Last Week of Events

My last week of events have been pretty busy.
I finished up at The SD Open at The Bluffs with 68 -67- 74. I struggled in my final round to finish T19.
This past weekend I played in the Minnesota State Open. I hit the ball great but didn't get the job done with my putting or on the Par 5s. I played the Par 5's even for the event. Par 4's -8 and Par 3's +2. I finished T3 and Tied 1st low pro with two others. Although I was happy to be in contention. I am getting really frustrated with my putting leaving so many shots out there.

Above is a photo of myself and the other two low pro's in the event.

Results can be found at this link.

http://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga11/event/mnpga1151/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

This frustration continued on to the last couple of days in Marshall for a Dakotas Tour Event. I had 32 and 36 Putts in each round shooting 70 - 73. Today really hurt me but is a really good learning experience. I only missed the cut by one shot which really hurt considering I know that I could not had putted any worse and shot any higher. However it is good to know that my game has progressed to a point where I can contend more consistently. I know I should had been contending again with my ball striking and I am very upset but I am looking for the positives. I need a good practice day to work on my putting tomorrow. I have a lot of events coming up in the next few weeks and I need to work out my putting to break out of my putting slump. It is going to hurt knowing I should be out playing contending to win but a day off to work on my progress and focus on the long term development of my game will be very beneficial for the upcoming events and well into the future. Marshall needs to be erased from my memory. It is only one event so it is time to focus on the future. I am lucky enough to play such a great game that lets me play in the next event from a fresh start.

Below is a List of the Events I will be playing in over the next month.

7/29-7/31 Dakotas Tour - Fox Run
8/1 Dakotas Tour - Mitchell
8/4-8/7 Dakotas Tour - Hillcrest
8/11-8/13 Dakotas Tour - Arrowhead
8/19-8/21 Iowa State Open
8/24 Dakotas Tour - Oxbow
8/26-8/28 Dakotas Tour - ND Open
8/29 Dakotas Tour - Milbank
8/31-9/2 Dakotas Tour - Tour Championship

Round Two - The Bluffs South Dakota Open

Another hot day. Luckily I had a 8AM tee time before It got really hot today. I hit the ball great. Shot 67 and feel like I got lapped by other players going really low. I gave myself chances to shoot low but the ball just wouldn't drop on the greens today. Tomorrow hopefully. I feel I am due plenty. However after making a terrible bogy on the first hole to play the next 17 holes 6 under I will take any day. I only missed one green (the first) and had 31 putts. If I can lower the amount of putts I have next round I will have a good chance to challenge the leaders.
Currently I am tied 5th at 9 under par (68-67). The leader is 14 under so I have plenty of work to do to catch him but If I keep giving myself chances I know I have got a shot at it.

Scores can be found at this link


http://dakotastour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/dakotastour11/event/dakotastour113/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

Round One The Bluffs South Dakota Open

Another hot day in Vermillion, South Dakota. Todays round was a bit up and down. I played solid and didn't get anything out of my first 9 holes. I turned one under after missing a short putt on hole 8 and then 3 putting hole 9. I was getting frustrated and had to remind myself to stay patient. Without patience you may as well not bother to play golf. It took me till the last 4 holes to get something out of my round. I birdied 3 of the last four holes to shoot 68 turn an average round into a solid first round score and stay in contention. Currently I am Tied 9th 3 shots behind the leader. Still two rounds to go. I have an early tee time tomorrow and I am excited to go out stay patient and make lots of birdies.

Results can be found at this link.

http://dakotastour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/dakotastour11/event/dakotastour113/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

Westward Ho and Preparation for The South Dakota Open

In the past couple of days I managed to get back to Minneapolis to take time and reflect on what went wrong last weekend. I was very disappointed with my result at Bakker Crossing which carried onto my bad play at Westward Ho. I played well but just made a couple of bad mental errors. However it is all in the past. This weekend is a new event and after a couple of good practice days I am ready to get back into real competition mode, stay patient and enjoy my time on the golf course regardless of the results. You can't let the results define your attitude, rather let your attitude define your results. More than likely if you have a good attitude the results you want will come.

Today I drove to Vermillion, SD and played in a practice round. I like the course and I'm really excited to compete tomorrow.

Results for this event can be found at this link.

http://dakotastour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/dakotastour11/event/dakotastour113/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

Thomas

Bakker Crossing Pro-Am

Words cannot express how mad I am at myself after this event.
Yesterday in my first round I shot a stress free 66 which is 5 under at Bakker Crossing.
My game has been feeling really good and I was excited to finally get some results for all the hard work I have been doing. 66 after the first round put me in T2 and a good round the next day would put me on contention. All that was needed to do the next day was two under and I would finally win my first pro event. Today would not be the day. I finished up shooting 76 to finish tied 26th. In my second round I hit two out of bounds on two par 4s with my second shots. I also had 36 putts to shoot 76 and not be in contention at all.
It's tough to take the positives from today however I know it is close and if I continue to stay patient the results I want will come.
Tomorrow I play in a one day event at Westward Ho in Sioux Falls tomorrow before heading back to Minnesota to Practice for a couple of days before my next event.
My goal for tomorrow is to go out and play with no fear and stop trying and let the results happens. My swing is feeling great and know my game is close.
Results from tomorrow's event can be found at this link.

http://dakotastour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/dakotastour11/event/dakotastour1117/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

Emerald Hills Pro-Am

My Dakota Tour Golf season has begun. My first event was yesterday at Emerald Hills Golf Club in Okaboji, Iowa. Athlough I did not score as low as I would like I feel if I stay patient the putts will drop as I am hitting the ball great. In the event I shot 71 (1 under) with three birdies and two bogies. I finished Tied 18th in this one day event. Results can be found at this link

http://dakotastour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/dakotastour11/event/dakotastour112/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

My next event begins tomorrow at Bakker Crossing Golf Club in Sioux Falls, IA. I am really excited to begin. I had a good practice round today and have the speed of the greens down all I need to do is stay patient and this weekend will be a lot of fun. This event is over two days. This was my first event as a pro last year and I really enjoy the course. You can follow my results at this link

http://dakotastour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/dakotastour11/event/dakotastour111/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

Following this event I will be playing in a one day event on Monday at Westward Ho Country Club before heading back to Minneapolis for a couple of practice days.
I will keep you updates over the next few days.

Thomas