Day 3--
I will try to give you a flavor for the day. It was really
written on hole #10 which was the first hole for Tadd, TJ and
Monaghan who were in the last group After the drives Tadd is in
the fairway bunker with a driver, TJ is just right of the bunker
with a three wood, and Monaghan passes both of them with his
long drive and settles off in the rough on the right, after
almost driving the green. TJ hits first and is below the hole
chipping up. Tadd hits next to about the same spot. Monahan is
on the green but just above the hole. Tadd and TJ chip up, TJ
almost sinks it. Both make par. Monahan, waiting all this time
to putt, just lips out, and wouldn't you know it, ends up off
the green. He just misses and taps in for a bogie. That set the
stage. Tadd and TJ have pretty good rounds and Monaghan who
seems the longer hitter is just so so.
On to hole number 11, a par three that played almost 200 yards
from the very back tee box. TJ hits first and lofts a 6 iron
which settles just off the green on the right. Tadd hits second
and skies a 6 iron which hits something hard and ends up off the
green back right. Ohhhhh long down hill chip on a fast green.
I mention that to TJ who says "No worries mate, Tadd has that
shot" Actually he did not say "no worries mate" but it would
have been appropriate and good drama. Monaghan hits a sky high
7 iron which I seem to recall landed softly on the green. The
point I want to make here is that Tadd's shot appeared to be the
most difficult of the three. Tadd and his Mom, who deserves a
hefty portion of the purse should there be one, confer on the
shot. She says keep it to the right. (Good advice Mom!). True
to TJ's prediction Tadd hits one of those great, it looks to
long and then checks up chips, that travels about 40 feet and
hits the pin, just misses the birdie and sends Tadd into a
maneuver that resembles a cartwheel without the follow through
of course.
BTW the group in front of them on #11 included Andrew Feldman,
and Alika Bell, Although I don't know what they hit I can report
that Andrew was in the bunker on the left and Alika almost
brought rain and landed softly in birdie position. Andrew, Mr.
Steady from OCC, pops an "easy as you please" soft shot out of
the bunker and drains his par. Alika just misses his birdie and
settles for a par. Both played well and are in the hunt for day
4.
I went out with some buddies in the afternoon and we played the
same course from the same tees. I shot a smooth 87 with a
really smooth 4 putt on the last hole after sticking the pin to
about 15 feet (Ouch!) B flight material for sure. Back to
#11. Remember what the big boys hit? Well I hit a power built
5 rescue club and smoked it. Ended up about where Monaghan did
with his 7 iron. Hmmm These boys seem to be playing a different
game.
There were numerous reports of almost miracle shots. I just
wish I could remember all of the them. Senior moments don't you
know, my apologies to those that gave me the stories. The goat
should start taking notes.
From all accounts the course was set up fairly easy for "moving
day". Tomorrow will be a different story. All those middle of
the green pin placements will become edge of a crowned green
knee knockers. I am looking forward to another great day of
golf.
Day 2--
It is all about the flat stick. Bob Crowley drains a 45 foot
putt on # 5, Vince Yim drains putt after putt on the fast
greens. Pat and Thomas miss short putts. Bob and Vince make the
cut Pat and Thomas don't. Vince had a magical round, so
much so that Fast Freddie bent my ear giving me a hole by hole
review of Vince's exploits. (FF did make the cut as well) Vince
did share his secret with me, talk to everyone on the course,
especially spotters and spectators and then suddenly realize
that it is your turn. Turn the attention to the shot, make a
decision, and hit the ball. Don't think to much, it makes you
nervous. Simple.
Back to FF, he verified something I have come to realize, if you
are going to play tournament golf then always play your rounds
from the back tees. For most of us amateurs there is a
significant difference in our scores that the ratings will not
take into account. A word to the wise from a wise Freddie, who
by the way has a lovely wife, but I digress.
Let's talk about divine intervention. Take Ron Shima for
example. Today on # 5 he miss hits his third shot low into the
pond, skips up and darn near has an eagle. Yesterday he hits our
lovely tree guarding the green on # 13 and instead of bounding
off down the hill as most of us do his ball ends up on the
green. Some one is watching over Ron this week, could it be
good Karma?
One nice thing about the Open is that spectators have great
access. No ropes or marshalls holding up quiet signs, just
reliance on people to respect the golfers concentration and at
the same time get up close and personal. I did call a foul on
one lady however, Taylor was standing in back of the 17th green
on day one and was obviously going to be a distraction to the
all male field. No Kidding. She did try to convince me that
she was old enough to be mother to a junior golfer but there is
no fooling the Goat. I did get her to move out of the field of
vision.
Back to the course, today the pin placements were tougher but
still fair, a little more on the edges. Number 10 was especially
interesting, the pin was just in back of the bunker on the upper
shelf. If you were putting and missed it from left to right,
bye bye, down the slope and probably off the green.
Another interesting sub plot is the young guns vs. the older
veterans. "Sky" is only 13 and I had a chance to play a few
practice holes with him. On # 16 he bombs a drive (did I
mention that I suspect he may not weigh 100 lbs), just misses
the green with the second IRON shot and then hits that great
check up chip for an eagle. Then there is the venerable Wendell
Kop who could potentially be a great grandfather and makes the
cut in A flight by a wide margin.
I am really looking forward to see how Jason sets up "moving
day" at the open. So far he has been very kind. That may
change.
Respectfully Submitted
Billy the Goat
Day 1--
You just knew it was going to be good from the moment the
pairings were released. I picked it up on the 12th hole. David
hit his second shot to about 80 yards from the pin. Tadd was
261 out and smoked a three wood to about 20 feet for an eagle
putt. David sticks the pin. Tadds eagle putt just misses.
David strokes in his birdie. Tadd makes his. Both two under
with 6 to play. Now onto the Mid Pac version of amen corner.
On the 15th Tadd hits into the trees on the left and David is in
perfect position. Tadd pulls of a semi miracle shot to the
front of the green. David is off the green on the left. Not
his best effort, and has to chip first. Both hit good shots.
David sinks his par putt Tadd misses from closer range and falls
one back. On to 16.
David is in the middle of the fairway again. Tadd is long but
right in the trees. We finally find it. David hits a good shot
to the front pin and comes up just short but on the green. It
looks safe but typical of that pin placement it starts to roll
back .Back down a fair distance off the green. Ouch! Tadd
manages a shot to the left of the green and has to carry the
bunker to get to the pin with his third shot. Tadd sticks his
shot with a great check up chip. (I love those shots that look
like they are going to fly the pin and just put on the breaks).
David chips up short. David makes par and Tadd a birdie they
are tied again.
They both par 17. David with a long 2 putt and Tadd with a good
up and down with that great check up chip. (I have to learn how
to do that). Now for 18. Every one hits great drives. David
is the short one and hits first. He darn near sinks it for an
eagle. He has just a tap in birdie. Tadd is next to play,
pressure is on. He sticks the pin! Bottom line is both birdie
and come in 3 under tied for the lead with one other player. (I
can't get my computer to pick up names and scores so my
apologies the those unmentioned.
Some other thoughts. As I was leaving the course I stopped by a
couple of people loading their clubs. How was it? You don't
want to know was the response. It was that kind of day, some
very good scores and a lot of very high ones which you can't
blame on the course or weather conditions.
The weather did change during the day. Sunny and still in the AM
then picking up with trades and suddenly switching to Kona and
over cast in the afternoon with some showers. By late afternoon
it was basically still.
Hole # one is interesting to watch for those of us familiar with
the course. Most of the Pros and some of the longer sticks in
the Champ and A as well as some better B (don’t get me started)
flight guys do not consider the fairway bunker to be in play.
Tadd left his tee shot right of the fairway almost adjacent to
the cart path level with the back tee on # 2. Had he hit that
straight it would have been on the green.
According to people from all flights that I could talk to the
pins were very “fair” and mostly in the middle of the greens,
just front or back. Still there were plenty of players who found
themselves above the hole too many times and with quick greens
that is a no no. I did talk Cliff Bihl a pro from the mainland
who was very pleased with the condition of the course and the
quality of the event if not overly please with his play today.
Vincent Yim carded a 79. Vince is the unofficial tournament
chair based on his level of contribution of time and money so
hats off to him. Good to see him in a very professional long
slacks outfit as well. He looked like a pro and played like one
as well. He could have been an infomercial for Cobra fairway
clubs which he credits for the improvement in his game.
Tomorrow is another day. With scores all over the place a lot
of people could still make the cut.
Over and out. or as fast freddie would say (mid 80's after a 6
over after 4 holes start), peace out.