Neil
Final round is Sunday.
Neil
Friday, July 31, 2009
Nice Victory (& Payday)
I finally won a Dakotas Tour event. Coincidentally, it happened to be the biggest one day payout on tour. $4000 for 5 hours of work. That's what lawyers charge per hour.
My round got off to a great start - a chip in on the 229 yard par 3. I shot one-under on the front nine with one more birdie and one bogey. My last nine holes is where I really did my damage. I made 6 birdies on the last nine holes (and one more bogey).
Everything was working well today - obvious statement. My driver, irons, and short game was great. But my putting and wedge game really made the difference. Only 25 putts on the day, with a three putt.
My team finished 2nd so I won another $95 with that game. Great day!
Summer schedule has been UPDATED
Neil
My round got off to a great start - a chip in on the 229 yard par 3. I shot one-under on the front nine with one more birdie and one bogey. My last nine holes is where I really did my damage. I made 6 birdies on the last nine holes (and one more bogey).
Everything was working well today - obvious statement. My driver, irons, and short game was great. But my putting and wedge game really made the difference. Only 25 putts on the day, with a three putt.
My team finished 2nd so I won another $95 with that game. Great day!
Summer schedule has been UPDATED
Neil
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Last Day in Marshall
I was lucky enough to play a final round in Marshall and I took advantage, shooting a final round 65. I birdied 4 of the first 7 holes to shoot 32 on the front side. Three birdies and one bogey on the back nine lead to a 33 and a 6 under par total.
I'll update later today/tomorrow when I know where I finished. I hope I snuck into the top 10.
**UPDATE** - I finished T-8th**
**SECOND UPDATE** Last Wednesday I played Hazeltine National Golf Club, which will host the PGA Championship in a few weeks. I played with a friend that worked with me in Arizona. We played hosts to two guests, one being Scott Seroka. He is a reporter for Kare 11 and he writes a blog. The most recent post was about our day at Hazeltine. Read it closely and you'll hear about my birdie on 13, which was playing 262 yards from the back tees to a back left pin. Keep this in mind during the week of the PGA because I believe 13 will play as one of the tougher holes that week. I also parred number 12, which is listed at 518. However, we played it from the back of the tee box and the pin was back from the middle, making the hole at least 530. My last moment of brilliance was a birdie on the signature hole, 16.
Neil
I'll update later today/tomorrow when I know where I finished. I hope I snuck into the top 10.
**UPDATE** - I finished T-8th**
**SECOND UPDATE** Last Wednesday I played Hazeltine National Golf Club, which will host the PGA Championship in a few weeks. I played with a friend that worked with me in Arizona. We played hosts to two guests, one being Scott Seroka. He is a reporter for Kare 11 and he writes a blog. The most recent post was about our day at Hazeltine. Read it closely and you'll hear about my birdie on 13, which was playing 262 yards from the back tees to a back left pin. Keep this in mind during the week of the PGA because I believe 13 will play as one of the tougher holes that week. I also parred number 12, which is listed at 518. However, we played it from the back of the tee box and the pin was back from the middle, making the hole at least 530. My last moment of brilliance was a birdie on the signature hole, 16.
Neil
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