Monday, September 20, 2010

Headed to Daytona!

Welp, most of you all know the good news but we finally did it! I qualified for the Final Stage of LPGA Q School! It was a great week of good, consistent golf. I haven’t been playing my best golf lately and a few months ago was contemplating not even trying to qualify but I had a some people who mean a great deal to me tell me that I should always give it a try. Thankfully, I took their advice and qualified out of the first sectional with 8 shots to spare before worrying about the cut line. I shot 73-69-71-72. When we reached the 72nd green, my caddy Paulie said “alright, you can ten putt this and still be okay.” He was kidding of course and I said “heck no let’s make it!” Paulie has been a huge asset to my golf game in the past few months. It was weird how we were matched up but I am so thankful that he has taken me on to work with. We have such a great time out there together and I feel like we compliment each other well. During my second round, I almost holed out for eagle. I couldn’t see the pin, only Paulie could. He didn’t make any kind of reaction and when I asked him where it went he said, “it lipped out, you have an inch putt now. Good shot.” Well geez Paulie thanks so much! Ha! He really cracks me up out on the golf course. The things we say to each other are thankfully not microphoned or else we’d be receiving huge fines or having reality television shows wanting us.

It’s such a huge relief that I don’t have to go to Venice, FL this coming weekend to try to qualify again for Final Stage so instead I’m switching my flight and going down to Miami, FL to see my best friend Caitlan and to get a little rest in. She lives on the beach and it seems like a really tough life down there so I need to go cheer her up. Ha! I will find some nice courses to go rate for Golf Digest and actually have a vacation.

I will be playing in the Arizona Womens Open in October and a Suncoast event in Florida leading up to the Final Stage of Q School but other than that, I will just be playing here and there and hopefully find some good competition along the way.

I really appreciate everyone’s support and I know that this is not an individual sport, especially at the professional level. There are so many crucial players in my life that affect my golf game in a positive way. Can’t do it without ya’ll!!!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Q School

This will be a quick update because I am a tired, tired girl! This week has been a good one so far! I started off Tuesday on the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills in Palm Springs, CA for the LPGA Sectional Qualifier. It was a pretty solid day and finished at one over par. I didn’t shoot myself out of it on the first day, which was nice. I knew I had work to do in order to make the two-day cut.

Yesterday we switched courses and played on the Palmer Course. I got off to a nice start with a bunch of pars before I found my first few birdies. My ball striking was on and I had plenty of opportunities to make birdies. I finished the round at three under, two under for the two rounds. I sat in 11th place and made the cut with two more days guaranteed.

Today was the third round back on the Dinah Shore Course. I started off with a dumb bogey from 100 yards out. Not the way I wanted to start but thankfully stole a birdie back on the next hole with a long putt made. A gift! I haven’t been making a whole lot of long putts but it was nice to see one barely fall in. I found another bogey on the third but found back-to-back birdies on five and six. Made a dumb bogey on the par 3 eighth and another stupid one on the par 5 ninth from 75 yards out. I wasn't too extremely happy at the turn... I found a quick birdie on the tenth and thankfully calmed down my round with five straight pars. I had a few close calls at making them for birdie but I also had some great par putt saves. I put myself in jail on the fifteenth hole and took my medicine with a bogey but knew that I had three holes left and wanted to finish the day at even par at worst. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long and made a great birdie putt on sixteen. I had popped in a blue jolly rancher before I made that birdie on sixteen and told my caddy Paulie that it was for good luck. They’ve been giving us candy on the first tee every morning and I’m a sucker for candy. I can’t help myself. I’ve been taking handfuls and it’s kept me entertained throughout the round. Well, the blue jolly rancher worked for one birdie so on the next tee, I popped in another blue one and missed the green just by 2 feet. I told Paulie that I was due to make one from off the green. It went in for birdie! I told him it was the candy, not the caddy or player. I popped in one more blue jolly rancher for the eighteenth hole but tapped in for par for a one under round of 71.

I’m currently -3 for the three rounds, tied for 9th. I have to finish in the top 30 in order to qualify for the Final Stage of Q School in December. I believe I have 6 shots to spare tomorrow but that’s not my plan. I’m going to stick to my game plan and hopefully continue to find a lot of greens and try to make the birdies when they become available. The heat is strong here in the desert but I’ve had a really good week with my family being here. My aunt and uncle from San Diego came over a few nights ago so we’ve been at the pool every afternoon at our resort, relaxing and catching up. It’s kind of nice to just be at the course to warm up, play, and leave immediately. We were laughing today at how my preparation was so different this year than last. I was in NYC last week and didn’t touch my clubs for almost a week before heading over here for two days of practice. It seemed to work out all right so far. I’ve always been a big believer in quality over quantity. Get your crap done then get outta there. Ha!!! I really appreciate everyone’s encouraging words this week. I’ve been on my phone constantly but it’s because I love hearing from you guys! I couldn’t do it without a lot of people in my life. I’m blessed.

Monday, September 13, 2010

The Season Comes to an End...

I’ve procrastinated long enough; it’s time to update.

Two weeks ago, I played in Albany, NY for my final 2010 Futures Tour event. I made another cut with Paulie on my bag but unfortunately my ball did not find the hole as quick as I would have liked. The good news is that I moved up to 73rd on the money list and won’t have to play in Futures Tour Q School in November. That gives me a definite place to play next year but I’m hoping for bigger and better things.

My parents and I took a train from Albany to New York City last Sunday night. It was my first train ride and my dad’s first time to NYC. We were able to walk around that night and get our first taste of NY pizza. My mom and I like to sleep in but my dad has ADD and can’t, so he woke up Monday morning and without even changing out of his pjs, walked down to the Today Show, Rockefeller Center, etc. like a curious little boy. He came back to the room and said a man with three teeth came up to him and said “sir sir, is it morning or night?” My dad was a little confused and said “I’m sorry, what?” The guy said “sir, is it morning or afternoon?” My dad replied “uh morning.” Ha! Gotta love NYC!!! The rest of our day was filled with walking, walking, and more walking. It was crazy how much land we covered but I’m pretty sure my dad got to see everything he wanted.

Tuesday was a more leisurely day of sightseeing and that night we saw Mary Poppins on Broadway (my favorite Disney movie.) It was a short and sweet trip but we all had a good time.

I flew home for two days and spent my time practicing, seeing a few familiar faces, and packing up again for the desert, which is where I find myself today.

I’m playing in the LPGA’s Qualifying School this coming week in Palm Springs, CA. It’s going to be my second time trying to make it and hopefully my time is sooner than later. My folks and I flew out to San Diego last Saturday morning and made the drive over to Palm Springs that afternoon. I was able to get out on one of the courses and play about 12 holes. No one was on the course so it was wonderful. My caddy made it to town today because he was looping last weekend in Arkansas for the LPGA event. I was glad that he spent today with me getting a game plan together for this week’s little adventure.

The weather here is predictable. Hot, sunny, and hot. I haven’t been hitting the ball as far as I normally do but I’ve heard a few others say they are experiencing the same problem since we are close to sea level. I’m going to think it’s that and not me needing to do some more push ups. Q School is 36 holes, a cut to top 70 and ties, and then another 36 holes with top 30 and ties advancing to the Final Stage of Q School in December. If things don’t go well this week, I will travel over to Venice, FL in two weeks to give it another try at that sectional. That is where I qualified last year but I’m really hoping we can cancel those flights after this week. I’d be one happy girl! I hope everyone is looking forward to cooler temps and a great OU Football season : ) Proud of my Sooners last Saturday! I won’t be seeing them live for quite a while but as long as they keep winning, they don’t need my help. Ha! Take care everyone!

What I’m Reading: At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
What I’m Listening To: A little bit of everything!