2021 Tournaments Follow Along

[JAGolfore]

Once again here we are getting ready for another season of tournament golf.  2020 was a challenging year but we did come away with four wins and a top 10 in the Illinois State Mid-Amateur.  I am looking forward to a few more events in 2021 and hopefully a few more wins!

Schedule so far:

Date	Tournament	Location	Holes	Score
Feb 15 April 29	Gasparilla Invitational Qualifier CDGA Mid-Amateur Qualifier	Tampa, FL Kankakee Elks	18  18	78 (+6) 74 (+2) *T-8
May 3	US Open Qualifying	Country Club of Indianapolis	18	78 (+6)
May 17-19	CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship	Lake Shore CC	18-MP	71 (E)    T-9 Lost 1st round of MP
June 5-6	Naughton Open	Lake of the Woods	36	77 - 77 (+10)
June 17	Illinois State Amateur Qualifying	U of I Orange Course	18	76 (+4) DNQ
June 19-20	U of I Open	U or I Orange Course	36	69 - 69 (-6) 1st
July 7	US Amateur Qualifying	Weibring Golf Club @ ISU	36	68 -76 (+2) DNQ T-11
July 24-25	Twin Cities Championship	U of I & Lincolnshire	54	72-79-74 (+11) 7th
Aug 4-8	SWNY-NWPA Men's Amateur	Bartlet CC	18-MP	74 (+4) Lost in QtF
Aug 23-24	Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship	Bloomington CC	54	72-79-72 (+10) T-22

Oct 9-10         UCC Club Championship                        Urbana CC                       36

Oct 19            USGA Four Ball Qualifying                        Prairie View GC               18

As with 2020 this is subject to change, but these are in the plans as of right now.  (MP events will have qualifying rounds in them to determine match play fields) *Qualified

All photos and live score sites are posted to my instagram account - JoshAndersonGolf give it a follow!

Edited August 27, 2021 by JAGolfore
Update after through 7/30

[JAGolfore]

Golf season is officially here.  The one event in FL did not go as planned but it was fun to compete in Florida.  I have my first tee time for the season up here on April 29th.  I tee off at 9:21 in the CDGA Mid-Amateur qualifier.  86 guys for 11 spots and ties.  I will put out a live link the day of the event on my Instagram page. 

[JAGolfore]

Yesterday was my 2nd tournament of the year but first since February.  There were 82 guys for 11 spots and ties to get into the CDGA Mid-Amateur.  It was a very poor weather day as it rained for 14 holes and was about 55*.  The golf course was in very good shape and is a great layout.  If you live in the Illinois area and want to play a fun golf course that will test your short game and putting come play Kankakee Elks.  My round was very up and down, I started well with a birdie on my 2nd hole (started on 10), but I followed it with a 3 putt bogey.  This was the them of the day as I did this 2 more times following birdies with a bogey.  In the end I was able to hold the round together and finish at +2 and qualify for the championship May 17-19.  I will be sure to post back here as there will be live scoring. 

[PMookie]

2 minutes ago, JoshAndersonGolf said:

Yesterday was my 2nd tournament of the year but first since February.  There were 82 guys for 11 spots and ties to get into the CDGA Mid-Amateur.  It was a very poor weather day as it rained for 14 holes and was about 55*.  The golf course was in very good shape and is a great layout.  If you live in the Illinois area and want to play a fun golf course that will test your short game and putting come play Kankakee Elks.  My round was very up and down, I started well with a birdie on my 2nd hole (started on 10), but I followed it with a 3 putt bogey.  This was the them of the day as I did this 2 more times following birdies with a bogey.  In the end I was able to hold the round together and finish at +2 and qualify for the championship May 17-19.  I will be sure to post back here as there will be live scoring. 

Congrats!!! 

[JAGolfore]

3 minutes ago, PMookie said:

Congrats!!! 

Thank you! Hopefully many more events to come!

[JAGolfore]

Monday was the CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Lake Shore Country Club north of Chicago.  The format was 18 hole qualifying round with the top 16 going to match play.  I did not get the chance to play a practice round but I was able to get a green book from Golflogix.  The green book was very helpful.  I started my day on the tenth tee and it was a smooth start with a par.  I was able to hit the first 5 greens in regulation with one 3 putt (lack of pace) and an eagle on a par 5.  I got into trouble on 15 and 16 but made two nice bogey saving putts to save the round.  I finished the front 9 one over and went to the first tee knowing that even par would get me into match play.  A driver and wedge later I had a tap in birdie and was at that number.  I was able to finish the round with one more bogey and a birdie and 6 straight pars to finish the round at even par 71, good enough for a T-9.  

The afternoon match play round started at 3:18 and I did not play the way I wanted to on the front 9 and found myself in a deep hole headed into the back 9.  I was able to claw it back a little but ended up loosing my first match 5&3 and ending my chances for the title.  On a side note a very good friend is in the championship round today so I wish him the best of luck and hope he can pull off the victory.  

Stats for the round, I hit 50% of my fairways, 61% of the greens and had 29 putts.  I am now off until a local event June 5 & 6.  

[JAGolfore]

So I have played 5 tournament rounds of golf since I was last able to update everyone.  I played in 2 local men's opens and one qualifier.  The first event was back on June 5th and 6th (The Naughton Open) at Lake of the Woods Golf Course.  I usually like this course and still do, I was not able to hold my first round together as I started with an even par 36 on the front but struggled to get it in the house and shot a 41 for a 77.  The second round I knew I would have to go low (68) was the number in my head.  Well the round started much like the 1st one ended and i started with a 42.  I was able to right the ship and come in with a 35 for another 77, but way off the leader.  A good friend and fellow club member at Urbana won the tournament so it was nice to see.  

On to the Illinois State Amateur Qualifier.  33 guys for 4 spots.  You can not make mistakes.  Same with the Naughton Open the driver was letting me down.  I wasn't missing big, I was just off.  A yard here a yard there and I could have had much better looks.  But that is golf.  I got it around in 76 and knew I left a lot on the course.  I started the day -2 through 3 and just couldn't get a break from there.  The swing was feeling good I just needed to be patient. I ended up missing the field for the state am by 5. 

Onto the U of I Open.  Same course as the State Amateur qualifier.  This was another great field of golfers.  Being a 2 day tournament I wanted to just set myself up to be in a good spot come Sunday.  I brought my 6 year old boy along to ride with me and keep me on my toes.  He did a great job all weekend and did keep the mood light.  The first round was a very stock round of golf.  I was +1 through 15 holes and just did not have a lot going.  I was hitting good shots, just needed something to kick start me.  Well a huge tee shot and a 10' birdie putt on the 16th hole was just the ticket.  I made the putt and boom we were off.  I then eagled the par 5 (545 yards) 17th and birded the par 3 18th to finish at -3 (69) and a first round lead by 1.  It was a bunched leader board as there were 12 guys at +1 or better.  

The next day I again brought my boy with me and told him we just needed another solid round.  First hole is a par 5 that is reachable.  2 solid shots and a 2 putt birdie and we are off at -4 and feeling good.  I made a mistake on a short put on the par 4 5th to fall back to -3 but a birdie on the par 4 7th got me back to -4.  I made the turn and asked if anyone was making a charge.  I was told the guys at +1 were making a move as one had shot -4 on the front to pull within one.  I knew I had to get to -5 at least to be in the hunt for the win.  I made a silly bogie from 40 yards on the par 4 12th to fall back to -3, but rebounded with a birdie on the par 5 13th to get it back to -4.  I was now tied for the lead and needed a strong finish.  I pared 14 and 15 before another huge tee shot on 16 and a perfect wedge.  I made the 8' birdied putt to get to -5 and onto 17 with a one shot lead.  I then hit another great tee shot leaving me a hybrid to the green.  I was able to hit that to 15' and 2 putt for another birdie and move to -6.  At the time I did not know I had a 2 shot lead.  The par 3 18th was playing 150 yards and the wind was not being nice.  I chose to hit a 9 iron and hit it over the back of the green.  I knew I didnt want to make a bogie and I hit the best chip I hit all weekend.  It lipped out and left me a tap in for the win.  This was a great win for me and I was very excited to have my boy with me all weekend to share in the experience. 

https://t.co/QGAnXNaRcZ

 

 

 

 

[DiscipleofPenick]

How do you prep for tournaments? How much golf do you play outside of the tourney? What's the practice routine? 

[JAGolfore]

On 6/23/2021 at 9:06 AM, DiscipleofPenick said:

How do you prep for tournaments? How much golf do you play outside of the tourney? What's the practice routine? 

Tournament prep is all dependent on work.  I am lucky in that I do have a skytrak at the house and can hit balls most days I am home.  The short game is where I lack practice.  I try to get to the club to practice that once a week, but even that is tough sometimes.  I usually hit between 300-500 balls a week at the house.  I do not play as much recreational golf as people would think.  I have played only 21 rounds so far this year and 10 of those have been in tournaments.  

Practice, if I am having a true practice day I start at 50 yards, move to 75, then 100, 115 and up through the bag all the way to my hybrids. 10 shots with each and that is about 120 shots.  I will sometimes hit a few more with my 8 or 9 iron just to finish the session. 

Edited June 24, 2021 by JAGolfore

[DiscipleofPenick]

5 hours ago, JAGolfore said:

Tournament prep is all dependent on work.  I am lucky in that I do have a skytrak at the house and can hit balls most days I am home.  The short game is where I lack practice.  I try to get to the club to practice that once a week, but even that is tough sometimes.  I usually hit between 300-500 balls a week at the house.  I do not play as much recreational golf as people would think.  I have played only 21 rounds so far this year and 10 of those have been in tournaments.  

Practice, if I am having a true practice day I start at 50 yards, move to 75, then 100, 115 and up through the bag all the way to my hybrids. 10 shots with each and that is about 120 shots.  I will sometimes hit a few more with my 8 or 9 iron just to finish the session. 

Thanks! I'm trying to get into tournament play, carry a 4.7 right now, trending down. I play 36 a week and have a Birdie Ball mat at home. It's tough to get to the driving range or practice green. 

[JAGolfore]

1 hour ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

Thanks! I'm trying to get into tournament play, carry a 4.7 right now, trending down. I play 36 a week and have a Birdie Ball mat at home. It's tough to get to the driving range or practice green. 

I will tell you short game is where it is at.  Mine has been off all summer and just started to get to ok.  Even chipping in your yard will help.  It helps keep that touch. 

[DiscipleofPenick]

3 hours ago, JAGolfore said:

I will tell you short game is where it is at.  Mine has been off all summer and just started to get to ok.  Even chipping in your yard will help.  It helps keep that touch. 

I agree with you there. Chipping to a milk crate or something would probably help. There's two short courses near me that no one ever practices at, I'd have the greens to myself. Need to work things out to do that.

[JAGolfore]

I can't believe we are looking into August already.  I have had a busy work and golf schedule and have not posted here as much as I would like.  July just flew by.  The month started with the US Amateur qualifier at Weibring Golf Course in Normal, IL.  I was playing very well coming into that event and it showed as I opened with a 68 (-3) to be in 2nd place after the first round.  I tried to not think about the big picture, but in the end it crept into my thoughts and I faulted in the 2nd round shooting a 76 (+5) to finish in a T-11.  If I would have shot even par I would have gotten into a playoff for a spot at Oakmont.  I was very disappointed with my mental game as I got away from one shot at a time and thought about the end game.  This is one of the reasons I enjoy playing these events because it is a test of all skills and you find your weakness really fast under pressure. 

The other event I had this month was the Twin City Championship.  I was defending champion for this event and had a very confident mind frame coming into the event.  I started the tournament with a very nice round of 72 (E) to be in a tie for third headed into the 2nd round.  I continued to play well and was only +1 through 9 when my back went out on the 10th hole.  I could not finish my swings and shot a 42 (+6) on the back nine for a 79 (+7) and thus shooting myself out of the event.  With one more round that afternoon I loaded up on Advil and went out with 65 in mind to get back to even.  I played the front nine in even par and thought maybe something special on the back 9 would happen.  It almost did, I birdied 4 of the first 5 on the back 9 before the Advil wore off and then played the last 4 in six over to shoot a 74 (+2).  I was very disappointed to not be in contention for this title as my swing was good enough, but my body was not.  I have fought back issues for years and this winter it is going to be the focus, and I hope to have that solved as I want to continue playing at this level.  

I have been resting my back as I am headed out east next week to play in the SWNY-NWPA Men's Amateur in Olean, NY.  This is a great event with a qualifying round on Wednesday and then match play the rest of the week.  Hard to believe but I won this event 20 years ago.  I have a hard time saying that as i do not feel old enough to have won something  20 years ago. 

 

Edited July 30, 2021 by JAGolfore