Tuesday 18th June - Round 1
13:10 was my tee time for round 1 this week which I was grateful for as I didn't get to the Airbnb in Reading until 22:30 the night before after my qualifying at Foxhills, so I needed that extra bit of rest.
However the course by the afternoon was drying out in the sun and with a fairly strong breeze at times. Ball control off the tee and approach play was going to be tested this week.
I started on the 10th and adjusting to the course conditions had to be done quickly. Two consecutive drives not in position on 11th the par 5, and then the 12th proved costly, especially when the 12th cost me a double. My ball had finished plugged in the lip of the bunker 320yards off the tee and the firmness into the green really caught me out.
A three putt bogey at the 13th but I bounced back with a great Eagle on the par 5 14th, hitting a 4irom from 210 yards into the wind to 4ft. Then my worst swing of the week came at the 215 yard par 3 15th, pulling a 4 iron into the water and my eagle was undone.
I did well to stay patient for the first time in a few events, got very comfortable off the tee with driver. I set up a lot of chances on my back 9 but was unable to convert them on the greens so I finished up at +4 for the round with two double bogeys and 36 putts.
Wednesday 19th June - Round 2
8:10am is the tee time today and it was a good opportunity to try and climb the leaderboard with lighter winds and softer greens. I got off to a good start, holing a 27ft birdie putt on par 3 2nd, already triple the amount I holed on day 1.
My tee shot on the 3rd was out of position which led to a bogey. But again, I felt like I was in very good control of my ball tee to green. I played the 596 yard par 5 7th perfectly and after hitting a great wedge to 4ft, my putt lipped out and my patience on the greens was beginning to be tested. I hit another brilliant iron shot on the 175 yard par 3 8th to 6ft and made the putt.
I knew I needed at least 3 more birdies to have a chance at making the cut. The par 5 11th was crucial, downwind and a good eagle but certainly birdie opportunity. I pushed my drive 5 yards right and it caught the bunker, plugged in the face! I did well to get it out on the fairway and came away with a par. After failing to make a birdie on the next two holes with wedges in my hand, it became a frustrating round of level par to miss the cut.
Golf can be strange as I felt like tee to green, this was one of my best weeks of the season. But having 36 and 34 putts is not going to get the job done.
A few days of rest and practice ahead Open Qualifying at Ferndown on Monday.
Thanks for following
Ryan
