Success

Lately my game has been pretty good to say the least. I've posted 2 rounds of 72 in the last 2 weeks, and had a plethora of rounds in the 70's. Had good results in tournaments pretty much all year, and have dropped my handicap to a 3 (2.7) which is all great stuff. This weekend I was hoping to improve on this season by having a good day in the final mens tour event.

I had played Whirlpool earlier in the week and knew it would be a tough event due to the condition of the course. It's always more difficult to putt on shaggy greensm atleast for me. Unfortunatly nothing spectacular happened sat so no need for a big run down of the round. I really couldn't get much going. Started out par, double, par. Wasn't worried cause I thought I could get it back on the next 2 par 5's down wind. But I didn't get anything back with 2 bad approach shots on my second into the greens and made 2 pars. I'd give up another stroke on long par 6 after 3 putting. Then I'd lose a ball off the tee on 8 to make double and finish at 41 on the front. Not good enough.

The back 9 wasn't any better. I'd start out good with 2 pars before making a bogey on 12. Again, poor second into the par 5 13th and couldn't get up and down for a birdie, let along a par and bogey the hole. Made a good up and down on the 14th for par. 15 was a mess. I hit a big drive but pushed my second way right into the trees. Instead of punching out safe I hit an awful shot the went off a tree and behind me into the junk. Punched out but went to far and had another bad angle. Couldn't get up and down for a double and made a triple 8. It's now over. Par on 16 and 17. And then missed a putt on 18 for par to shoot 42. Awful 83 to finish somewhere in the 20's I think.

So had a bad finish. Although I can say that I finished 25 over all for the year and I am now exempt for the first time next year. This was my goal for the year and I'm happy to say I acheived it. Got a top 10 finish in there at GRand Niagara and was under 80 for 4 of the 6 rounds. A littel disapointed I didn't play better in the last event, but you win some you lose some.

Sunday was a cold but decent day at the home course. Played with Matt, Cal, and Ryan. Course was in phenominal shape leading up to the Canadian Tour championships this week. Rough was thick and deep and the greens were amazing. Kudos to Steve and the team for getting it in such amazing shape.

I played well again sunday. Proabably a mistake cause it's scaring Cal from playing me for the Langley. Had a double bogey on the 16th (played the back 9 first) and shot 40 on the first 9. PLayed better on the back shooting a 37 to finish at 77. Solid round happy with that. Had I played Cal today I would have beat him 3 and 2, but that doesn't mean shit. I've seen Cal play horrible one day and then play the langley match the next day and kill it so means nothing. Just looked at it for fun while eating breakfast.

Still think every thing is going well with the game and swing. Could slow my tempo down a little o be more consistent, will work on that. Otherwise, just got to keep playing. Getting tough cause football is only 2 weeks away.

Proud Chevy Owner

Yesterday I picked up a new 2010 Chevy Equinox. It is awesome.

I did a guest blog over on Faces Of GM just to say how much I like it.

If you're in the market for a CUV you must check out this one.

Check out my post over there and make sure to mention it to everyone so they see.

Faces of GM
http://www.facesofgm.com/
http://www.facesofgm.com/



Ya, still don't know how to link on a blog, so copy and paste. Do it, NOW.

Edit: Ok, now I know and now it's linked. So click on it.

Bold? definitly

So i made a statement that I would finish in the top 5 on Saturday. I may have gotten a little ahead of myself. Played Whirlpool last night and it wasn't pretty.

The course was in decent shape. I was playing with the head grounds keeper since we worked together out there a few years ago and always try to get a round in. He was explaining to me how little help the Parks Commission has provided him to maintain that course. It's a shame what they are doing. He's got 5 people to look after the whole course. Absolutely ridiculous. when I worked out there there was at least 12 or 15 of us and it still wasn't enough.

So he's done as good a job as he can. It sucks cause he cares so much about the course looking good and they just won't let him do it properly.

The greens were a little bumpy, but that was probably cause it was so late in the day that we played. Tee decks are a little scruffy, but they don't have enough guys or time to cut it. Not his fault.

None of this really mattered cause I still played like shit. I think I shot somewhere around 86. Big highlight of the night was on the first 2 par 5's. The first one I killed a drive to about 190 yards out, put it on in 2 and then proceeded to 3 whack for a par from about 15 feet. The next par 5 I was 200 out after my drive, hit a decent rescue to the green. Was off the back to a front pin, i would skull it past the hole and off the green, barely chip back on the green, miss the putt for a bogey. The rest of the round was a waste of time from here.

Oh well, at least it wasn't the tournament and I won't effect my handicap.

My game has changed

I had a moment on the golf course this weekend. I firmly believe that my game has changed in an extremely positive way. I've found a new confidence along with my swing over the last few rounds. I'll explain later.

Saturday was an ok round by my new standards. Got up early to play with Cal and Matt after one of the most amazing concerts I've ever seen. My cousin was awesome enough to take me to see Pearl Jam in Toronto for the first time ever. It was amazing. They played basically a greatest hits concert and I've only once or twice seen a band play so passionately and with so much energy, it was amazing. I was a little tired sat morning and kind of limped through the first 14 holes to 5 over. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to improve on it when the lighting rolled in and we had to walk off the course. I'd post a 78 cause we played over 13 holes, so I guess I kind of shot a 78.

Sunday I had invited some sudo family members, brother in laws step moms sister and husband Ralph and Annemarie. These 2 are great golfing partners that I have had the pleasure to play with twice before at Magna Golf Course with Cathy, and once at their home course last year Westmont. All day Saturday I was checking the weather and it was calling for rain and thunder storms so was a little worried we wouldn't get it in. Fortunately, the rain held off completely and actually the skies opened up to a some what sunny day and was perfect. Both my guests are good golfers who can hold there own. Ralph was in a major car accident a few years ago but still finds a way to play even tho he can't bend his right wrist. I'd be playing from the blues today with Ralph for the first time this year. Turned out to be a great round. I'd start by going par, par, par, on the first 3 holes. Ralph followed me by going par, par, bogey on the first 3. So after the 3rd hole we decided to play a match for the round, I decided to give him a shot a hole. So starting on the 4th I'm 2 down. This is how the rest of the round went.

4th hole I hit a bad shot to the right of the green, made a bad chip and couldn't make the putt for a bogey. down 3. Then I got it going a little. 5th I was on the green in 2 with an 7 footer for birdie, just missed took a par, 1 over.

6 I would bomb one down the wrong fairway, down 13, and had to come back over the trees, left myself 10 feet for birdie but missed and settled for par, still 1 over.

7 I left a long birdie putt around 30 feet, missed and made par.

8 i got to about 210 out, went for the green in 2, but was a little right near the rope tow. Hit a decent lob to about 10 feet and made the putt for birdie. even on the day.

9 i would be about 175 out after my drive, hit a 6 iron short of the green and couldn't get up and down for the par, bogey to shoot 37.

10th I would hit a drive to about 200 yards even. Hit a 5 iron perfectly to about 4 feet, drained the putt for my first eagle of the year, 1 under.

11 I would attempt to drive the green since I had about 290 yards from the blue. Over swung a little and found myself under the trees just left of the green. I'd make a bad chip from a side of the hill here and had to settle for par after sculling it to the other side of the green.

12 I was just left of the green, chipped up and made the putt for par.

13 I hit my drive up the left hand side and through the fairway. Had no shot so kind of punched out with a 7 iron. Couldn't get up and down for the par settled for bogey, even on the day.

14 I gave myself a shot at another birdie from about 10 feet, came up short settled for par.

15 I blasted a drive down the right hand side. Had about 240 left to the hole. Unfortunately I pushed my rescue a little right and was just below the green. Good lob shot left my self 6 feet for birdie, missed the putt again, still even.

16 was routine. Got to the fringe on the right in 3 with about 15 feet for birdie. Lipped this one out, settle for par again.

17 I came up short and right of the green. Decent chip to about 5 feet, made the putt for par.

18 I was determined to birdie 18 for a under par round. Blasted a drive to about 145 out. But mishit my 8 iron and came up short of the green. Hit a bad lob shot to about 8 feet for par. Fortunately I made a great stroke on the putt and drained it for a par to shoot 72, again, twice in 1 week. Awesome. From the blues, but still great.

I also beat Ralph on this last putt to win the match so that was cool. Never had so much trouble winning a match while shooting 72. Still good times.

So what did I learn shooting this 72? My mindset on the course has changed. I was attacking 72 or lower. I wasn't playing nervous waiting for myself to screw up a good round. I was going after the flag stick. I wanted to be under par so bad. I used to think to much and be afraid something bad was going to happen, think about bad shots in the past. Not any more. I just wanted to go low. I had no fear and I was even a little disappointed I shot 72. Not upset, but knew i could have been under. Going to continue this. I got mens tour on Saturday, final event. Going to play well there. In fact, I'm going to be in the top 5 at this tournament. Bold? maybe. But I will be in that top 5 after the round is over.

Then it's on to Cal, maybe. If this guy gets the balls to play me right now I'm going to play him and win my first Langley cup. But right now he knows I'm to hot on the course for him to play and he's trying to push it into September when my game usually deteriorates due to football season. Not going to happen this year. I'm going to keep playing and stay focused on golf till he man ups and plays me.

Handicap is down to a 2.6 (3). That awesome, think I might be lower then Matt for the first time ever?

I'll say it for you guys, I'm GOOOOOOOOOD.

Langley Match - semis

If you read my post yesterday you would know that I played my semi match last night against Brian B. So after spending a day at work in the 42 degree heat I headed to the golf club around 3 to spend another 4 hours on the course in 42 degree heat. Yes I thought I should mention how freaking hot it was yesterday. This was going to be a tough match. Brian kicked my ass 2 years ago and has been playing well I think. Atleast he shot a 69 last week although it was from the blues, it's still a 69. I knew I had to play well.

I would get out to the range to warm up a little. After hitting balls for about 10 mins and with only 4 or 5 balls left to hit with the driver I figured something out. I stood up right a little on my drive and all of a sudden I was hitting dead straight bombs. This was so revolutionary to me at the time I stepped back kind of laughed to myself and just knew I was going to hit it well today. Awesome. On to the putting green to get the stroke going and I'm off.

Going to give a hole by hole for this round as it was legendary, at least in my mind. It's long, but needs to be out there.

#1 - I'd push my tee shot a little right due to nerves but nothing crazy. Brian was dead center of fairway. I'd go up and over the trees and make a routine par, as did Brian. Even.

#2 - Both of us bomb it down the middle. Brian hits the ball long every time. I came up short of the green, Brian was about 15 feet for birdie. I chipped up to about 4 feet and made the putt for par. Brian would barely miss the birdie. Even.

#3 - Both of us hit our drives way right towards the bunkers. I would find myself in between the bunkers, Brian was in them. we would both hit the green from there. Brian left his putt about 5 feet short. I went past the hole 4 feet. Brian up first and missed his par putt. I would drain mine to draw first blood, 1 Up.

#4 - I'd hit a nice little 4 iron on the par 3 into the wind and actually end up about 5 feet above the hole. Brian had about a 25 footer from the left of the green. He hit a great putt that just barely missed the hole, I gave it to him. I tapped mine in for the birdie, 2 Up and I'm 1 under.

Feeling good at this point. Playing well out of the gates, just got to keep it going. Stay focused.

#5 - I hit a decent drive up the right hand side to 190 out. Brian demolished a ball to be 150 out into the wind but was left and behind some trees. I hit a rescue left but pin high. Brian hit an amazing shot to about 15 feet for birdie. As i got to my ball i found that it was buried in the rough and on a slight downhill. I opened the club face on my 56 degree wedge and took a big swing, popped up and landed softly on the green and lipped out for birdie. Brian would miss his putt but made par. still 2 up and 1 under for the round.

#6 - I would absolutely kill a drive on 6 that left me with 230 left to the hole. Brian was about 15 or 20 yards behind me and knew I was going for it, so he did to. He would end up slight right of the bunkers near green. I went for it and used to MUCH club and found myself in the second bunker on the right to a front pin. Tough lie in the bunker, but I got it out to the fringe. I would almost chip this in but settled for par. Brian couldn't make the birdie put from off the green. 2 up.

#7 - Didn't play the wind well on the par 3 7th. I would hit a 6 iron that landed past the pin and stopped on the back fringe. Brian was in close again about 12 feet out. My chip was perfect from the back and I left myself about 4 feet. After brian missed the putt for birdie, I tapped mine in. Still 2 up.

At this point Brian makes a crack about how every hole I'm making these up and downs. I was doing a great job of it.

#8 - I'm getting my stroke on this hole. Not going to lose the hole. I hit m first bad drive here and found myself right of the fairway but far enough I didn't have any trouble with the trees. Brian was dead center of the fairway. I would layup to the bottom of the hill. Here's were I think Brian made a mistake. He laid up. It was down wind but he had the length to get there and no point in laying up after I did. From the bottom of the hill I hit a PW from 110 (strong wind) to about 4 feet. Brian pushed it a little right and was 20 feet for birdie. He missed. I gave him the par putt. This is my hole, but I think in my head just leave it close enough if you miss to be a gimmie. So from 4 feet above the hole, down hill, i lag it up to an inch and take the hole. 3 up, still 1 under.

#9 - I hit a horrendous drive that pegs a tree and drops about 280 yards from the hole and in some rough. Brian kills one up the left hand side and gets in the small trap. I would get aggressive here and try a rescue, duffed it about 20 yards forward. Tried a 4 iron from 230, pushed it way right hit a tree and was on the driving range where everyone hits from. Brian was on the green in 2. Not sure if I played this right, but picked it up as ground under repair and came back towards the hole and dropped on other side of cart path. Not sure if I was to hit from where it was on the range deck, go back towards the practice green and hit over the range to the hole, all of us couldn't figure it out. I hit a nice little 60 degree wedge from here and actually lipped it out, but Brian made the par and took his first hole. 2 up.

I would shoot 36 on the front. Great score. Feeling great. Up in the match. Ready for the back.

#10 - Both would drive down the middle. I hit a rescue through the green in to the rough. Brian was a little short with an easy chip. He putt his about 6 feet for birdie. I skulled mine across the green, then chipped up and tried to make it but just missed, gimmie par. Brian lipped out the birdie putt. Still 2 Up.

This was a gift. I even said it to myself on the way to the 11th. Think this is wear things turned. If he made it, I'm a little nervous. But I think it got in his head to.

#11 - Brian pissed hit a driver on the short par 4, ended up right but about 30 yards away. I hit rescue, just sticking to my game, to about 110 yards. I'm up first, hit a perfect 52 degree to about 3 feet. Brian hit a nice shot as well that gave him about 8 feet for birdie. He would miss. I made mine. I'm up 3 and back to one under.

#12 - I hit a perfect 6 iron to the front pin left myself about 12 feet for birdie. Brian way over hit the green into the back bunker on the right. He would have some trouble getting out and took 2 swings. I lagged my putt up to the hole made par. I'm 4 up.

#13 - I bomb a drive down the middle to about 125 yards. Ya, thats how well I was playing. Didn't even flirt with the big tree on the left. Brian would hit a ball that looked like OB, but when we got up there he would find it around the corner. He didn't hit the best shot, left himself about 25 for birdie. I also hit it short and was almost beside him for a long birdie putt. I go first and hit this perfect putt. About 5 feet from the hole i say "OH OH Brian sorry about this" and it stops about 1 inch from the cup. We were all laughing. Brian missed his and I gave it to him. 4 Up 5 to go.

#14 - I hit a perfect 5 iron to about 8 feet right of the hole. Brian hit a 7 iron into the bunker on the left. I'm nervous all of a sudden, I can finish this right here. Brian over hit his sand shot and was about 25 feet for par. He actually almost made this putt, but left himself about 4 feet and I gave it to him. 2 putt for the win Harris. I went for the birdie and knocked it by about 3 feet. Idiot. But i tapped in the 3 footer and that was that. Won the match 5 & 4. Awesome, I'm so freaking happy right now. Usually this is where I would kind of just relax and limp in, but I was actually 1 under to this point.

#15 - Hit a big drive, followed by a weak 7 iron right. Hit a 9 iron up over the tree, 2 putt for par.

#16 - hit a huge hook that ended up in the long grass way right. It was sitting up in the grass but behind a tree with no shot. I just randomly swing a 4 iron at it and it was great almost getting down the hill. Hit a 9 iron from about 140 went right, made the up and down for par.

Still 1 under

#17 - Hit a 4 iron that bounced off the side of the hill and rolled just behind the green to a back pin. Made the up and down again for par.

#18 - I'm 1 under on the 18th. I thought I was Even to here and just wanted to make par to shoot 72. I hit a big drive, but it's fading right. Think it's in bounds. Get up to where we though it was can't find it. Then Brian finds it buried in some long rough near the fence. Couldn't do anything but punch out. need to get up and down from 20 yards. Hit an aggressive 60 degree out of the thick rough and just barely bounced past the hole but off the green. I needed to chip in. Hit a girly chip and had to settle for a bogey. I was upset cause i thought I just scored a 73. Then we added up the card and I was 72. I was still pissed cause I didn't realize i had a chance at under par. Oh well. Awesome day all around. My second best score ever, maybe my best ever from the blacks, can't remember if i broke par from the blues or blacks. And I'm in my first ever langley cup finals.

It's nice having some good results in golf. Now on to the match play master Cal. That will be awesome playing him.

I'm sick of writing.

Decent Weekend in Golf

So St. Catharines finally had full weekend of good weather which resulted in some good golf.

Started out Saturday playing with Cal, Gary and a guest. I didn't play very well. But i did get to watch the semi final match between Gary and Cal. Happy to say Cal took it home pretty easily 5 and 4. Cal is gooooooooood. I play my semi final match tonight. I'm hoping to play well enough to win, would love to face off against cal for the championship. But going to be a very difficult match tonight. Got my ass kicked by Brian last year in the tourny, so I know how good he can play.

Yesterday was the 5th mens tour event at Lockness Links. I like this course. I've always played well there and had some really good thoughts about the tourny heading in.

Had a later tee time of 1:42 so was predicting slow play along with some extreme heat. Fortunatly, neither scenario really materialized. The pace was decent at worst, and there was a strong enough breeze blowing over the course to keep the temp down. all in all, good playing conditions.

I'd start off a little shaky pushing my PW from 140 a little left of the green and then missing a 8 foot par putt to start 1 over. Made a nice par on the long par 3. After going for the green in 2 on the third par 5, I was in a tought bunker right of the green. Actually made a great out here to abut 4 feet and made the putt for birdie. Even. Next hole I'd have my usual hickup on the green and missed a short putt followed by a missed tap in for a double bogey. 2 over.

Short par 3 I miss hit as I usually do on this hole and found myself in the front bunker. Again, made a great out to about 4 feet and saved par. I'd go on to make 3 more bogeys and found myself sitting on the 9th tee 5 over. Not happy.

Considered at tough par 5, I was determined to birdie or eagle the 9th hole. I was reaching par 5s in 2 all day. Hit a perfect drive up the left hand side that caught the downhill and roled to about 200 yards out. With the wind and front pin I determined I had about 175 to the hole. Hit a perfect 6 iron after watching 3 others go for it in 2 and come up almost to short. Mine was perfect, took a small bounce and left me with 8 feet for eagle. Standing over the putt I said to myself I'd rather 3 putt this then leave it short. I left it short. But still made the birdie putt to make the turn 4 over.

10th hole I hit a nice approach shot from about 100 yards to 5 feet and made the birdie, 3 over.

11th, i had a tough lie on my second and over the hit the green a little and couldn't get up and down for par. back to 4 over.

Gave one away on the very tough 12th par 3, 5 over.

Almost chipped in on 13 for birdie, settled for a tap in par.

Par 5 14th I would go for it in 2 again and came up pin high but left of the green. Couldn't leave it close enough for a decent birdie putt. Had 20 feet for birdie and left it 1 inch from the cup. Still 5 over.

15 is another tough par 3. I was a little scared of the water and was well left of the green. Couldn't hit the tricky flop shot well enough, and ended up with another bogey.

16 and 17 i would go on to par. Should have birdied the 300 yard for 4 16th, but missed a 5 footer. This happened a few times on the day where I missed easy birdie putts.

18th I would smash a drive to about 200 yards out. Determined it was again 175 yards to the front pin. Hit a perfect 6 iron that actually bounced over the green leaving me an extremely difficult up and down for birdie. Having to chip over this hump in front of the pin and down a severe slope while leaving it close enough for a birdie putt. I would have to land it on top of this hill covered in rough, barely bounce it through and have it roll to the hole. I hit the shot to land in the rough, and it just barely did trickle through, I thought it was staying up there, and rolled about 8 feet past the hole. I'd make the putt for my 4th birdie on the day to finish 5 over 77.

I thought this was golden. Untill I came inside an realized the whole field played pretty well. With over 20 guys in the 70's I'd find myself in a tie for 13th. Will not a bad result and my best score on tour so far, I was slightly dissapointed to not find myself in the top 10. Figured I was a lock after the first 4 events scores. Oh well, still good results and keeps me in the exempt zone, maybe even a little more comfortably. Next event is in 2 weeks at Whirlpool Golf course. I love this course. Worked there for 4 years when I was in university and have played the course 100's of times. Going to try and get out there next saturday for a little refresher and looking forward o playing well out there. Since I've last played it my game has really improved, I'm longer, better putting, better short game, smarter, I think i can really do some damage out there. Couldn't sleep last night thinking about the shots I will hit. i know a lot of the little secrets outs there like it's my home course, so should be a good day. I'd love to go low out there and get a top 5 or something like that. Setting the goal high out there.

Check back for results of tonight match. Going to be a good one.

Golf was so so

The weekend after club championships seems to be a quite one. I played both saturday and sunday, both days with only a threesome out of all the guys we usually play with. The course seemed empty. I guess club championships mean the end for most.

Saturday was a lack luster event with Cal and Terry. I still feel my game is much improved and getting better. I shot an 80 that felt like a 90. I used to shoot around 83 to 85 and feel that was a horrible day, now it's 80. I got off to a horrible start of making bogeys and that just proved to much to come back from. It's all about concentration. It's much more difficult for me to put the effort in to fighting back from a bad start in a casual round saturday morning then it is in a tournament. Highlight of the day was on 13, my worst hole, I of course hit the large trees up the left hand side, pitched out to about 90 yards. On the tough pin tucked right on the left hand side on top of the slope i hit an easy little 56 degree wedge that landed about 4 feet to the left of the pin and then spun hard right and right in the cup for a birdie. First time I've ever done that and it was sweet. Almost did it again on 8 but came about 1 foot to the right for a kick in birdie.

Sunday was a lot of the same as saturday. Again only 3 of us out there. Our buddy Steve and a newbe named Matt. Got off to the same typical start going 4 over on the first 4 holes. Would get a stroke back but still finished the front 5 over. Went on to birdie the 10th, but didn't do much after that. Kind of stumbled in on the last 2 holes going bogey double to shoot 80 again.

Oh well. Next weekend is the 5th mens tour event at Lockness links. I like that course and loking forward to playing well there. Then monday night I'm playing my semifinal langly match. Should be a good weekend.

Good, but should have been better.

This past weekend was the best tourny weekend of the year in golf, the Club Championships. Why such a great weekend? First off, it's the bragging rights tourny for the club to truly test yourself against the others at your level. As well, it's the most fun cause everyone had a good time on the course and follows it up with and even better time on the patio discussing the rounds over many beers. All in all, it always delivers.

This year was almost another lost cause for me. The first day was a tough windy afternoon round. was feeling good about this weekend leading up after playing so well the previous weeks. My swing felt great and my putting was actually good for once the last few rounds. However, most of this failed me on day one. I struggled to hit the ball consistently and my chipping was horendous causing me to have to make long par putts all day. Unfortunatly, I didn't make a lot of the long par putts and struggled to an 82. Lucky for me, every one had a rough day on the course. The wind combined with very tough pin positions made for some unusally high scores. My 82 was good enough for 9th place out of 22 and within the cut line of top 12 and ties. I was only 4 strokes out of second place, first place is impossible as long as Kray (defending champ for as long as I can remember) is in the field. So i went home determined to rest up and return sunday with a much better score.

With an early tee time of 7:45AM sunday I was feeling better playing at a normal time. Unfortunatly we were struck with even tougher conditions sunday. Along with quick greens, tough pins, and a strong wind, it rained for a period of time during the round. We played about 4 holes in the rain and I stuggled on these ones. I had basically the same problems as saturday and stumbled to another 82. I was devistated. Waiting for all the players to come in I'm watching the board and starting to realize that I am on the bubble for making the cut, my only real goal for the weekend. Just as the last group is about to come in the horn blows and lighting moves in and players walk off the course. I consult with the club pro and he informs me that 163 would be the cut, I was 164. Totally drained from this news I open up an umbrella and make the walk home in the rain pissed as pissed can be that I blew another championship weekend.

About an hour or so later I get a text message from Matt. "You made the cut, top 12 and ties." I was shocked. I actually made it, the 13th player in and in a tie for 12th. I had some mixed feeling here cause I was so down on myself for not playing better, but that quickly changed as I perked up happy to play in the final day for the second time in 5 years.

I'm so far back from anything truly meaningful in the tourny, so my only goal was to move up to the top 10 and just have fun.

I showed up for the third round about an hour early and hit the range to see if I could work out my swing. All i needed to do was slow it down a little and I knew it would fall in place. after sculling a few on the range I was able to settle in and get the tempo were I needed it. As soon as I got it, I walked off the range, wanted to keep that thought. Worked on my putting for the rest of the time.

I'd start te round were I left off on sunday, making bogeys. I'd bogey the first 5 holes, par 6, and then bogey 7. 6 over after the first 7. I blew my chance to do anything at all and I'm playing just as bad.

Then, something clicked. Not sure what it was but it did. I found my tempo again. I started hitting perfect shots again. I'd par the last 2 holes of the front to shoot 42. Then on to the back. Everything still felt great. I open up par, par, and then hit a gourgous 5 iron to about 8 feet on 12 and drained the putt for birdie. 1 under. 13 I of course almost hit the large tree of the left scared of going out of bounds right and fund myself under a small pine tree. Punch out, came up short of the pin and missed the putt to make a bogey. 14 i would make a nive up and down for par. 15 I had a great chance at birdie after being about 10 yards short of the green in 2 on the par 5. Made a bad decision here to bump and run the ball up to the green and it skidded by the hole about 20 feet, should have hit a lob shot. 2 putted for par. 16 I was way right off the tee and had a long lay up shot. Hit a perfect rescue to about 65 yards. Kept the ball below the hole about 15 feet, and drained the long putt for birdie, back to 1 under. I got a great kick off the side of the hill on the par 3 17th that rolled up to about 8 feet for birdie. Unfortunatly, I missed the putt by an inch and tapped in for par. 18th i managed to keep it in the fairway and not on the highway (3 of 3 this weekend was a championship all in it's self for me). Couldn't decide what club to hit in from 145 yards into the wind. I wanted to hit 7 iron but didn't want to hit it over into the crowd so I went with an 8 iron and hit the green but was at the front with a back pin. Didn't hit the best first putt, came up well short about 10 feet. A littel nervous, i lined the putt up and holed it centre cup for a par and 1 under 35 on the back. Awesome, played the last 11 holes 1 under and shot a 77.

Turns out I'd post the 3rd best score of the day (2 at 75, first and second place finishers) and move up the standings 5 spots to a tie for 8th overall. WOW. finally played well and got rewarded for it. The ups and downs of the weekend were crazy and it all ended well. I made a cut and placed in the top 10, my highest finish ever which is great. Still, I should have played better the first 2 days. There was no reason for poor play. I wasn't nervous, I've played well enough in enough tournaments to be over that, I just didn't have the stuff the first 2 days. Really it all came down to my tempo. Once I settled back in and didn't force things I started playing well.

All in all a good weekend. Already looking forward to next years tourny. Now got to practice a bit and make sure I play well on the 16th at Lockness Links for the mens tour, and I still have to play my semi-final match for the langly cup. Should be a good month of golf. If i can make the finals for Langly that would be great to have a shot at winning it all. And I got 2 more tour events to play and stay within the cut line for next year. Going to be a big month of golf.