First year down...

Hey everyone. I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I'm going to do my best to keep up to date with this, even on the off season. This season was a great learning experience for me. I traveled and played in 12 different states week to week, staying with different families. I put about 8,000 miles on my jeep driving from course to course as well as sightseeing. I was able to explore in downtown San Antonio, TX, went to a Cincinnati Reds game, see where my boyfriend grew up in Illinois, saw where Lincoln lived in Springfield, Ill. I spent a night in Chicago, a day in Boston, I took the Maid of the Mist into Niagara Falls, and Hershey Headquarters in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, I didn't make as many cuts as I had hoped, but this year was a huge learning experience for me and I expect much greater things to happen to me next year. For now, I am back home in Vero Beach working on my game. I have been playing in some small tournaments in Florida to get ready for the Duramed Futures Tour Q-School the first week in November. I am really excited that I now have a closet full of Loudmouth skorts and shorts to be able to wear this next season on tour. My boyfriend has matching shorts for when he caddies for me too! I have several Pro-Ams coming up for the off-season as well as a few tournaments in the Orlando area. I will be sure to update on here on how I am doing. Thanks for following!

New Hampshire

This week I played at Beaver Meadow in Concord, New Hampshire. I had a great caddy, John, who played in my fundraiser scramble in March in Vero Beach. He really helped me out with the greens and decisions that I was unsure on. I played great the first day and shot 72 despite having 2 3-putts. Yesterday, I played great as well with only 1 bad swing but managed to have 3 bogies and 1 birdie shooting a 74. I flew the green twice from puring a 5-iron in which I couldn't get up and down. Top 70 and ties make the cut and I finished tied for 72nd. Another cut missed by a smidge by only 1 shot. However I had a lot of fun with John and the girls I played with each day. I know I can play great out here and I'm ready for my time to come to be at the top each week. I've got 3 more weeks in a row to really shine. On to Syracuse, NY tomorrow for another grinding week!

Conneticuit

After a nice week off at home, I flew back to Baltimore and made the 7 hour drive to Conneticuit to start the first tournament of 5 in a row. It was my birthday that week, so I had good vibes of playing well. The course was in great shape but had very tough, undulated greens. It was a par 70 course and I shot 72 both days. Not bad, I'll take it, but it wasn't good enough. 3 over made the cut and I finished at 4 over. I had a costly double bogey that I 3 putted from 5 feet. Wish I could play that hole over again! But I had AWESOME host housing and they made my birthday wonderful! As well as my parents for sending a cute pink miniature golf bag cooler with all sorts of snacks in it and Travis sending me a bouquet of my favorite flowers to my house. Even though I didn't make the cut, I had a great time and I still believe that I am right there and hopefully those putts start to roll in for me.

Kentucky

Over July 4th weekend, I played a tournament in London, Kentucky. I was feeling really great about my game after a strong tournament in Hammond, Indiana. My Grandparents drove up from Georgia to watch me play on Friday where I managed to have my low round of the season, 5 under 67!! I started with a birdie and finished with a birdie. I was so thrilled and it felt great to finally feel how it is be at the top of the leaderboard. I finished the day in 3rd, 2 shots back. Saturday I struggled a bit with the putter, hardly making any birdies but managed to shot a 73. After traveling 4 weeks in a row and playing 3 practice rounds each week, I was physically and mentally exhausted. Therefore on Sunday, I woke up not feeling like myself. I knew it was going to be a struggle. I bladed it twice from 50 yards over the green on 2 par 5's and wormburned a 3 wood on another par 5. I even picked up my ball on a green without marking it, which resulted in a stroke penalty to myself and a reminder to buy extra ball marks ;) But no worries, that only cost me $14. I ended up shooting 79 (stayed in the 70s at least!) and it was a hard lesson learned. I finished 3 over for the tournament at 57th place. Another cut, another check, and another step towards the LPGA. I now know that I can't spend all of my energy on practice rounds, tournament rounds are much more important! Now for a nice relaxing week off at home to see my boyfriend, family, and friends :)

Hammond, Indiana

I did it!!! I played well! I shot 70-71-75 even for the tournament and finished in a tie for 17th. On the first day, I started birdie, birdie, eagle :) First of the season! The course was a very target oriented course with lots of water. For those of you at home, its alot like Quail Valley with crazy winds (its just outside of Chicago) On the last day, we had a 3 hour rain delay after I played my first 2 holes. I came out and birdied my first hole back with a tap in putt for birdie. I turned at even par with gusting winds. They really blew harder on the back. There was a 3 to 4 club wind. All of the scores were high and only 3 girls shot under par that day. But I'm very happy to finish at even for the tournament and make a $1030 check! I have so much more confidence now going into the rest of my season. I'm in Kentucky now and then will go home for a much needed week off to celebrate birthdays!

Indiana

This week, I'm in Hammond, Indiana which is just outside of Chicago. I was able to go to Chicago all day on Monday with Travis before he flew back to Florida. It is such a neat city and got some great pictures!! In fact, I have a facebook fan page where I have been uploading pictures all year so be sure to check them out! I played 2 practice rounds and feel ready for this tight course tomorrow. I tee off at 8:45 on #10 so be sure to follow on live scoring at www.duramedfuturestour.com

Illinois

Last week, I played in Decatur, Illinois. My boyfriend, Travis flew up to caddie for me (it was a mandatory caddie event). I only got to play 8 holes in my practice round due to a storm that flooded the course. In fact, they had to turn a par 5 into a par 3 so par 70 total. I played well with a few mistakes (I need to learn to get rid of these!) and shot 73-74. The cut was only 1 over (1 less than the LPGA event that week!) so i missed the cut. Its getting alot more competitive out here but I know I can contend. I'm learning alot and am excited about the rest of the summer!