Played front nine thru 13 with Ben, then we hooked up with Charlie and Richie for last five holes. Really nice day. Near 70 degrees.
Finally had a decent round. Hit the ball much better today. As confidence built, swing got better. Only one bad hole today, on par 5 17th, usually one of my favs. Popped up tee shot. Then hit two worm-burner hybrids. Finally reached green on fourth shot, only to three putt for double. Only three putt of round today compared to five yesterday. However, had three penalties today.
Had some real nice shots today. Game felt pretty solid with the exception of the 17th hole. Finished up on 18 with a birdie. Hit 160 yard approach to 18 inches from pin. Drive was well over 250. Cleared center bunker on the fly, hit the downside of the hill and kept going. Tees were back on the blue box and pin was way back. Hole was playing about 420, a good 15 or 20 yards more than normal. If not for the double on 17th, I would have had a great back nine.
Had penalty on 2nd. Hit really nice 5 iron to back left pin with baby draw, which drew a touch more than expected due to slight crosswind. Thought the ball caught the back edge of the back bunker, but it actually flew over it and bounced into the hazard. Took a penalty drop, then hit a nice flop up to the edge of the green. Luckily, made the 12 ft putt from the fringe, needing and using the pin to stop and drop it in. Really good save.
On the third hit three good shots, but was surprised my approach from 148 out ran over the green and down the back embankment. I thought it was going to be perfect when it landed just in front of the green, into the hill, which seemed would really slow it down. Somehow, it rolled all the way through. Made a really nice flop shot again, landing it 5 feet from the hole, and made the putt to save par.
Deep fairway bunker on 5th got me again. Happy to make bogey there. On 6th hit a draw-pull off the tee which landed up on left side of fairway, but bounced left into hazard. Another penalty drop resulted in another bogey. Up and down par on 7th. 5 iron off tee on 9th to 15 feet from back pin. Almost made the putt, but was happy with par.
Pulled drive on 11th into lateral and had to take a third penalty drop in the deep rough on the left. Came up a few yards short on the approach, but made a great chip to 2 feet to save bogey. Game kicked into gear with GIR pars on 13, 14 and 15. On 16th, pin was at 127 on the left. Hit nine iron draw which landed on left side of the green, but bounced left and down the hill, somehow rolling down between the two bunkers. A third really nice flop back up to the green but missed the 10 foot putt to save birdie by a couple inches. Was happy with bogey there.
Shot of the day was the 5 iron approach on 18 to 18 inches, though there were a few more really nice approach shots within the round too. It was a pretty good day. Take out the three penalties and forget about the 17th and it was a satisfying round.
