Won Club Championship This Weekend

[ThinkingPlus]

Well, I managed to win the club championship at the little SCGA affiliate club I am a member of. It was a 3-day event starting Friday played at 3 different courses. The club has about 6 or 7 mid-single digit players that typically vie for low gross. This year I managed to play least worst the final two days to win by 3 @ 239. I did back into the win however (a little). Oh, one more thing, I did not take advantage of the guys and "play up". All A-flighters, including myself, played the same tees (6750, 6500, 6300).

The leader by 4 going into the final round had a horrible last day. His chipping was the worst I have seen by a good player. Another guy, who was one stroke back of me, also had a bad day. I played an abysmal front 9 missing every green and shooting a 45. I did, however, come home in style shooting an even par 36 with a birdie-birdie finish to clinch the win. I also hit a 9I over the pin on the 123 yard 17th to about 3' and watched it suck back to a foot before stopping. I thought I had a holey!

The final round key: chipping with extensor action and a bent right wrist. I got up and down for par 6 times with chips to inside of 3'. I missed one putt of 2' for par as well (don't ask) on another nice chip. It validates, once again, joining this forum and participating in the SoCal LBG school last year.

[Bagger Lance]

Well, I managed to win the club championship at the little SCGA affiliate club I am a member of.

Steph - you just made my day!
Great job.

Thanks

Bagger

[drewitgolf]

The cream rises to the top. Congratulations Steph!

Now, are you going to tell your fellow competitors how you did it ?

[ThinkingPlus]

Steph - you just made my day!
Great job.

Thanks

Bagger

It turned out to be surprisingly low key for me. I just never thought I had a chance. The two guys who should have beat me have indices less than 5. Sometimes the scrappy get lucky!

[EdZ]

It turned out to be surprisingly low key for me. I just never thought I had a chance. The two guys who should have beat me have indices less than 5. Sometimes the scrappy get lucky!

With a birdie, birdie finish, you deserve every bit of your win! Congrats Steph, well done...

[ThinkingPlus]

The cream rises to the top. Congratulations Steph!

Now, are you going to tell your fellow competitors how you did it ?

Thanks. I played well the first day and shot a 76 (good ball striking - 11 GIRs on a long, but easy course).

On Saturday I started well with a 38 on the front, but we got behind and the marshal started hassling us (NMF - we had a C player who was very slow). He threatened to bump us up a hole which DQs us. Play deteriorated rapidly and I hacked my way to a back nine 44.

Started the final day 4 back with no chance to win (in my mind). Ball striking went south and the rough at the shortest course was U.S. Open (3" - 5"). I did not see a ball hit the green all day in our group from the thick stuff. My chipping saved me until the ball striking kicked in the last 5 holes. EA plus BRW plus vertical hinging saved me. The vertical hinging allowed me to play high soft shots out of the super thick rough (pure hitting technique on the chipping). I did not get up and down that way (putter, arrgghh), but no doubles. Others were blading / chunking balls back and forth across the greens. It was painful to watch.

Once the ball striking came back at the end, I poured it on with the 9I 123 yards to 1 foot on 17. I hit driver 265 (downhill - don't get excited) on 18 and hit another 9I uphill 105 to 15'. Made the putt which felt really good since the putter was a block of ice all weekend.

[birdie_man]

Wait a minute....you won against the men??

[ThinkingPlus]

Wait a minute....you won against the men??

Yes. I am in the A-Flight because of my index. If I play the same tees as the boys, then I qualify to win low gross which determines the club champion. I did, played least worst, and won. Our club doesn't have any low single digits. Our lowest player currenly is around a 4. Most are 5s and 6s with a few 7 - 9 class players. We have maybe 8 or 9 SDs including myself.

[drewitgolf]

Wait a minute....you won against the men??

Hey Birdie,

Ever hear of Billie-Jean King ?

[Mike O]

Congrats Steph! Pretty exciting stuff!