Over lunch today I'm looking at the scores from this weekend. While we had a strong field, it will have much more depth at the Eastern Open on August 11th-12th. I'm not sure how scores will be better but, assuming the weather cooperates, they will.
Here are the scores courtesy of Billy Caudle (mydogghouse.com):
Sat AM tournament scores
Sat PM tournament scores
Sun tournament scores
Some notes:
1) Shooting in the 60s for a three-round tournament is something that happened only in the last decade. Slower carpet is a big factor as you can charge more holes. Greg Newport shot the (T-)6th best non-local tournament 54-hole score and lost by one to Rick Shelton who shot the (T-)2nd best non-local tournament 54-hole score. Not best at that course. Best in the 40+ years of history.
All-Time PPA Tournament Records
Richmond Course #2 and Course #3 both have histories of people shooting in the 60s and losing a tournament. Well-maintained course that rewards putts on-line with good speed. Except for hole #7 on course #2. At least for me. Personally, I was hoping the rains would create a sinkhole and remove that cole permanently from the course.
2) Shooting a 25 ten years ago would get people chatting and pointing your direction. This weekend it got a pat on the back and a "you'll get 'em next round" comment. 75 did not finish in the top half on Sunday and got T-10/21 in the Saturday PM tournament. There is no room for a bad stretch on this course. In a six-round national tournament there is no time to make up a bad round either.
3) I plan on putting together a library of lines with photos/videos. Weather cooperating I will make Richmond #2 my first addition to the video library. Will host on my website when up. What you would expect are a lot of holes with straight putts. What you will see are: 6 non-bank holes, 1 single-bank hole, 10 double-bank holes, and one bang-a-lang with four-to-five banks. (#7, my nemesis, is a non-bank shot...I think the double-banks are "easier" than most of ths straight shots)
And most of the double-banks risk coming down a hill if you miss. Careless disregard for where deuces end up is not only encouraged...but may be required.
I can take a couple things from this weekend.
First, my rounds got better each day. More repetitions are needed. I'm likely going to cancel my trip to Wilson, NC next weekend to practice in Richmond. Since I'm going to compete in Hastings, I'll be missing the Southern Tour championship and don't need a qualification spot; plus a six hour drive to compete on the "squirreliest" course in Putt-Putt doesn't seem worth it.
Second, while researching the PPA records I noticed that my 15 aces in a row at Martinsville in 2008 would put me on the list of best runs. Woot for me.
Third, I'm getting closer to my first "perfect nine". I'm hoping with enough reps I will get it in practice next weekend. Knowing I can do it and experiencing it might make the difference when competing.
Next week: Practice in Richmond?
Next tournament: Eastern Open on August 11th-12th?
Showing posts with label results. Show all posts
Showing posts with label results. Show all posts
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
If you can't stand the heat...stay out of Columbus, IN
As hot of a weekend as I've experienced in a long time. Perhaps more so than the infamous PPA Nationals week in Lubbock, Texas.
Deciding to take care of myself and avoid the heat, the lack of practice was certainly a problem.
I'd rather take this weekend off and stay healthy than risk being back for an extended stay on the IR.
Some decent things to take away though...
First, towards the end of Sunday I started figuring things out.
The 11 and 10 on two of my three front nines were elite...and of the misses could easily have gone in.
The back has a lot of makeable holes that I was just a little off on. Some tweaking in September for Nationals week will dial it in.
Second, with permission from Isberg and the World Minigolf Federation, I was able to show some of the features from Bangolf Arena. Positive feedback that I think will grow as more people take a look.
The compare two putters feature seemed to strike a chord, especially for people who were in the hunt for the win; gives them a chance to see where they can improve and who to learn new lines from.
Third, I had the best shrimp cocktail of my life at an airport of all places. Harry and Izzy's at Indianapolis airport. Fresh horseradish in the cocktail sauce. Shrimp practically the size of my palm.
Some highlights of the weekend:
- Winner averaged under 24 per round. In fact, the winning amateur was under 24 for the first day and led all divisions.
- Rick Alessi shot a 19, missing Hole #3. Hole #3 gives the occasional "tween" and lips out; he got it and then made the next 15 to show who is boss. Could easily have been the 4th perfect round in PPA history. Will we see one the week of the Nationals? Hole 18 is not an easy hole so we might find someone looking history in the jaw knowing that the most difficult hole is left to play.
- Averaging 26 a round in the pros will not get you in the top half. Avoiding the bad round is critical, especially in a 6 or 8 round tournament. Kevin Lacey posts another Top-3 finish at a Nationals this year, but the 28 was too much to overcome. Look out for him in the National Finals.
Unofficial results are here:
2012 PPA/APA Northern Open Unofficial Results
Next stop: Southern Tour in High Point, NC on July 14-15
Deciding to take care of myself and avoid the heat, the lack of practice was certainly a problem.
I'd rather take this weekend off and stay healthy than risk being back for an extended stay on the IR.
Some decent things to take away though...
First, towards the end of Sunday I started figuring things out.
The 11 and 10 on two of my three front nines were elite...and of the misses could easily have gone in.
The back has a lot of makeable holes that I was just a little off on. Some tweaking in September for Nationals week will dial it in.
Second, with permission from Isberg and the World Minigolf Federation, I was able to show some of the features from Bangolf Arena. Positive feedback that I think will grow as more people take a look.
The compare two putters feature seemed to strike a chord, especially for people who were in the hunt for the win; gives them a chance to see where they can improve and who to learn new lines from.
Third, I had the best shrimp cocktail of my life at an airport of all places. Harry and Izzy's at Indianapolis airport. Fresh horseradish in the cocktail sauce. Shrimp practically the size of my palm.
Some highlights of the weekend:
- Winner averaged under 24 per round. In fact, the winning amateur was under 24 for the first day and led all divisions.
- Rick Alessi shot a 19, missing Hole #3. Hole #3 gives the occasional "tween" and lips out; he got it and then made the next 15 to show who is boss. Could easily have been the 4th perfect round in PPA history. Will we see one the week of the Nationals? Hole 18 is not an easy hole so we might find someone looking history in the jaw knowing that the most difficult hole is left to play.
- Averaging 26 a round in the pros will not get you in the top half. Avoiding the bad round is critical, especially in a 6 or 8 round tournament. Kevin Lacey posts another Top-3 finish at a Nationals this year, but the 28 was too much to overcome. Look out for him in the National Finals.
Unofficial results are here:
2012 PPA/APA Northern Open Unofficial Results
Next stop: Southern Tour in High Point, NC on July 14-15
Saturday, July 7, 2012
PPA Northern Open - Day 1 Results
Day one is in the books.
It was a tough day of sledding in the heat for everyone as the air temperature was up to 105F; estimate that the temperature on the concrete was around 120F.
Thanks to the owners for providing some tents for shade and water on the course.
I didn't play well, but considering I didn't get much practice...I got what I got. I think I hit about 10 balls per hole, which is nothing considering it is my first time here.
But I do have a good feel for the course now. It's all about learning the course well enough to come back in September for Nationals, so in that respect it is a success.
Tournament results are via Bangolf Arena. Thanks to Isberg Software and the WMF for arranging us to use this software package.
Day 1 - 2012 PPA Northern Open
Forecast tomorrow is 90F and rain. Time to learn the wet shots....
It was a tough day of sledding in the heat for everyone as the air temperature was up to 105F; estimate that the temperature on the concrete was around 120F.
Thanks to the owners for providing some tents for shade and water on the course.
I didn't play well, but considering I didn't get much practice...I got what I got. I think I hit about 10 balls per hole, which is nothing considering it is my first time here.
But I do have a good feel for the course now. It's all about learning the course well enough to come back in September for Nationals, so in that respect it is a success.
Tournament results are via Bangolf Arena. Thanks to Isberg Software and the WMF for arranging us to use this software package.
Day 1 - 2012 PPA Northern Open
Forecast tomorrow is 90F and rain. Time to learn the wet shots....
Monday, July 2, 2012
Technique: Checking balance of golf balls
Been off for a few days as internet/cell access has been limited due to the storms here in the DC area. The cleanup is still going on but my prep work for future tournaments is still moving on.
Next weekend I'll be participating in the PPA Northern Open in Columbus, IN. As part of this I've bought a box of the Titelist Pro V1s that I normally use in minigolf tournaments. Unlike most minigolfers, I prefer a crisp ball out of the box for new tournaments. Many of the players on tour are using worn down balls that, to them, give better roll and more consistent kick off the rails. I haven't determined if there is merit to this or if this is mental...
One piece that I do believe in is in the balance check of a golf ball.
Ralph Maltby has a good video explaining his methods here.
I agree with the concepts in his video with the following changes:
1) One doesn't need a kit. Warm water and epsom salts work just fine. Adding a couple drops of jet-dry or dishwashing detergent is optional.
2) "Perfectly" balanced golf balls are rare. This is why mechanical devices marking balls always find a spot to mark (referred to in the video). Virtually all balls, given enough time, will slowly rotate so that the lightest part of the ball lies on top. What we are concerned with is how quickly the ball moves to this position.
3) A ball that stops in a different location from the original mark does not necessarily mean that the ball is perfectly balanced. I haven't run across it often, but some balls make it through the manufacturing process with multiple biases. If a ball stops on different spots, you need to make sure that small deviations don't roll back to these individual spots. If it does, you have a ball with multiple biases and it needs to be thrown out. If the ball keeps coming up at random spots...you've found a rare balanced ball. Put it on a pedastal. Burn incense. It's a joyous day to celebrate.
So why should we even care about the balance of a golf ball? I could refer you to Pelz or others that have measured the impact of a poorly balanced golf ball, but let's take a different tack.
Lawn bowlers used to throw balls that had weights inserted to have a certain intended bias. This bias is designed to allow a curve to the path of the ball when thrown on the lawn. Rob Judson has a great write-up on the mechanics of lawn bowling here that includes the physics of bias.
If we were to place a ball on the ground with the bias pointed out (light or heavy point away from the putter), when it is struck it would behave like the image on Page 9. The bias on the ball is equivalent to a topping force that will push the ball in the direction of the heaviest point; this is because the center of gravity is to one side of the axis that the ball is rotating.
How much the ball turns and when it takes effect depends on two things:
1) The amount of the bias. This is why we are concerned with how quickly the ball returns to the spot in the spin test. Faster implies more bias. So we want to keep balls with low amounts of bias.
2) How hard the putt is struck. The bias based on the topping force will have more effect at slower ball speeds. A graphic at the bottom of Page 10 showing impact of bias at different speeds shows this impact.
So we keep balls with low bias and tee them up so that the light spot is on top. (Heavy on top is equivalent)
The purpose of this is that the heavy and light spots are not on the same axis of rotation when the ball is struck; while it is almost impossible to align them perfectly it does minimize the bias (or topping force) that will pull the ball at slower speeds.
In the PGA world, this works fine.
In the PPA minigolf world, there are some complications.
First, as soon as a ball hits a rail the location of the bias is likely no longer on the axis the ball is rolling on. This is a function of where the bias is located at the point of impact on the rail and the angle of reflection off the rail. If a ball is randomly not "getting off the rail" one should check its balance; it is possible that this is impacting the shot and a lower biased ball is needed.
Second, any time a spin shot is played (cut or hook) the bias will impact the curve of the ball. In theory one could take advantage of the bias to increase the impact of the spin. However, since PPA rules dictate that only one ball is allowed to be used each round* and these shots are not used often, this is not an option.
All in all, PPA minigolfers will want to use a ball with as low a bias as possible. This is also true for PGA golfers.
So we have that in common...
I still need to think about how this would be used in the World Minigolf Federation minigolf world. Considering that each ball is about $15-$20, buying multiple balls and spin testing them is not an affordable option. However, if it is a common ball, a team competing at an event may have five to seven of the same type and might be able to select a ball out of their group that is better than the others.
T-minus 90 hours until my flight out. Game on.
Next weekend I'll be participating in the PPA Northern Open in Columbus, IN. As part of this I've bought a box of the Titelist Pro V1s that I normally use in minigolf tournaments. Unlike most minigolfers, I prefer a crisp ball out of the box for new tournaments. Many of the players on tour are using worn down balls that, to them, give better roll and more consistent kick off the rails. I haven't determined if there is merit to this or if this is mental...
One piece that I do believe in is in the balance check of a golf ball.
Ralph Maltby has a good video explaining his methods here.
I agree with the concepts in his video with the following changes:
1) One doesn't need a kit. Warm water and epsom salts work just fine. Adding a couple drops of jet-dry or dishwashing detergent is optional.
2) "Perfectly" balanced golf balls are rare. This is why mechanical devices marking balls always find a spot to mark (referred to in the video). Virtually all balls, given enough time, will slowly rotate so that the lightest part of the ball lies on top. What we are concerned with is how quickly the ball moves to this position.
3) A ball that stops in a different location from the original mark does not necessarily mean that the ball is perfectly balanced. I haven't run across it often, but some balls make it through the manufacturing process with multiple biases. If a ball stops on different spots, you need to make sure that small deviations don't roll back to these individual spots. If it does, you have a ball with multiple biases and it needs to be thrown out. If the ball keeps coming up at random spots...you've found a rare balanced ball. Put it on a pedastal. Burn incense. It's a joyous day to celebrate.
So why should we even care about the balance of a golf ball? I could refer you to Pelz or others that have measured the impact of a poorly balanced golf ball, but let's take a different tack.
Lawn bowlers used to throw balls that had weights inserted to have a certain intended bias. This bias is designed to allow a curve to the path of the ball when thrown on the lawn. Rob Judson has a great write-up on the mechanics of lawn bowling here that includes the physics of bias.
If we were to place a ball on the ground with the bias pointed out (light or heavy point away from the putter), when it is struck it would behave like the image on Page 9. The bias on the ball is equivalent to a topping force that will push the ball in the direction of the heaviest point; this is because the center of gravity is to one side of the axis that the ball is rotating.
How much the ball turns and when it takes effect depends on two things:
1) The amount of the bias. This is why we are concerned with how quickly the ball returns to the spot in the spin test. Faster implies more bias. So we want to keep balls with low amounts of bias.
2) How hard the putt is struck. The bias based on the topping force will have more effect at slower ball speeds. A graphic at the bottom of Page 10 showing impact of bias at different speeds shows this impact.
So we keep balls with low bias and tee them up so that the light spot is on top. (Heavy on top is equivalent)
The purpose of this is that the heavy and light spots are not on the same axis of rotation when the ball is struck; while it is almost impossible to align them perfectly it does minimize the bias (or topping force) that will pull the ball at slower speeds.
In the PGA world, this works fine.
In the PPA minigolf world, there are some complications.
First, as soon as a ball hits a rail the location of the bias is likely no longer on the axis the ball is rolling on. This is a function of where the bias is located at the point of impact on the rail and the angle of reflection off the rail. If a ball is randomly not "getting off the rail" one should check its balance; it is possible that this is impacting the shot and a lower biased ball is needed.
Second, any time a spin shot is played (cut or hook) the bias will impact the curve of the ball. In theory one could take advantage of the bias to increase the impact of the spin. However, since PPA rules dictate that only one ball is allowed to be used each round* and these shots are not used often, this is not an option.
All in all, PPA minigolfers will want to use a ball with as low a bias as possible. This is also true for PGA golfers.
So we have that in common...
I still need to think about how this would be used in the World Minigolf Federation minigolf world. Considering that each ball is about $15-$20, buying multiple balls and spin testing them is not an affordable option. However, if it is a common ball, a team competing at an event may have five to seven of the same type and might be able to select a ball out of their group that is better than the others.
T-minus 90 hours until my flight out. Game on.
Monday, June 25, 2012
The stacked field and 6/24 results
Minigolf courses come in all shapes and sizes. Putt Putt courses all come from a "cookbook" of holes, but their difficulty can vary from place to place.
There are "aces races" courses, like the Red course in Martinez, GA; here are the scores from the 2011 Southern Open. You have to hit the putts pure, but there is less randomness in the carpet and rails than other courses.
Martinsville used to feel like one of those courses, but in recent years it has become much more difficult on the back nine. You better score early and hang on for dear life on the back because it is very easy to go from a 27 to 31 without any rhyme or reason. Bad kick off the rail...fluff of the carpet in the heat throwing the ball off line...take your pick. It is a test of patience and resiliency for the best of players.
I was excited about my pairing on Sunday as I was playing with two former national champions: Robert Johnson and Tony Varnadore. Then again, out here on the East Coast, it seems like everyone has a major title to their name. Every field is stacked, especially when the Southern Tour people show up.
Take the first 12 finishers on Sunday in Martinsville. (Results via DoggHouse)
Seven of them have Pro national titles on the PPA tour. One of the other five has multiple USPMGA national titles and recently won a PPA National major in convincing fashion. One has a Senior National title (and a major National event) in recent years. Two others have Amateur national titles in addition to multiple pro wins of state and major levels.
Eleven of the top-12 have stacked resumes. The 12th member of the dozen "only" has a couple dozen State level wins and a State player of the year award to go with it.
Mind you, only nine people can cash in this event. Some top players are going to be left out of the money. Competing at this level is difficult for the entry pro players; at the end of the year, like the weaker zebras in the herd, they are carved out and separated by the lions never to be heard from again.
The very top players never seem to finish out of the money. Greg Ward is, in my opinion, the best PPA putter of the last twenty years. His back-to-back Player of the Decade titles support this. What really impresses me is that there _have_ to be some days he isn't 100%. But as far as I can tell, over the last 20 years, he has cashed in all but a couple (if not cashed in all) events. You look at most leaderboards and he is in the mix of every event he is in.
This is why I was excited to play with Robert and Tony. I wanted to see what made them tick under competition. What did I learn? Their "bad" putts are still in play and have a chance. Speed control is incredible, probably better than their ability to control line. And when they are on a roll, it's fun to watch. As an example, I shot a 12 on the front nine my last round. By all accounts, even at this level, this is a solid score. Only one was not in play as I severely lagged hole 3; the other two had a chance. How did this match up? I still got my tail kicked by my playing partners. Tony shot an 11 and RoJo shot a perfect 9.
I gave up four strokes a round to people I want to compete with. That's a lot. Actually "a lot" underestimates the gap. My deuce patrols on the back nine didn't help, but at the end of the day I didn't make the holes I needed to make. I can take solace in that one of my playing partners mentioned that I seemed more competitive this year. The stats don't necessarily indicate that (15% cash rate and way too many finishes at/near the bottom). But my swing is improved and when I miss is usually speed related, not because I'm clanging it off a post or obstacle. So people I respect notice I'm grinding and improving, which is nice to fall back on in the weekly grind.
Next week is the North Carolina State Championships in Gastonia. While I would like to go, as it will be a stacked field before the National Northern Open the following week, it is a 7-8 hour drive. It might be best to take a week off; if I want to train I can drive to Richmond (2 hours) and practice for the National Eastern Open later this year.
Either way I need more reps and more speed control training. The only way for the zebra to avoid being eaten by the lions is to grow faster and stronger. Or grow a mane and blend in. Time will tell which path I'm on.
There are "aces races" courses, like the Red course in Martinez, GA; here are the scores from the 2011 Southern Open. You have to hit the putts pure, but there is less randomness in the carpet and rails than other courses.
Martinsville used to feel like one of those courses, but in recent years it has become much more difficult on the back nine. You better score early and hang on for dear life on the back because it is very easy to go from a 27 to 31 without any rhyme or reason. Bad kick off the rail...fluff of the carpet in the heat throwing the ball off line...take your pick. It is a test of patience and resiliency for the best of players.
I was excited about my pairing on Sunday as I was playing with two former national champions: Robert Johnson and Tony Varnadore. Then again, out here on the East Coast, it seems like everyone has a major title to their name. Every field is stacked, especially when the Southern Tour people show up.
Take the first 12 finishers on Sunday in Martinsville. (Results via DoggHouse)
Seven of them have Pro national titles on the PPA tour. One of the other five has multiple USPMGA national titles and recently won a PPA National major in convincing fashion. One has a Senior National title (and a major National event) in recent years. Two others have Amateur national titles in addition to multiple pro wins of state and major levels.
Eleven of the top-12 have stacked resumes. The 12th member of the dozen "only" has a couple dozen State level wins and a State player of the year award to go with it.
Mind you, only nine people can cash in this event. Some top players are going to be left out of the money. Competing at this level is difficult for the entry pro players; at the end of the year, like the weaker zebras in the herd, they are carved out and separated by the lions never to be heard from again.
The very top players never seem to finish out of the money. Greg Ward is, in my opinion, the best PPA putter of the last twenty years. His back-to-back Player of the Decade titles support this. What really impresses me is that there _have_ to be some days he isn't 100%. But as far as I can tell, over the last 20 years, he has cashed in all but a couple (if not cashed in all) events. You look at most leaderboards and he is in the mix of every event he is in.
This is why I was excited to play with Robert and Tony. I wanted to see what made them tick under competition. What did I learn? Their "bad" putts are still in play and have a chance. Speed control is incredible, probably better than their ability to control line. And when they are on a roll, it's fun to watch. As an example, I shot a 12 on the front nine my last round. By all accounts, even at this level, this is a solid score. Only one was not in play as I severely lagged hole 3; the other two had a chance. How did this match up? I still got my tail kicked by my playing partners. Tony shot an 11 and RoJo shot a perfect 9.
I gave up four strokes a round to people I want to compete with. That's a lot. Actually "a lot" underestimates the gap. My deuce patrols on the back nine didn't help, but at the end of the day I didn't make the holes I needed to make. I can take solace in that one of my playing partners mentioned that I seemed more competitive this year. The stats don't necessarily indicate that (15% cash rate and way too many finishes at/near the bottom). But my swing is improved and when I miss is usually speed related, not because I'm clanging it off a post or obstacle. So people I respect notice I'm grinding and improving, which is nice to fall back on in the weekly grind.
Next week is the North Carolina State Championships in Gastonia. While I would like to go, as it will be a stacked field before the National Northern Open the following week, it is a 7-8 hour drive. It might be best to take a week off; if I want to train I can drive to Richmond (2 hours) and practice for the National Eastern Open later this year.
Either way I need more reps and more speed control training. The only way for the zebra to avoid being eaten by the lions is to grow faster and stronger. Or grow a mane and blend in. Time will tell which path I'm on.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Sat. 6/23 Martinsville
A quick five-hour drive from Northern Virginia is all that it takes to reach the quiet reclusive area of Martinsville, VA. One of the great traits of the area is its ability to retain all heat; allegedly the temperature was supposed to be 85F, but all the thermometers were reading 100+F.
Because of this, I have to dial down the amount of practice I have. I only made one detailed lap of the course over 90 minutes, which is not to my liking. Fortunately, this is the location of my lone PPA title (here); so even though the course is more difficult and the shots have changed, I know what holes I need to focus on and what ones I just need to put in play and hope for the best. The goal was to shoot clean, take aces where they come (especially on the front nine), and keep attacking the course.
I was really happy with my random group pairing; Bill and TJ are two of the more relaxed people out there. Considering we were going to be baking on a course with no shade, we need all the relaxation we can find. Plus, both Bill and TJ can really roll it, so it is good chance to play heads-up against some quality competition.
My happiness quickly disappated with a bogey on the very first hole. Lagged a putt dead on line, leaving a 30-inch putt. Thinking it broke, I hit it firm, never giving up the cup...yet somehow it spun 180-degrees out of the hole and sat on the edge of the cup. One hole in and my chance for shooting clean was done.
Fortunately I was able to feed off of Bill's great shooting as well as TJ putting up a solid score to stay on track. As much as I prefer winning, I do tend to cheerlead when my playing partners are in contention. Bill ended up finishing in a playoff, but I decided to cool off in a shower...so I'll have to get the final tomorrow.
I did grind out some good patches and was able to lay up on the last hole to preserve a cash finish...so that was nice.
But if you want to see the difference between a top finish and not cashing out here, this is the tournament to watch.
76 wins in a playoff
81 - T-3rd/19
82 - T-5th/19
83 - T-7th/19 (last cash)
84 - T10th/19 (out of money)
85 - 13th
Image of Pro results
A break or two a round means the difference between not cashing and a podium finish.
That's why I harp on keeping focused and shooting clean. You can't afford to drop shots out here.
Because of this, I have to dial down the amount of practice I have. I only made one detailed lap of the course over 90 minutes, which is not to my liking. Fortunately, this is the location of my lone PPA title (here); so even though the course is more difficult and the shots have changed, I know what holes I need to focus on and what ones I just need to put in play and hope for the best. The goal was to shoot clean, take aces where they come (especially on the front nine), and keep attacking the course.
I was really happy with my random group pairing; Bill and TJ are two of the more relaxed people out there. Considering we were going to be baking on a course with no shade, we need all the relaxation we can find. Plus, both Bill and TJ can really roll it, so it is good chance to play heads-up against some quality competition.
My happiness quickly disappated with a bogey on the very first hole. Lagged a putt dead on line, leaving a 30-inch putt. Thinking it broke, I hit it firm, never giving up the cup...yet somehow it spun 180-degrees out of the hole and sat on the edge of the cup. One hole in and my chance for shooting clean was done.
Fortunately I was able to feed off of Bill's great shooting as well as TJ putting up a solid score to stay on track. As much as I prefer winning, I do tend to cheerlead when my playing partners are in contention. Bill ended up finishing in a playoff, but I decided to cool off in a shower...so I'll have to get the final tomorrow.
I did grind out some good patches and was able to lay up on the last hole to preserve a cash finish...so that was nice.
But if you want to see the difference between a top finish and not cashing out here, this is the tournament to watch.
76 wins in a playoff
81 - T-3rd/19
82 - T-5th/19
83 - T-7th/19 (last cash)
84 - T10th/19 (out of money)
85 - 13th
Image of Pro results
A break or two a round means the difference between not cashing and a podium finish.
That's why I harp on keeping focused and shooting clean. You can't afford to drop shots out here.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Roanoke Results 09-Jun-2012
I have a love-hate relationship with Course #2 in Roanoke. I enjoy the owners, the staff, the fact that they take good care of the course...but everything about the course drives me a little batty.
I have yet to post a decent result here, unless setting records for slides on rails is something I should strive for. I did get a few hours of practice, so I felt reasonable good at the start.
As the day went on, the temperatures rose to the 90s, tempers started fraying, and a mix of sweat, suntan lotion, liniment, and sadness seemed to fall over the course. Or maybe it was just the humidity and heat.
In the AM tournament I was relegated to cheerleader quickly as I parred Hole #9 in the first round through to Hole #6 in the second round. You can't get 15 deuces in a row at this level, especially in a three-round event. Played with Rick Baird and Gary Hinshaw; Rick had a nice roll and made the last hole to get into a playoff for the title (won by R. Johnson).
Morning PPA results
Morning results (Text) via MyDoggHouse
The PM tournament was pretty much the same. Could have gotten into the cash with a decent final round, but couldn't close the deal. Jeff Spainhour, rebounding from a tough morning performance, pulled off the victory.
Afternoon PPA results
Afternoon results (Text) via MyDoggHouse
Finished 2nd to last in both tournaments, which is disappointing and also doesn't feel like the level I played at. But the math doesn't lie...that's how it adds up.
Tomorrow I get a chance to rebound in a four-round State Major event. So we aren't done here in Roanoke...yet...
I have yet to post a decent result here, unless setting records for slides on rails is something I should strive for. I did get a few hours of practice, so I felt reasonable good at the start.
As the day went on, the temperatures rose to the 90s, tempers started fraying, and a mix of sweat, suntan lotion, liniment, and sadness seemed to fall over the course. Or maybe it was just the humidity and heat.
In the AM tournament I was relegated to cheerleader quickly as I parred Hole #9 in the first round through to Hole #6 in the second round. You can't get 15 deuces in a row at this level, especially in a three-round event. Played with Rick Baird and Gary Hinshaw; Rick had a nice roll and made the last hole to get into a playoff for the title (won by R. Johnson).
Morning PPA results
Morning results (Text) via MyDoggHouse
The PM tournament was pretty much the same. Could have gotten into the cash with a decent final round, but couldn't close the deal. Jeff Spainhour, rebounding from a tough morning performance, pulled off the victory.
Afternoon PPA results
Afternoon results (Text) via MyDoggHouse
Finished 2nd to last in both tournaments, which is disappointing and also doesn't feel like the level I played at. But the math doesn't lie...that's how it adds up.
Tomorrow I get a chance to rebound in a four-round State Major event. So we aren't done here in Roanoke...yet...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)