Venue: The Players Club
Date: 31/03/15 – 01/04/15
Thank you to everyone for all you kind messages of support for my first pro event, it really means a lot to have your backing ~ Matt
Day one
I think its safe to say my first experience as a professional golfer literally did blow me away as winds and gusts of up to 60 mph battered the first day of qualifying.
Although very nervous and playing straight into the wind I managed to get my first tee shot away safely and made a nice par to get my pro career underway
This was followed by two more pars before I made a bogey on the par 3 4th. I continued to play very steady golf and through nine holes was only 1 over par which in the conditions I was very happy with.
I started the back nine with another par, before my round just slipped away from me.
I three putted the 11th; and then on 12 lost my tee shot and made another double bogey. On 13 I found the water; on 14 my tee shot finished behind a tree; and it seemed the harder I tried things were just not going my way.
So on day one I signed for a 83 (+12), after my front nine of only one over I was really disappointed, but knew I had another day ahead of me.
Day two
This time I played the course back nine first. I did some calculations and although the wind was not as strong as the day before it was still windy and rain was on its way
I thought around +15 might get me through
I only had three shots to play with and after starting bogey, bogey things were already slipping way. I got straight back to level on the 12th after I hit my 4 iron to inches on the par 5 for a tap in Eagle!! now things were back on track.
I then made pars all the way to the 16th where I dropped a shot as well as another on 18. This now meant I had to play the front nine (my back nine) with only a shot to spare.
This time I bogeyed the first so now needed 8 pars to make the cut a tough task in the conditions, I hit a great looking tee shot on the 2nd but it just went long and caught the path which sent it into the water, I made a triple bogey and now it looked like game over.
I never gave up though, I made birdies on the 6th and the 9th but too many dropped shots in-between meant I was not going to make into the final qualifier held at Frilford Heath.
I will now focus on the Jamega Tour to gain some great tournament experience and try again next year.
I also have The Open qualifying in June so still plenty of golf ahead for me.
I’ll keep you updated with my progress
Matt
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