A Casual Round to Get Ready - Two Days From Tournament #2

[Fairway_CY]

So, my 2010 golf partner emailed me yesterday with some specials they were having at one of the local courses. I hadn't been there in quite awhile, in fact, that last time I was there... it was owned by a different company. It's now owned by the Arnold Palmer Group, so I figured I may as well give it a try. Other than some wet areas due to some rain last night and a bunch of rain about two weeks ago... the course was actually in pretty good condition. Rough was thick... and the greens were a little fuzzy... but otherwise, no real complaints.

I had been working at the range over the course of the last 10-12 days on my iron play... and even though there were still some issues... I felt MUCH better today than I did at any time on the course during the first tournament of the season. A few pulls with my irons... quite a few ugly shots with my hybrid clubs... and a TON of issues getting off the tee. I hit only 3 of 13 fairways and just 2 of 18 greens in regulation. Going in... I was just hoping to have solid contact and to learn to putt with my new putter. I ended up shooting a 92 for a net score of 65. I putted 33 times. It's pretty sad because my 92 could have been SO much better if only I'd have hit some more fairways. Instead... I found myself in trouble quite often and scrambling to get up around the green.

With that said... I'm very happy with the 92. It's the second lowest gross score I've ever shot... and it bodes well for me going in to the tournament this coming Sunday. We're playing at a course in South Jersey called Sea Oaks. It's a tight course... a lot of trouble around the greens and a lot of waste areas off the fairways. I intend to use my 3 wood quite often... hopefully that'll help me hit more fairways than I did today. I'm looking to shoot 95 or better here, which would give me a net score of 69 and SHOULD put me back in the top ten for the second straight tournament. My singles match is one that, I've been told, isn't much of a contest. The guy I'm playing is at the max handicap and shot a NET 93 in the first tournament. I should HOPEFULLY have that one wrapped up fairly early. Our doubles match, on the other hand, is up in the air. My partner shot a 108 today... which would have given him a net 83. He got frustrated early on... and then again late in the round. If that happens on Sunday, we COULD struggle. His singles opponent is likely to handle him and send him to 0-2 on the season.

So... my goals for Sunday. A singles win. A doubles win (if my partner gets his head on straight). A sub-70 net score which SHOULD get me a top ten. Pick up more Ryder Cup points. Hopefully at least hit a par 3 green this week to have a SHOT at the closest to the pin prizes.

My predictions:

Gross Score = 94
Net Score = 68
Final Position (Net) = 6th Place (I still don't qualify to win low net for another two rounds with the club)

Match Result (Singles - Match Play) = Win 7 & 6
Match Result (Doubles - Team Net Stroke Total Match Play) = Win 2 Up

'Til Sunday evening...

CY