Low Net 68 @ Emerald Valley

Usually under competive pressure in golf, I crack and shoot much higher scores than normal.  On April 30th at the OGA Tour event at Emerald Valley, something unusual and surprising happened.  I was able to stay focused, keep my composure, putt well, and shoot an 80.  I had one triple bogey, 1 birdie, several pars, and a few bogeys which resulted in a consistent round.  1 tournament down, 4 more to go this year.  I now see that I really can play well under competitive pressure, so hopefully that will carry over into future tournaments...

Creswell, Ore. (April 30, 2011) -- A full field enjoyed the second OGA Tour Individual Series event at Emerald Valley on Saturday, April 30 with nice weather and a course in great condition.  The conditions were perfect to see some low scores!

Flight 1 saw Brett Taylor of Camas, Wash. take the Low Gross prize with an even par 72, while Ethan Glaser of Salem, Ore. grabbed the Low Net title with a round of 68.  Taylor’s even par round was the low gross round for the event.

Dean McKinney of Grants Pass, Ore. earned the low gross award in a card-off against Ivan Mombert of Eugene, Ore., both with rounds of 79 in Flight 2, with Ashley Wilson of Happy Valley, Ore. taking the Low Net title with a round of 68.

In Flight 3, the Low Gross went to Dan Matthews of Portland, Ore. with an 82, while Corey Fhuere of Coos Bay, Ore. was awarded the Low Net prize with a round of 68.

In addition to gross and net prizes in each of the three flights, the Wells Fargo Skills Contests including Longest Putt, Longest Drive and Closest to the Hole also had a number of winners. 

Longest Putt

Flight 1, Ethan Galser 36’9”
Flight 2, Taylor Luzier 6’0”
Flight 3, Andy Merrill 18’11”

Longest Drive

Flight 1, Brett Taylor
Flight 2, Ashley Wilson

Flight 3, Michael Johnson

Closest to the Hole

Flight 1, Ryan Patterson 10’9”
Flight 2, Ivan Mombert 9’1”
Flight 3, Michael Smith 7’6”

Mind Control

Friday was the first gorgeous, warm, dry day in a long time.  I was excited to get out there and play 18 holes @ Royal Oaks CC in Vancouver, WA in the afternoon.  I'm trying to work out all the winter kinks before my first tournament of the season next Saturday, so I put extra pressure on myself to play well.  The front 9 was disappointing.  I shot a 46 and was successfully stringing bogeys and doubles together.  The triple bogey on hole #7 after hitting my tee shot within 60 yards of the hole was the icing on the cake. 

I tried to stay focused and forget about my bad shots and my high score, but I couldn't get my head right.  My negative thoughts and lack of confidence became cancerous and I couldn't shake it.  At the turn, I was able to collect my thoughts and re-focus.  I ended up shooting a 38 on the back 9.  Not surprisingly, I was able to find that positive thinking and confidence that I didn't have on the front 9.  It was a very creative way to shoot an 84.

What I can't quite discipline myself to do is to think positively regardless of the score I'm shooting.  My thinking is dependent on how I'm playing, which is why its possible to shoot a 75 one day and a 91 the following day.  I need to find a way to trick myself into thinking positively no matter how well or how poorly I might be playing.  How do I remain positive even when I'm not playing as well as I would like?

New Gadgets

After nearly 10 years with the same irons, I have finally upgraded to a new set this year. I was fitted for the new Ping i15 irons and a new K15 3-wood.  I've been playing with my new clubs for a couple months now and I absolutely love them.  Not as forgiving as my old Callaways but I've picked up 20 yards on each club.  I can't wait for warmer weather to see how far I can hit these babys.  My previous distance with my 7 iron was 130 yards in the winter and 140 yards in the summer.  With my new clubs I am now hitting my 7 iron 150 yards in cold weather.  Can't wait to see what happens this summer!

I kept my trusty KZG 18 and 22 degree hybrids and I got my Ladies Callaway driver reshafted.  I don't know what I was doing buying this driver in the first place.  The loft is right for me (11 degrees) but the shaft was so flexible, it felt like I had a wet noodle in my hand.

I also got my first "techy" golf device this Spring - a Callaway rangefinder.  It helps when I'm 2 fairways to the left and I have no idea what my yardage is to the pin!

Hopefully the equipment upgrade will result in lower scores!!