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.