U.S. SENIOR OPEN 2008
Originally Published on August 11, 2008 by ranchomurieta.com
Diaries written by: Don Thames
DAY #2:
The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Friday, July 04, 2008:
I started on the back nine and felt that if I could shoot even par I might have a good chance to make the cut, as the front nine has the two par fives and plays easier than the back. I thought that if I could shoot 69 or 70 that I would have a good chance.
My chances were greatly hampered with an opening double bogey on number 10. I bounced back with a birdie on the equally difficult 11 and my spirits soared for a while. I made four more bogeys coming in to my ninth hole, number 18. I was pumped when I made a 15-footer up the hill and heard a thunderous roar from the thousands in the stands and my family and friends.
I played well for the next several holes but made a triple on my 16th hole, which more or less dashed my hopes of making the cut. The triple occurred as my ball was in the trampled rough on the right side. It was the best lie I had in the rough all week, but I stubbed the 9 iron going back and couldn't stop. I slashed the shot into a bank of rough
before the green and heaved it out only to four-putt my way into oblivion. Three-putted the next hole and then went for the green in two on the last and helped it out of the rough into the pond fronting the green to make my last bogey of the round.
It was a very disappointing finish, but I put it into perspective. I got there. Secondly, the course was very demanding and exposed the slightest error. I felt naked after finishing. But I am encouraged because I learned from the mistakes I made and I am confident I will improve next time.
What some happy golf students say:
"Don is an amazing teacher. He helped me go from barely even being able to hit the ball to being able to play on weekends with my dad. Golf is now my favorite sport."
- Trevor A.
"Don is great at diagnosing the weak areas in a golfers game. After one chipping lesson with Don my handicap decreased by two strokes in just over a month."
- Chase A.
"I have been in the Jr. Golf Program with Coach Don since I was 5 years old. Coach Don has helped me to be successful on the Jr. PGA Team and in other golf tournaments."
- Axel S.