2020 Golf Tournament Season Recap (Part 2)
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With the Pub Links behind me, I set my sights on the Mass. Mid-Am Qualifier at Wedgewood Pines (Stow, MA). Having played there a few times (some of my friends are members there), I had an idea that a qualifying number would be near +5 to +6 (75-76) so I figured what I would be able to get away with. I started my day with a routine par on the opening hole only to follow that up with a fantastic 20’ putt I sank for birdie on the second hole (205-yard par 3). Holes 3-8 were relatively benign pars to leave me at 1-under par thru 8 holes. The 9th is my least favorotie hole at Wedgewood Pines as it is a 420-yard par 4 that doglegs right and has lots of trouble. I hit a great tee ball with my 2-iron but was relatively blocked out by the trees on the right. With 190-yards left, I had to hit a cut 5-iron to a postage stamp (and elevated) green complex that is severely sloped. I hit a good enough (a phrase many golfers need to learn) shot to the (L) fringe but the pin was middle (R) so I had a severely sloped putt to hit over a ridge to a tough pin. I was unable to convert my par so I took the front 9 in even par (35). Started the back 9 with a great tee ball to the middle of the fairway (about 125-130 yards from the pin), hit a good wedge to about 6-7’ but was unable to convert and had to settle for a routine par. I got up and down (poor tee shot) on the par-3 11th hole. A routine par on 12 left me at even par. The 13th is a reachable par 5 (~500 yards), but I knew I needed a good drive to have a chance at making an easy birdie. I hit a good drive but was on the (R) side of the fairway and slightly blocked by the trees pushing out toward the hole. I only had 195 yards left so I aimed my 5-iron (200-yard club) at the bunker on the left side of the green to cut it back. OH NO, I pushed it a little but it started inside the bunker and cut toward the hole, landing in the middle of the green and stopping about 20’ from the hole. Rolled in a routine 2-putt birdie to bring me to 1-UNDER PAR!
The par-3 14th hole at Wedgewood is about 170-yard hole over a pond. I completely did not trust my club selection and put my chunked 7-iron short and into the penalty area. It was dry on the edge so I went to get it out. The only thing I got for my effort was a face full of mud and a good story because I was unable to save par and walked away with a double-bogey 5. Now I was 1-over par with 4 holes to play. I made a routine par on the converted Par 4 at 460 yards but followed it up with 2 bogeys on the next holes to put me at 3-over par. I WAS IN TROUBLE. On the Par-5 18th hole, I blocked my driver up the right side but played conservatively to the end of the landing zone, hit a 6-iron onto the green from 185 yards and 2-putted for a 3-over par 73; it was GOOD ENOUGH to get me into the Mid-Am Championship.
. . . . TO BE CONTINUED