I am playing in the US Mid-AM qualifier, but I need your help.

[kpaulhus]

Well, I will not be qualifying, however I had fun and it was a good learning experience. I had a few 3 putts as the greens were really slick, and two blow up holes where I could have benefited form slowing down a bit more. I hit the ball well for the most part. Even played the entire round with the same ball, despite having to hit a provisional twice. I ended up shooting 88, but the other guys in my group were both + handicaps and shot 82 & 86. The guy who finished 2nd last year, shot -4 68 today, so I think he has a good chance at qualifying. While 88 wasn't what I had hoped to shoot, I hope I come in the top half of the field as the course was very tough and we all agreed that there would be big numbers out there today.

On the first hole I was nervous, but piped my hybrid through the end of the fairway 275 yards. Pulled my wedge into a greenside bunker and 2 putt bogey.

The Second hole they moved the tees up about 50 yards from yesterday and ended up making a decent par. 

3rd hole I hit my 3W right and hit a provisional ball. I found my first tee ball in a good spot. Knew I could hit a 7 iron over the tree long enough to get to the green, but it clipped a top branch and nobody saw it down. It was heading for the hazard and so after looking along the edge I took my drop and hit a ball onto the green. Well, on the walk up to the green sitting down in the thick rough was my original ball. I was bummed to see that. Ended up taking a triple. This hole was unique because even though I had a 7 on a par 4, I was the lowest score in the group. One guy played the wrong ball, twice, taking a 10. There was a twosome in the fairway waiting on us and I was hustling on the next hole so we wouldn't be put on the clock after only 3 holes, and as the 2nd group off for the day. 

I was pretty far from the hole on 4 and made a bogey, then the big number came on the 191 par 3 5th. I hit a 6 iron into a greenside bunker. I had to carry my bunker shot about 25 yards to the edge of the green as the pin was up on a hill, and there was water left and another bunker long. It needed to be a delicate shot. Well I hit it, 25 yards onto the green, and my ball spun back into the bunker. No worries. Walk across the bunker and now I have the same delicate bunker shot but its maybe 8 yards. Super Soft part of the bunker and I got under the ball. The next shot plugged into the wall in front of me. Getting frustrated I hacked it out past the flag and it rolled 30 ft away. 3 putts later I carded an 8. I was rushing, just didn't think, whatever you want to call it, bran fart. Dumb. 

Forgot what just happened, even though I was now 10 over through 5 and pretty embarrassed. Made a par on the #1 handicap hole, 3 putt bogey on the next, and finally a bogey on the par 5 9th after finding another deep bunker off the tee. 49 on the front. 2 worse than my practice round, even though I hadn't lost a ball off any tee. 

The back 9 started well sticking it tight on the Par 3 10th and lipping out my birdie put. the 11th was a "Drivable" up hill par 4 into the wind at 297 yards with 20-25 yards of uphill slope. I hit a drive to the rough just short of the green and made par.

The 12th is a true 3 shot par 5. Laid up to 100 yards as there was fescue short of the green. Pulled my wedge 40ft left of the pin and had a huge ridge midway through my putt where I ended up 3 putting again. Made a solid par on the 13th, 14th hole was a two putt bogey, 15th two putt bogey even though my 7iron almost slipped out my hand on the tee. On the 16th I finally carded a birdie after smashing a drive and hitting my 9 iron hole high just off the green.

The 17th hole was playing 251 yards....Par 3. Hit a 4 iron down hill onto the green for (another) 3 putt bogey. Hit a solid drive on 18 and thinned a pitching wedge over the green for a 2 putt bogey. 

All in all my round is summed up as:

First USGA tournament. Had a great time. Learning Experience. Practice Patience. Get fit for a putter. 

Here is my GameGolf Round for the USGA Mid-AM Qualifier:

http://www.gamegolf.com/player/Kpaulhus/round/1102625

 

[MasonAsher2014]

Glad you enjoyed it! Sorry for the score but it will only get better with experience.

[Big C]

Kyle thanks for sharing the experience with us. I know it wasn't what your were hoping for, but the first big tournament you play in rarely goes perfectly to plan. Keep improving the game and I look forward to seeing your results in other future events.

[dzclarkcpa]

Congratulations!! Thanks for letting us live through you for a few days. Go get'em next time!

[GolfLug]

Good play @kpaulhus. Score doesn't sound so bad, IMO, especially if the + guys put up 80+ numbers too. I think next year you will be readier. But I am sure you will realize that you have broken the barrier to the next level. 

[saevel25]

Tough round man. Competition play is a beast. I hope you keep at it and try again next year ;) 

 

[Hardspoon]

Tough round, but you are definitely right to feel positively about the whole experience.

It also takes some guts to follow a 49 on the front with a 39, especially under the circumstances.

Can't wait to hear about next year (when you very well might be one of those + handicaps!)

[mchepp]

Seems like you have lots of positive vibes which is really great. Considering it was such a tough course (as evidenced by the scores in your group) and your first time in a big time tournament, you did well. Now you have the details and what you need to work on. Next time you'll be more prepared.

[kpaulhus]

Welp, 40th out of 50 guys.

 

[Valleygolfer]

6 minutes ago, kpaulhus said:

Welp, 40th out of 50 guys.

 

Icem Brewer? What a name....

[bkuehn1952]

You knew you were a little over your head in this event. Clearly you have the distance and ability to play with these guys, just not the consistency and experience; that will come with time.

You stuck it out and posted a score, unlike 7 people with a bit less spine.  With a little more conservative play and the benefit of hindsight, you might have cracked the top 20.  So now you have a benchmark or baseline.  You know that playing poorly you can do "88" on a really tough layout.  Next time you will play well and it will be exciting for you to see what you can do when you are "on".

The effort deserves a well done.  Next time I hope it is congratulations.

 

[Hardspoon]

5 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

You knew you were a little over your head in this event.

The guy who finished first has played in some PGA events (unless it's someone else with that name?):

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/players/2440/log

[jbishop15]

I know it's not what you were looking for, but this is a good building block for the future. Competition, especially the first few times on that high of a level, is very nerve racking. Your back nine score shows that you can compete, it's just a matter of getting used to the pressure. 

[kpaulhus]

14 minutes ago, Hardspoon said:

The guy who finished first has played in some PGA events (unless it's someone else with that name?):

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/players/2440/log

 Wouldn't doubt it is him. If you google his name he plays in some big time USGA events and was 2nd last year in the Arkansas Qualifier. He also played in the 1994 US Open at Oakmont. 

This guy shot 91, so I don't feel too bad

[yai]

Hey kyle, thats great that even though you didnt have the round you mightve hoped for, you still have a positive attitude about it.

Looking at your recap, and im sure you already know this, looks like more of your time practicing could be spent on and around the greens. Short game and putting!! Sounds like you got off the tee pretty well. Proximity to the hole on approach shots sounds like it couldve been better, but it sounds like the majority of your bogeys came from not getting up and down and 3 putts. 

You have a full year before your next crack at it! I think youll be surprised at how much you can improve with a year of consistent and focused practice. 

Good luck!

[kpaulhus]

4 minutes ago, yai said:

Hey kyle, thats great that even though you didnt have the round you mightve hoped for, you still have a positive attitude about it.

Looking at your recap, and im sure you already know this, looks like more of your time practicing could be spent on and around the greens. Short game and putting!! Sounds like you got off the tee pretty well. Proximity to the hole on approach shots sounds like it couldve been better, but it sounds like the majority of your bogeys came from not getting up and down and 3 putts. 

You have a full year before your next crack at it! I think youll be surprised at how much you can improve with a year of consistent and focused practice. 

Good luck!

My club championship is a week from Friday, so chipping/putting will be my main focus. 

[MacDutch]

I say, well done! Golf is hard, but strokeplay in tournament conditions is really tough. 39 on the back nine, hats off. 

[Asmanning95]

Really enjoyed following this thread for the last few weeks. Hopefully this experience does you the world of good and has set you a benchmark to improve upon over the coming year. Hard luck on the day but it was obviously a really tough course, and good luck for next year!