WORLD AM CHAMPIONSHIP 2014: DAY 2 AT WILLBROOK PLANTATION

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Sunrise from our hotel balcony

So what does this first picture have to do with our second day at the World Am in Myrtle Beach? Absolutely nothing! But when you wake up to this view from your balcony, breathe in that crisp, 69-degree ocean air, it eases the pain of shooting yourself out of the tournament…just a little teeny bit.

Willbrook Plantation Clubhouse

We cruised into Willbrook Plantation this morning, and the massive oaks lining the fairways gave notice that one would have to hit it pretty straight to do anything on this course. Once we actually teed em up, there was more room than I anticipated and I think I had a play on every ball from the tee.

Can you see the heart? Steph did :)

I did have chip out from behind the trees on No.9, a dogleg right par-4 that played from 362 yards, and had a couple other breaks, but hey, at least I was in play all day. That was the best part of my game today: getting in play from the tee box. Early in the round, I felt better than I did the past two days, and was eight over for my first nine holes. Considering what I have been doing, that’s not too bad.

Today's foursome: Clay, Randy, Jeff, T. A.

Let me apologize before going any further. I intended to talk much more about my playing partners, especially my cart partner Jeff Rader, who shot an 84, even with two triples on his card, and Clay Collier, who bounced back from a 10 on a hole to still best me by four strokes I think it was. Noel (Randy) Meadows also outshot me by a couple, relegating me to the bottom of our foursome.

Jeff Rader climbing the leaderboard

However, I changed batteries on my phone before saving my notes, and all notes from the last 11 1/2 holes we played were lost! This final blunder absolutely epitomized my day’s collection of blunders. I do remember Jeff’s outstanding birdie on the final hole we played, the 127-yard, par-3 6th. His uphill, 25-footer leaned to the right and fell in on its last revolution, his second birdie of the day. I can’t remember anyone else carding a birdie, but without notes…

Randy Meadows' pro-like form

My playing partners, served notice early on that they intended to play good golf, and I hung in there pretty well with at least two of my partners until the final four holes, where I gave away five strokes with indescribable putting (this is a family blog, so I can’t give an accurate description). Funny thing, I was feeling pretty good about myself after we had played 12 holes. I wasn’t doing anything too terrific, but was certainly better than yesterday.

Clay Collier strokes it to the green

We got to our 13th hole of the day (we started on No.7), Hole No.1, a 400-yard dogleg right, with huge trees at the turn on the right. Jeff and Clay hit into the trees on the right, but it appeared as though Randy had hit a terrific draw up the right, but turning back in. It turns out that he couldn’t do much with a huge oak impeding his progress. I hit my drive low and left, but in the fairway, with the best look.

Gotta widen that stance

I had about 200 yards in with a stiff wind in the face. I hit a fair 3-metal to about 2o yards of the green. Yep, still feeling good about myself. Chip it on close, putt for par, at worse bogey. A flubbed chip and missed putt that should have been made, and it was a double. Everyone agreed that that hole was a beast! I believe Jeff may have made one of his triples there.

Nice out! Think I made this putt

I posted another double bogey on No.2, which should have been a bogey after driving into the fairway bunker, but the wheels really came off on the 520-yard, par-5 No.3. I hit my best drive of the day, perhaps 250 yards just left of fairway bunkers on the right. I pull out my trusty hybrid 4-iron, and pushed it a bit to the right, into fairway bunkers lining the right side.

Doesn't look bad

My ball is sitting six inches from the lip, and there’s no way to advance it toward the hole. I chip out backwards and I have 150 yards in, still with a crisp wind. I pull my 6-iron, and knock it stiff! Well, about five feet is stiff for me. I can knock this in for par. Another lame putt, and now I’m thinking about it. Okay, three holes to go, a bogey ain’t so bad considering where I was in two. We get to the par-3 fourth, playing about 155 yards. 

Out comes that 6-iron again, and the ball drops about one foot from the hole and rolls to, you guessed it, about five feet. I believe Clay and Jeff notched their pars, and Randy chips on and two-putts for bogey. 

The birdie putt I had was not difficult. There was no major break, its a relatively flat putt. It’s practically a gimme. I missed it with a yippy stroke, and missed the two-footer coming back. I ended up with a bogey... The rumors of my demise are not at all exaggerated!

Three putts from five feet? With no real difficulty? Yep, that’s the same guy who double-bogeyed the last two holes, and then didn’t save his notes. Shoot! Who can blame me for losing those notes anyway? 

Ah, but the weather was great! The course was outstanding! The tuna melt from the clubhouse was as good as it gets, we have the 19th Hole …and I get to play two more rounds of golf before tourney is over. Am I learning to look at the bright side or what!

Mike Thompson at 2013 World Am

Mike (Thompson), sorry I couldn’t give you any help Big Guy. Mike is my partner for the International Pairs competition, where partners' net scores for the first three days are combined and compared with other teams. The top five teams make it to the final round on Friday and compete for the opportunity to represent the United States in the International Pairs World Final in Scotland. ‘Prizes are awarded to the top ten teams.

Mike shows off his long drive prize

Given what we’ve done to date (Mike hasn’t lit it up either), it ain’t gonna happen. However, Mike did win the long drive competition for his flight today, bombing a 320-yarder to pick up the prize. Shoot, you better work on that short game partner, cause Rory don’t have nothin’ on you on the tee box! Oh? You mean you don’t do that every time? My bad LOL…

Jeff made almost everything today

As for my playing partners today, Jeff, I wanna be like you when I grow up. Jeff was tied for 22nd after the first day, but his stellar round today jumped him up to a tie for 7th. His net 71, was just two strokes off the low net of 69 shot by Phillip Guerriero, who sits in 2nd, two strokes off the lead.

Clay, that bounce back after the 10 was spectacular. Clay moved up from 32nd to 28th with today's 5-shot improvement. Randy, can you teach me how to draw the ball? Randy and I shared the fate of dropping in the standings, but he hit some beautiful draws today.

Randy Meadows for birdie

Bottom line folks, is that although I’m not the golfer I had hoped I was coming into this tournament, I can’t imagine a better event to play. This last makes my 10th World Am round, and I have had 10 terrific foursomes, on at least eight great courses, and two good ones.

My hope coming in was to win my flight and make it to the final day. After yesterday, my new goal was to improve upon my first day’s score and position. Goal unmet. I dropped from a tie for 30th to a tie for 31st. It's time to develop yet another goal.

Craig Forbes & T. A. at 2013 World Am

Now I’m thinking, “How low can you go?” as far as hopes and expectations go I mean :). Given my last two scores, I guess I should be hoping to break 90! Or maybe I'll just shoot to finish ahead of Craig (Forbes) one of my playing partners from last year. He's sitting in 14th, 18 slots ahead of my 32nd ranking. Heck, he's only got me by 10 shots. Three years ago I shot 81 in the final round. Last year I shot an 80 in the first round. Perhaps I’m saving my best round for Day 3 this year. We’ll see tomorrow. 

Kevin McGuire (right) & staff member 

As usual, Steph did a spectacular job! If I could shoot as well as she can, they’d be scribbling my name on that trophy already. She even had to do a little pushing to be able to do her thing today. Glad that Head Pro Kevin McGuire came around and helped us get this done. We appreciate that Kevin! Hope the folks at Hackler are as cooperative tomorrow. Until then…

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Steph & T. A.