Mini Tour Play

[Ben]

Finally a decent tournament round! Shot 1-under 71 in the Golden State Tour event held at the SCGA GC (7036y - 74.7/137). That got me a tie for 4th and for the first time in weeks I actually took some money back off this tour. What a nasty drought I'd been on!

What a fight it was too. The windy was blowy all day long and it seemed like no matter what direction I was hitting, I was hitting into the wind. That 1-under felt like 4 or 5.

The highlights of my round: 16 GIR. Two monster birdie putts, one from 45' and the other from 35'. I made a buttload of 3 footers for par today too. Crazy 4 iron from the trees (see below). Up and down par save from 92y on 14.

The not-highlights. Didn't birdie any of the four par-5s, one 3-putt, and 32 putts overall.

Hole of the day: The par-5 4th. The wind was blowing pretty stiff from the right so I set up down the right side hoping to melt a driver out there and have the wind help it to the fairway. For some reason the wind doesn't touch it and where do I wind up? At the base of a tree. So, now I have to take a 7iron with a chop up and across backswing and avoid the trees about 40y in front of me. That doesn't work. I hit the ball nicely, but right into a tree. That kicks me forward at least, but now I'm left with 190 to an uphill green in the rough with trees in front of me still. From there I go back and fourth between a bit of a gap high in the trees with my 5 iron, or under the trees with a screaming 4 iron punch. I opt for the 4 iron, and stripe a laser on the perfect line that catches the mound in front of the green and end up passed the pin on the back of the green. 2-putt par from there. That was sweet! If I'd have bogeyed that par-5 who knows what would have happened.

http://www.gstour.com/results.php?to...nt=SCGA+051110

Next event is Thursday and Friday back down in Palm Springs at the Pete Dye course at Mission Hills.

[James_Black]

nice work Ben!

How much did it cost to enter?

[TheWookie]

nice work Ben!

There is no membership fee for the tour but each tournament (one day events vs. two or three day) are $300. THey have a cool deal where if you win the first event of the month you get your fees paid for for the rest of that month. Of course you need to win and the competition is very strong. COngrats Ben, taking money home in these events is an accomplishment. It is amazing to see some of the names up there consistenly for the last 10+ years. I played w/ Mike Ruiz in my very first junior tournament a long time ago. he was awesome then as well. Jeff Hart has been winning money out there forever.

[James_Black]

There is no membership fee for the tour but each tournament (one day events vs. two or three day) are $300. THey have a cool deal where if you win the first event of the month you get your fees paid for for the rest of that month. Of course you need to win and the competition is very strong. COngrats Ben, taking money home in these events is an accomplishment. It is amazing to see some of the names up there consistenly for the last 10+ years. I played w/ Mike Ruiz in my very first junior tournament a long time ago. he was awesome then as well. Jeff Hart has been winning money out there forever.

300 dollars to enter?

Wow, you have to come in the top 5 to pay the entry fee..... How many on average would play?

[Ben]

Totally Wookie, Jeff Hart has been killing this tour, since I've been playing at least (4 years). I've been paired with him in a few events and its amazing to see how simply it seems he gets around the course and in the hole. Never forces a shot and rolls in some long birdie putts. It seems like you know about the GSTour Wookie, you playing?

James_Black. Yeah its pretty cut-throat out here. Yesterday's was a smaller field. Usually a one-day event pays 12 spots with about 35-40 entrants in the pro division. Yesterday only had I think 18 guys. I'm not on the GSTour to make a living, rather gain experience for bigger things. The competition on this tour is great with a ton of solid players, just the kind of action any aspiring pro needs.

[Kicker]

Ben, Did you play in your US Open qualifier yet?

[Ben]

Next Monday. I just so happen to be heading off for a practice round in a few minutes...

[Chief Broom]

Next Monday. I just so happen to be heading off for a practice round in a few minutes...

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Ben]

US Open Qualifying was yesterday. Wow what a day! Freakin' golf course is tough! If anyone ever has the chance to play Oakmont CC in Glendale, CA . do it! That is of course you like to feel like you've been kicked in the nuts after you finish a round of golf. Out of 80 competitors, only one person shot under par. Leaderboard

One would think a day in the middle of May in Southern California would be warm and sunny. Nope. Cloudy, gloomy and misting all day. Not a very good combo for a course of 7015y with a rating and slope of 74.6/138 (Par 71) set up for this event. Hard slick greens, deep rough, tees back. (The Scorecard) I'd played three practice rounds at this place all of which in regular SoCal conditions. Yesterday really threw me for a loop and it started right away on the first hole. A short par 5, 492y. My last practice round I hit 3w around the corner which left me 180y out and a 6i to the green, a one-putt from there and a nice eagle. Yesterday was a great 3w on the same exact line, but now 250y out! Holes 12 and 13, 443y and 458y straight par 4's usually I've hit 8i and 7i into both respectively. Yesterday I had 5i, 4i. Check out the 18th. 646y par 5! Not only that, but it is a double dogleg. I hit a perfect drive, perfect 3w and still had 145y to the green.

I shot 8 over, but when I did my shot report yesterday I realized a had a ton of really good shots. Too bad I couldn't put them all together. Better luck next year...


http://www.oakmontcc.com/golf_info.asp

http://www.oakmontcc.com/golf_scorecards.asp

http://www.ghintpp.com/SCGA/TPPOnlin...ts.aspx?id=154

[acj990]

Ben, I really like reading your reports on the rounds you play. I think you have a future in our game, especially when you can man up and talk about bad rounds and take away the good things. I'm 27 years old and wish Iowa had a tour like that. Cheers dude..

[TheWookie]

Definitely next year! I was a pro at Oakmont for about 4 years. Great club and awesome course. It is tough as hell and they made it even tougher. Considering the scores I can imagine it was a tough playing condition.

[Ben]

Ben, I really like reading your reports on the rounds you play. I think you have a future in our game, especially when you can man up and talk about bad rounds and take away the good things. I'm 27 years old and wish Iowa had a tour like that. Cheers dude..

Thanks for the words of encouragement!

Definitely next year! I was a pro at Oakmont for about 4 years. Great club and awesome course. It is tough as hell and they made it even tougher. Considering the scores I can imagine it was a tough playing condition.

What the?! Where in South OC are you now? I was just down playing Coto today. Stinkin' North Course!

[tim31x]

I dont think the Hooters tour exists anymore does it?

its still very much around, i'm also in the orlando area now. timacuan golf and country club had a tournament a few months back for the hooters tour, also orange tree in orlando/windermere area had one last fall. i saw a few rounds up at timacuan, fun to watch.

[sean_miller]

US Open Qualifying was yesterday. Wow what a day! Freakin' golf course is tough! If anyone ever has the chance to play

Speaking of getting kicked in the nuts - how do you think this guy felt stepping onto the 13th tee? How about 16? : (

http://www.ghintpp.com/SCGA/TPPOnlin...d=154&pid;=8687

[Ben]

Speaking of getting kicked in the nuts - how do you think this guy felt stepping onto the 13th tee? How about 16? : (

yeah, seriously! You'll see a lot of triples in the rest of the scorecards. Check out this guy's back-9, particularly the Par3 11th...

http://www.ghintpp.com/SCGA/TPPOnlin...d=154&pid;=8741 I've played in a golden State Tour event with him. He took third place with 1under on the course we played that day. But Oakmont is a whole different beast.

[sean_miller]

yeah, seriously! You'll see a lot of triples in the rest of the scorecards. Check out this guy's back-9, particularly the Par3 11th...

Did he start on 10? After 11 and 12 my caddie would have been hiding sharp objects.

[Ben]

Did he start on 10? After 11 and 12 my caddie would have been hiding sharp objects.

Wow, I never thought to look, but yeah, started on 10.

[TheWookie]

I am right outside the gates in RSM....not in the business anymore. Coto is a great course though.