Sun sets at Sunset Valley

Every tournament I play in, the goal is to win. I honestly believe most of the fields I play in I have the ability to win, but the reality is I haven’t won since the Chicago Junior Match Play (Chick Evans). That was a big confidence boost for me as it proved I can control my emotions under pressure.

Some of my strategy during my summer tournaments is to add a tournament or two where no matter if I play good or bad, I should be in contention when the final round comes along. This was my second year playing in the North Shore Am. It's a good opportunity for me to play a course I love (Sunset Valley GC in Highland Park, IL) and also have family and friends come out to watch me play during a summer where I am fairly busy. 

This year, it just so happened that Sunset Valley was hosting the Western Am Qualifier days later, so I figured competitive reps on the track couldn’t hurt. First round comes and goes with a round of one under 71, good enough to get into the second to last group and a couple shots out of first place. 

Here is where the dilemma, or lack thereof, comes in. Our family has been attending the Fisher Family reunion in Vermont every summer for the past two decades or so. With COVID, we haven’t made the trip recently, so it was extra important to get up there this time. Only problem was having a tee time in the afternoon and a flight leaving at 7pm that night, so there was little to no chance of finishing the final round and winning the tournament. 

With some discussion and thought, my parents and I agreed that I would try to play as many holes as I could, and then, unfortunately, withdraw, something I had never done in a tournament before. 

Fast forward about 12 hours and I am teeing off a couple shots out of the lead with zero pressure at all, knowing the odds of finishing were minuscule. Just as one would picture, the front nine moved at a snail's pace, playing in two and a half hours. With a nine that featured an almost hole in one and a comfy birdie on a par 5, the game was feeling good. 

After being bogey free 4 under thru 14 holes, I had to walk off the course. Although fun to be in “contention”, it was a bit sour to walk away in the lead (which I found out a little later on).

Nonetheless, this experience taught me a valuable lesson. When push came to shove, the decision wasn’t hard at all, and I would do the exact same thing, no matter what the tournament was. My family has shown me tremendous support over the years, so spending time with them, and seeing grandparents and cousins, was the priority. 

A lot can get lost playing a game you are passionate about, but at the end of the day, it's just hitting a white ball around a field. Family over everything.