This week Rob played in the Peachtree Junior Open presented by PGA Superstore. It was a 36 hole tournament and Dad was on the Bag as Bear and I were attending the GA State Social Studies Fair where Bear and a friend were State Finalists for a project titled, Planning for the Pros: Do You Need To Live In A Certain State To Make The Major Leagues In Baseball.
Day 1 got off to a rough (ha ha) start with Rob not being able to drive the ball straight at all. After 4 holes he was 8 over including 3 balls in watery graves. The course was very narrow with lots of forced carries. Not helpful when your drive eludes you!
On the back 9 Max told him to hit the ball very hard and turn his hips through it (which helps keep the hands and arm open). When he loosened up and started following this advice the drive straightened out and his confidence picked up. After a while Rob figured out on his own to do this with the irons and he got into a good groove.
The best bogey ever made was on Hole 18. Hit the purest 7 iron approach shot he ever has – 150 yards. It flew the green, landing on the cart path under the tunnel. From the tunnel he hit over spectators’ heads, past the trees and landed it just short of the green. Up and down from there for a Bogey. Daddy Caddy of playing partner said that was the best bogey he had ever seen!
Day 2 started very early and very cold. They left home at 5:30, long before our neighborhood Starbucks opened. A better day though, taking 6 shots of Day 1’s score. Good pars with many birdie putt opportunities. A 36 hole tournament really helps to develop a game and Max believes Rob really took his game – mentally and shot-wise – to the next level. He also met a group of new kids he has never played with on the local tour.
Rob’s favorite thing about the tournament was that he was actually out there playing it and he really felt an improvement. Max’s was the fact that Rob self-corrected and made decisions on his own to change things up when necessary. Middle of the pack finish – we’ll take it !