Heading South...

Well, the year isn't quite over yet. Headed down to Phoenix to play in the Arizona Women's Open this week. You can follow here. It will be a good warm up for Q-School in two weeks down in Florida.

Here's to lots of birdies and sunshine!

Tis The Season For Growth

It's tough to sum up an entire year. Hasn't seemed like a year to me. Overall, it was one of the best times of my life. To be on the road, and doing what I love and having some success was awesome. I met some amazing people, my host "parents" or the friends I made on tour. I have so many awesome memories of the year. And there were many moments of frustration that causes someone to wonder if it was the right decision. I matured as a golfer and a person, so judging by that, it was a great year. Whenever there is growth there has to be some tough times, and there were. There were moments when my back was up against the wall financially and I had to make a cut to send in a full check for the next series, and I made it happen. However, I didn't achieve my goals that I had wanted to. I know I am a great player and can do great things. I know I can win on the Duramed FUTURES Tour and I know it will be on God's watch, not mine. There were a lot of mistakes that I made this past year that were just evidence of my age as a golfer, they were rookie mistakes. The best thing about making mistakes is you know exactly what to work on to be better, and in a way I am thankful for that.

I stayed with families that I would never hesitate to claim as my own. They were so great and for someone who was a "homebody" in college grew into someone that could interact and bond with whoever came her way, and for that I am very thankful. It was a key ingredient in this year being a success.

I had given up my dream on playing professional golf in college. College golf does that to some people. You get so sick of being told what to do, where to go, what to wear. In a way its easier than professional golf but you have so much drama to deal with. When it goes on for four years I couldn't help but associate all those negative feelings about college golf with just golf. But after my senior year something happened and I fell in love again. That "newfound" independence after graduation made me feel like I could tackle anyone, anytime. It led to a stellar amateur summer and spring boarded me into Duramed Qualifying School.

As my off-season (sort of) starts, I will take those things, build off what I can and get ready for my next events and next season.

This Is What I Did This Summer....

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9,000 or so miles later I am home!

Greater Richmond Classic: Round 2

Dawn and I had a mid morning round again which was nice because it has been so bloody hot here all week. I struggled right away, three over after four then I turned it around. Those are always mental victories for me because it's tough to do that. If you wake up in a funk, or sleep poorly, there are so many factors that you could let ruin your day but you have to choose to fight, everyday, otherwise you can't survive out there. Plain and simple. I made the turn in +1 after making two straight tap in birdies. The back was going well but after a poor swing on #16 found an inch into the hazard but my ball had somehow gone into a hole the perfect diameter of a golf ball, I had to drop and made double. It's tough when it comes down to one swing, but that's how this level is. You either make a lot of birdies to offset your mistakes or you don't make mistakes. It's part of the thrill and it is part of the dissapointment. It sucks to miss a cut after a semi-streak of made cuts but that's how it goes. I think I come off that it doesn't bother me to miss a cut, but it really makes me angry, for about 5 minutes, then I get into pro-active mode to find out what to work on, change, get sharp for the next event. Life is to short to get mad over missed cuts. When that happens, there is always a lesson. Whether we want to learn the lesson or not, it is there and you can either learn it and get better or you can sulk in your pride and pity and be miserable. The latter sounds like torture to me!

I am playing in a pro-am in Raleigh, NC on Monday so I will be getting ready for that. It is benefiting breast cancer research, which hits close to home. My boyfriend's mother has breast cancer for a second time and just finished chemo [Insert prayer] and thought it was a perfect opportunity to be a part of such an incredible cause.

Greater Richmond Classic: Round 1

I played with Dawn Shockley, first of all. If you don't recognize the name, she played junior golf in CO with me and we've known each other forever. The last time we played together was in high school at her home course. Crazy! Needless to say, it was fun to catch up with her and see how she has developed as a golfer since high school. We teed off in the morning so it was good to get out there early. It was a tough day though. Up and down and had a chance of rain all day so we thought we were just gonna get poured on. Well, on our 17th hole, IT POURED! We weren't pulled off the course so we had to play those last two tough finishing holes in a downpour. I had a 6' for par on #17 and I could hear the rain coming down the cart path. Rain in the south is cool like that, it comes at you in a sheet but you can see the defined line. Anyway, we both struggled with pouring in the birdies and shot the same thing, 74.

We'll be playing again tomorrow!!

Richmond, VA

I stopped on the way down from PA at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. What a find that was! I spent about 2.5 hours grazing in facts and accounts of marines who fought in all different wars. How awesome. When I left, I was just totally overcome with emotion. What an honor it was to see all that and what an incredible sacrifice. That was probably the closest I have come to trying to grasp the concept of risking a life for freedom. It was very cool. Here are some awesome pictures I took.

 {the flag that was raised on Mount Suribachi made famous by Jon Rosenthal's photograph}

{pins mark the lives lost on Iwo Jima}

{hidden photograph of Iwo Jima when taken against the same wall, but with flash}

Pennsylvania

The week has gone by fast. I have [obviously] forgotten to blog but I'm sure it wasn't missed that much. I shot a ho-hum 72-73 to make the cut then didn't putt well the last day en route to a 77. I had a fantastic host family this past week, filled with bonding, great dinners, and unexpected gifts [shamwow] but that's the usual out here. So many great people to meet and parts of the country to get to know. I took a trip to Gettysburg which was AWESOME.

I was pretty happy that I could work that into my week. I just wouldn't feel right if I didn't, being so close and all. I could have spent a week there but settled for about an hour and a half.

The course was good, kinda hilly on the side of a "mountain" which was cool. We played lift, clean and place because the fairways were pretty patchy.

This next week will be my last out here, I will miss the Albany tournament in three weeks. I am looking forward to a good, solid push before my break. What a grind.

Harrisburg, PA

We got here after a treacherous 4 hour drive this morning. It felt like 20. Went to the golf course and hit/putted/chipped. Then I was off to chocolate world at Hershey Park! WOOT WOOT! My friend Carol is a PA native and felt it was appropriate. We had dinner in Hershey, a cute little town and had a great time catching up.

Harrisburg, PA

Population: 47,148

Elevation: 330ft.

State capital, birthplace of Newt Gingrich.

Alliance Bank Classic: Round 3

Had another great round today, -1, 70. Really, it was nothing spectacular. Just making putts when I needed to. I actually didn't putt that great number-wise, still had two three-putts but overall my putting is loads better than it was on Friday! I hit the ball great, and chipped pretty well. Conditions were so nice, overcast and cool. We played pretty fast and I moved up twenty places on the leaderboard which is awesome! It was a good ending to a good week.

On to the next. Sad to leave Wegman's behind. World's best grocery store!!

Syracuse, NY

Okay, not gonna lie, I'm kinda getting tired of the postcards. I have been taking way better pictures of the places I have been than those postcards portray and Tiffany Joh told me that they are stupid. Anyway, this picture made me laugh so I will share.

Population: 138,068

Elevation: 400ft.

Famous people from Syracuse: Tom Cruise, Richard Gere.

Other interesting facts: The Erie Canal ran through Syracuse.

They produced the majority of the salt in the US in the late 1700s to the early 1900s, and oddly enough I saw the movie Salt here.

The International at Concord: Round 2

The day didn't start out as planned, hitting out of some trees and trying to salvage par right out of the gates. However, I stayed patient and on my front nine, had five legit looks at birdie. On my back, I started off birdie, birdie, a good start to make up for a poor front, but struggled on some of the tough holes where all you need to walk away with is par.

It's so frustrating to miss another cut, just by a handful, and look back and think what a dope I was for missing that putt, or not chipping it closer etc. That will drive you nuts! Instead, just like every week I will focus on what needs to be better and continue to work on that until it is sufficient in tournament play.

It really does get old missing cuts, trying not to worry about the future. It's a good gut check. If you are worrying, and down on yourself you are obviously not cut out to be out here. You have to be tough skinned, and competitive, and you can't let up improving, because you better believe some other girl farther down on the list would KILL to be in your shoes.

I am blessed to be here, doing what I love, and seeing the country, in the case this week, the BEAUTIFUL country. It is a very unique situation and I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world.


A few highlights before I go:

On Wednesday, I went to do some errands, clean my car, and see Inception. I stopped in a mall parking lot to wipe down the inside of my car (after nine weeks on the road, it's pretty disgusting!!) so I did the drivers side, then stepped out to get the passenger side. Well I was listening to NPR and working so the car was on. I stepped out, walked around, cleaned that side then shut the door. I walked over to the drivers side and realized I had just locked myself out of my car, while it was running. Yupp. Sure did. So I panicked for like 10 seconds, thinking how in the heck I was gonna get out of this one. I sat down to collect my thoughts and I figured I had to ask someone to use their phone to call my parents to get the AAA number. I was unfortunately without my purse, phone, anything. So I stopped a nice couple probably on their way home from the mall, and told them what I had done and asked to use their phone. They gave it to me without any hesitation. I tried, mom, dad, mom again, nothing. Then the woman said I should just call 411 and ask for Concord AAA. Genius! So I did that, they verified all my info and sent out a truck. I was standing there with mall security (haha) and the couple that stopped to help. They wished me luck in the tournament, I guess it was obvious I was a golfer, and they had housed players before so that was cool. Right when they took off, the AAA man came to save the day. It took about 10 min total and I was on my way. Only 10 min before, I was thinking man, this is going to take about 2 hours!! Funny how that works out. Glad I was in a small town. I even made it to my movie on time.

Yesterday, I went for like a four mile run from my host's house. It is in the country/mountains in NH so it's very beautiful. I was on my way back to the house, and I see this dog running straight at me. I didn't have the best feeling about this one so I stopped. Sure enough this dog was showing its teeth and barking. 'What the hell did I do to you?!' I was thinking. It started circling me and then jumped up trying to bite me. I kicked it. Yess. It jumped up again. Kicked it again. Meanwhile the owners are making their best efforts to come restrain the dog, all were unsuccessful when it jumped at me again. It got my shorts, but it was a small price to pay for not biting my leg! It seemed distracted as it ran off the other way, and I started to run on home. I passed the owners and they said, "This is why we don't usually let him out". Haha. Really? Your dog is freaking crazy. You should NEVER let him out! So I sprinted home, periodically looking back to see if Cujo was on my tail. Thankfully he wasn't.

Today, I am practicing until my hands bleed, then maybe another run. Tomorrow I am heading an hour north east to the coast of Maine for some "lobstah". I'm not a big lobster eater, but I guess if it's the best lobster in the country, I'll eat it. This place I am going to is right on the coast, by a sweet lighthouse. It will give me some good down time and relaxation before our next event in Syracuse, NY.

Great Article

Here's a great article about the life of an up-and-coming professional golfer in the Denver area. Good stuff.

Greetings from Concord, NH

Population: 42,225

Elevation: 270ft.

Notables: Actress Keri Lynn Pratt, Steve Bernard Creator of Cape Cod potato chips.

ING New England Golf Classic: Round 1

I have been playing well for probably the last month, month and a half, but my scores haven't really been showing it. For the two weeks, I have been pondering how to approach my game in a new way to help improve those little mistakes that keep occurring. Well, they aren't all gone but I have finally addressed putting. Yesterday, after skimming parts of Every Shot Must Have a Purpose by Pia Nilsson I came to the conclusion that my pre-shot routine for putting needs to change. Sometimes, you can be so focused looking down on the ball you forget to focus on the target and I believe this is what was happening. Now, I take my practice swings behind the ball my shoulders perpendicular to the hole, and staring straight down my line. Today was the first day in competition that I used it, and my pace was right on, and I even made some putts outside of 20'! Honestly, my birdies have been chip-ins, and tap-ins lately and it gets exhausting not making any long putts!

The course is very pretty we are playing this week, Wintonbury Hills Golf Course. Evidently it is a Pete Dye design and he charged $1 to play, ummm, like 6 years ago. Pretty cool! The greens have gotten faster everyday (YAY!) and they are finally putting pretty nice. The fairways are wide but the undulations in the green are tricky. It is a really fun track.

Today was nothing too crazy, 3 bogeys, 2 birdies on my front nine and just one birdie and a whole lotta pars on my back. It started gusting on the back nine so I'm glad I got in the clubhouse when I did. I could smell donuts with two holes left, some guy was making homemade donuts by the putting green. Haha. I'm not a big donut girl but they smelled AMAZING! I tried one, and they were pretty good, but I'd rather have a Sam Adams Summerale. Mmm I love summer.

My mom is coming tonight to watch the weekend (and for my birthday on Sunday)!! I am so excited, because no one has seen me play in one of these events and they are so fun. Bloomfield definitely has the best spectators thus far! There were a ton of people out there today which is fun to see. I heard it was senior day, so I'm sure they got a discount. Every senior loves a bargain, right?! Anyway, tomorrow is a new day, time for more birdies and fun times. I can't wait.

I'm Close To Hartford, Connecticut

Population: 124,462

Elevation: 56 feet above sea level

Nickname: The Insurance City

Home to Katherine Hepburn, J.P. Morgan

Greetings from London, KY

Just got in to London! Wow, it's a small town!

Elevation: 1200ft

Population: 7,962

66 miles south of Lexington, KY home of the great John Calipari and his Kentucky Wildcats! :)

City of Hammond: Round 3

I got to the course, all warmed up, 10 min to go before my tee time and the horn blew. God forbid we go through a tournament without rain or wind! Well, we got both today! The rain came, just in time to watch Germany v. England in the clubhouse. England played horrible but Germany got it done!

We had a three hour delay, and it poured like no tomorrow! There was a water fall coming off #10's green! We were all a little skeptical on how this course would drain. Sadly, we know how many courses drain! This one was good though. Thank goodness because we wouldn't have been able to play lift-clean-and-place because players had already gotten through some holes. Well we got through about three holes, and the WIND KICKED UP! Holy cow was it windy! I was playing alright in it. We got to #18 and it was playing dead into the wind. Just to give you an idea of the wind, it always blows, we're in Chicago for cryin' out loud, but this hole, played down wind yesterday and I hit driver-gap wedge, and today I hit driver-5wood. Quite the difference! Anyway, things were going well until my fourteenth hole where I hit my layup shot on this par-5 slightly right, and I'm pretty positive the volunteer that was over there picked up the ball. I saw the guy over there react to something, and I almost yelled fore, but he looked like he saw it coming. I got over there and a caddy had us looking in a different place. I asked the volunteer if he saw a ball come in and he said no. Well five minutes go by and nothing so I had to go hit again, and I hit it very similar, straighter this time and the distance it went was right next to that volunteer, no where near the patch of native everyone was looking. I made my double and went onto the next tee. Hate to say that a volunteer might have picked it up but I looked all around where I thought it landed and it was no where to be found. I didn't hit it that far off line either. Anyway, stuff like that happens, so just kept playing. After some mistakes on the next two holes, and a dead into the wind #18, I was ready for bed.

It was a good first two days, and a hard last day. I hit the ball well today but just couldn't get anything to drop. I had a lot of chances and was really mentally strong, but sometimes things just don't go your way.

Headed to Cincinnati, OH tomorrow to stay with some friends and then onto London, KY for my fifth tournament in five weeks. Ready for a break, but still have some work to do! Glad to be goin to the south. No place like it!

Greetings from Chicago, IL

Well, close...Hammond, IN. Really close to Gary, IN.

Here are some stats on Hammond.

Elevation: 600ft

Population: 76,732

The total rate of violent crime is 1.9 X the national average (2008).

Median home price is $119,000

**Info found on WolframAlpha.com**

H20

Well yesterday it rained for an hour. And today, the course looks like this!!

This is supposed to be #1 and #9 cart path. We might need a boat to get across. So far the tee times have already been pushed back 90 min. This puts me teeing off at 3:10pm. My host mom/caddy will pack dinner, don't worry!

Greetings From Decatur!

Last week just flew by! The tournament didn't go as I would have liked but there are lessons in those tournaments. I didn't hit the ball very well on Friday. I was all over the map, getting up and down from the craziest spots. I hit it right on a par-4 into a hazard, dropped in the 2nd cut and put my 4-iron to 6' for par. Another hole, I hit it right into the trees, punched out to 100 yards and hit it 5' to get up and down. After that shot, a rather excited volunteer said, "Wow what a shot! Thanks for being here! You're awesome!". A little boost to the confidence never hurt, right?! Didn't score like I felt I should have but overall, kept my numbers low (nothing above a bogey all week -- opposed to last week when I had doubles and triples!) and three putts to none. I was happy with that, just didn't roll in any birdies.

On Saturday, I teed off early, 7:50am, and we had 100% chance of rain. Sure enough on our 1st green it started POURING! We played five and a half holes in a downpour, getting absolutely soaked! I don't know what it is with this tour and where we go, but we have had some awful weather the last couple events. Lucky for anyone who didn't tee off before 9:30am, they didn't have to have this wonderful experience. My dad says that I am a mudder, I tend to play well when everyone is complaining about the weather. I don't really know why people complain, because when they do, half the field is beat already. I know girls were struggling in that rain but I wasn't! Personally, I was not objected to it pouring all day long. I was even par in the rain when the two girls in my group alone, were making some big numbers. My host dad even ventured out on his bike to come watch-- it was impressive.

After a four hour delay full of me returning home to dry my clothing and catch some World Cup, we started back out to finish the round. I played steady, but not making some close ones for birdie at the end. Didn't get great reads on the greens but overall my pace was SOO much better than last week. Finished again, without big numbers or three putts.

Missing the cut was frustrating but it just means I have to work harder. I know I am so close, and it's coming together. The aspect that I am most happy about is that my game is becoming more consistent, opposed to one thing being good one day and another the next. Someone once told me that's when you become good, when your high scores get lower and your lower scores take it deep. Both are essential elements to playing at this level.

I had so much fun off the golf course in Ohio as well! My friend Jasi's parents were in town and I got to meet them finally! It's always fun meeting the parents of a great person because you see how they became that great person! Her family had me over for some home cooked Indian food, which was FANTASTIC! I think they were all really surprised how much I liked it. My momma raised me right I guess. I'll usually try anything-- unless it has fire in the title.

I absolutely loved having the kids around. They were so much fun. The little boy was so excited [his parents said-- he acted pretty shy around me I think!] for me to stay. I went to a cookout with the family which was really fun. I love meeting other people. I don't know how all of a sudden, I became so outgoing, but I love it. I played some golf with my host fam last night and had to say bye to them today. :( It's sad to leave because they really do feel like family while you're there. The in between period sometimes can be nerve wracking to see if the next one will be as fun. Luckily, she is awesome. I don't know how I am getting so lucky! I love it!


We are in Decatur, IL this week for the Tate & Lyle Championship, our only major on the FUTURES Tour. Tournament is Thursday-Sunday. Look for live scoring here.