Thankfully the weather held off today, well the rain did anyway. So all we had to deal with was some wind and very cool temperatures.
My warm up went well and I was putting the ball well too. Yesterday afternoon I spent about 40mins with Ian Baker Finch talking all things putting. It was bitterly cold and raining yesterday so I was amazed Ian still came to our arranged meeting for some putting tuition. It was worth it as he has some serious talent for putting and info to be shared.
I started the day on the 11th, due to the composite course we are playing the 10th tee is away from the clubhouse so the 11th is much closer. I hit a decent drive and had about 75 m to go. There was a little wind into the face and due to the rain yesterday I said to Macca that I actually thought this shot might spin a bit. So we aimed a little right and were trying to land it on a bank and let it spin down to the hole. It was on the perfect line although when it landed it spun, and I mean spun. It came back the 30+ feet to the front of the green and then off the front, caught a slope and ran some 25m off the front of the green.....unbelievable!! What a start, two good shots and now I had an incredibly difficult pitch shot over a bunker with no green to work with. I played a sublime pitch and was left with 8 feet for par. Starting with a par on the first is such a big thing, just to get going on the right footing. I made it and away we went!!
After making par at the second I hit a poor shot into the 13th, my 3rd hole of the day and made a bogey. After pars at the next 2 holes I then three putted the 16th to be two over through the first 6 holes. The course wasn't getting any easier out there so this was a less than ideal start. The only positive was that of late I have found myself at 2 over so many times during rounds and in fact that is when things seem to start going well.
Today was no different as from there until the 17th hole I played great golf, getting it back to 1 under for the day. I hit two pretty good shots but unfortunately 3 putted and headed to my last hole very disappointed to have fought back and then drop a shot so softly. I still had work to do however and needed to knuckle down on the final hole of the day. I played a solid whole and was reasonably satisfied to finish the day at even par.
Hoping for a nice morning tomorrow where I can play well and hopefully get myself under par and really into the tournament. Fingers crossed.