2 Tourneys in the Bag

I started my pro career last Sunday with a small 1 day event on The Pepsi Tour at The Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club. My first hole went well, pumping a drive down the middle and then hitting a 3 wood to 20 ft for a tap-in birdie. I was a little nervous and it showed as I later hit 2 balls in the water and 1 OB, matched with 4 birdies for a 2 over par score. Very frustrating after shooting a 63 in the practice round 2 days earlier. The winning score was a -4 66.

This past week I played my first Gateway Tour event, a new qualifier event with 1 full and 1 half Spring Series exemption up for grabs, with 90 guys in the field. The course, Vista Verde in Scottsdale, was long at 7300 yards but fairly wide open. First round included 2 doubles, 4 birdies, and 4 bogeys on route to a 76. The second round I was +2 when I began feeling ill and ended up vomiting at the turn, and again on the 11th tee before withdrawing from the event. The winning score was -8 and runner-up was -7.

Reflecting on these events I can draw upon the following positives as well as points in my game that need improvement. I am hitting my driver very well, averaging over 300 yards and hitting most fairways, and my irons are being struck very well with a tendency to block them 5-10 yards which will be easy to straighten out. I have played with really great guys in both events, who shot 68 and 67 and my ball striking is right with them. My touch around the greens as been surprisingly good given I'm coming from snow but I plan on spending the most time on wedges inside 100 yards, chipping, and putting. I need to spend more time on course management, figuring out where not to hit it whether off the tee or on my approach to the green. Lastly, the position of the sun, the grain off the grass, relativity to local mountains and valleys, and the wind can greatly affect chips and putts in Phoenix, something I will need to pay attention to.

The experience thus far has been amazing. The players here are the best in North America and the level of play is exhilarating, right there with The Nationwide Tour. I am pleased with my progress thus far, I look forward to the tournaments ahead, and am motivated to practice harder than ever!