Up To Speed
The past month or so has been quite busy. So busy, in fact, that I missed sending my first newsletter in the 3 years that I have been publishing In The Zone.
So in an effort to catch you up to speed on all things in my pro golf journey, I eagerly write this blog piece in an effort to inform, teach, and maybe even help you on your own journey.
The following words could turn into tens of pages fairly easily, but I will sharpen it down to only the “essential” information so you can get on with your day!
PGA Tour Americas Q School
About a month and a half ago, I made my way to Champions Pointe GC, a course designed by Fuzzy Zoeller, on the outskirts of Louisville across the Indiana border. PGA Tour Americas, the equivalent of AA baseball, serves as the main pathway to the Korn Ferry Tour and offers a chance at ‘Status’, something I have been working towards in my year as a professional golfer. The Q School is unique, as it provides an opportunity for successful qualifiers to play from July-September in Canada, guaranteeing 9 events against strong competition, and a chance to have a set schedule for the summer.
I competed in it last year, ultimately finishing close to 40th, and walking away with no status. I’ll make a long story short here and say that this year was different.
Over 72 holes, I managed to make 17 birdies and 2 eagles, accompanied by only 1 bogey to finish at 20 under par and in a tie for 6th (top 10 gained their status for Canada) in a week that only now feels like a blur. Golf felt easy that week. Something we know not to be true. Even with long waits each morning due to late tee times and a rain delay before the final round, I was ready to meet the moment. It seemed as if I was allergic to bogeys. Anything that was thrown my way, a tricky wind, or a difficult yardage, was handled with ease. And if a bad swing, or a bad break got in my way, my putter saved me.
Maybe you haven’t felt like this on a golf course, but have you ever felt that for a few days in a row, you were just on a roll? Anything you would do worked out. You were making people laugh, helping out the underdog, coming home to food that maybe you’ve had before, but tasted even better. It certainly felt that way for me for the 6 days I was in Henryville, IN. I had a simple goal that week: See the shot I want to hit and commit to it. If it doesn’t work that time, then try again. All it is is one golf shot at a time.
The Next Stretch of Golf
After a well deserved week off from Q-School, and still on a high from having earned status, I made my way down to St. Louis to stay sharp. My plan included a mini-tour event and a Korn Ferry Monday Qualifier.
The Met Open is a tournament I had heard rumblings about from other players during my year on the road, which is usually a good sign. Held at Lake Forest Country Club (good vibes) outside Cardinals country, it served as a great week to continue playing under pressure against a good field. Did I play great? Not necessarily, but I have learned that any experience under the gun is a good one. Rounds of 70-72-70 left me in a tie for 20th. My cold putter, yes the same one that I couldn't miss with the week prior, held me back a bit, but nonetheless, I felt as if I was headed in the right direction as we moved into the Korn Ferry Monday qualifier the following Monday.
I spent the next day, Saturday, walking the course the qualifier was held at, Annbriar GC. A couple quick notes on each tee box and a scouting of the greens occurred, along with some speed putting to get a feel for the contours. I have learned that rest is almost always more valuable than more practice, especially when the last few tournaments have told me my golf game is in a good spot.
The day that followed was a special one. A friend I had met months earlier in Vero Beach, FL calls St. Louis home and said to reach out if I was ever in the area. This is one of the few times I actually took up the offer, and was it ever worth it! A round of golf and conversation at Old Warson with my friend, Tim, was some of the most enjoyable time I had spent on a golf course in recent memory. Learning about the history of the club, discussing topics both in our spiritual lives and the world that surrounds us made walking the 18 holes in the 95 degree heat an absolute treat. Tim and I have had only two in-person interactions in the time that we have known each other, but it felt rather easy.
Do you know a person, or a few, like that? It certainly is one of life’s greatest gifts.
I went into the Monday Qualifier with no expectations. “Mondays” are interesting. In my experience, I can tell pretty quickly into the round whether I will have a chance coming down the stretch to qualify. It was pretty evident from hole 6, where I got up and down for birdie from a bunker about 50 yards out, I may have a chance. 6 birdies followed from there, and I signed for 8 under 64 and a share of the clubhouse lead.
Well, it turned out 4 others shot the same score, leading to a 5 for 4 man playoff, in hopes I would be one of the four driving to Springfield, IL and playing on the Korn Ferry Tour for a week.
Paired in the playoff with good friend and former teammate Charlie Nikitas, we both made 15 footers for birdie, sealing our place in the Memorial Health Championship!
Let's take a deep breath. Something I wish I would’ve done as I look back on this moment.
So much had happened in the past few weeks:
Gaining status on PGA Tour Americas, which accomplished my main goal at the start of the year.
Planning flights to New Brunswick, which I now had to change due to this successful Monday Qualifier.
It felt as if the world was moving a little bit faster than I wanted it to. And what happened less than 24 hours after making that birdie in the playoff at Annbriar was so bizarre and rattling, it made my week in Springfield just not that much fun.
My Brief Week at the Memorial Health Championship
Have you ever gotten on a stage, maybe a little bit bigger than where you were just days prior, and felt as if you needed to be a different person? When in reality, what got you to that stage was just being you?
A major learning experience for me occurred during my week in Springfield, but it wasn’t without a painstaking 72 hours of anxiety and self-doubt.
My practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday were filled with decent shots, but felt horrible because my sudden arrival on the Korn Ferry Tour also meant I had to become a perfect golfer. The sudden desire for perfection left unreasonable expectations for myself, extremely low self-compassion, and ultimately an unfair picture of what success truly is.
Lightbulb: There is no sense in making an imperfect game perfect.
Rounds of 74-68 left me packing my bags early, but it wasn’t without valuable lessons and new experiences that I know I can look back on as I continue this journey. I arrived back home on Friday evening, and with my flight to Burlington, Vermont departing Sunday, it was time to hit the road once again. After a short but special visit with my grandparents, I departed in their 2020 Kia en route to New Brunswick.
Oh, Canada
I played an event on PGA Tour Americas last year in Winnipeg. I missed the cut and wouldn’t say I got a great feel of what being a part of a tour looks like. Having full membership on a tour sounds really cool, but in literal terms, it is even better. There is a certain type of camaraderie with the other competitors, town, and volunteers each week that I haven’t felt before.
My first week in New Brunswick was my first taste of a week on tour. Playing a few practice rounds with other members, going out to dinner each night with new and old friends, and everyone going after the same goal with kindness and class is admirable - and it has given me a sense of belonging. It feels as if for the first time, I am at a traveling summer camp with like-minded people.
New Brunswick brought incredible views, extremely nice people, and even decent Italian food! Unfortunately, I didn’t gather any momentum throughout 36 holes. With rounds of 70-70, I had the weekend off. But it wasn’t the same taste in my mouth as I had the week prior in Springfield. I am committed to MY PROCESS, and I will trust that process. Wherever it takes me, whether it is missing the cut, or having a chance to win, I can accept that.
I drove 7 hours on Sunday to Bromont, a town just outside of Montreal for Week 2 on PGA Tour Americas. Met with stunning mountain views, a lot of French, it felt as if I was transported across the world, only to be in the eastern time zone of North America.
Unlike the last week in Fredericton, New Brunswick, I had the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am. Although some players don’t like it as they feel it takes away from their preparation prior to the event, I thoroughly enjoy them. As someone who loves meeting new people, hearing different stories, and learning about different cultures, it serves as an excellent time to do just that. My group made my pro-am experience memorable; shoutout to Stephan and his large Arizona Wildcats tattoo! Stephan mentioned that Quebec would bring me good vibes, and he wasn’t lying! From making the cut on the number, to finishing off the weekend with rounds of 67 and 66, a finishing eagle put an exclamation point on a fun week, and my first made cut in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
I am looking forward to the next several events in Canada, and more importantly, sticking to my process. Wherever that takes me, it's ok with me.
