I finished up the tournament with a final round 79 (319 cumulative) for a disappointing 48th place finish out of 70 players who started. It took a 299 score to advance, which was doable for sure, but I did not make it happen. Only 3 birdies over 72 holes was pitiful, and I was never able to get anything going to shoot a good score. Anyway, its over and time to explore what will be next for me. I am very thankful to my family and investors who together provided the opportunity to undertake this quest. Many sacrifices were made to allow me this opportunity, especially Stephanie and the children, and I will be forever thankful. They have their husband and Dad back, and I look forward to doing some of the things I was unable to do over the past few years. My investment group was most supportive during the past three years, and to them I owe a heavy debt of gratitude.

While very disappointed in the final outcome, I have no regrets about chasing this dream, and can rest well knowing I put 100% of my efforts in trying to make it work. I am really not in the reflective mood at present, and make no excuses for my performance. It just did not happen. Perhaps at another time I will be able to communicate things in a different light, but for now just leaving it as something I was not able to accomplish seems best.

Thanks to all who have read this blog over the past three years, and for your encouragement and kind words. I appreciate it. Until next time...

It's all over except for the singing I guess. Another poor start, continued struggles, and a final score of 82. I truly wish I had something positive to say about my play, but I really can't. I have tried on every shot and not been able to make positive things happen. Only one birdie, too many putts, not enough fairways and greens and that is what you get. Mechanically there is something wrong that I can't see, because both my distance and direction control is off. A bad combination.

As I head into the final round tomorrow, I will once again prepare as I have all week to play and give it 100%. I really would like to play at least one round to my potential here in California

Well, day 2 got off to a bad start and I could not get it back on track. I was 6 over after 7 holes through a combination of errors and putting woes. I actually made a lot of good strokes, and I can only think of 2 putts that I was not committed to. The final result was an ugly 81 with no birdies. I will have to play under par the last 2 days to have any shot at all. I can do it on this course...and it starts today! Later.

77 in the first round puts me 3 shots out of the to 14 positions, the number needed to advance. I did not shoot myself out of it. The conditions were very tough, it rained the first 6 holes and the pins were very difficult. I drove the ball only fair, and hit 11 greens. I did putt ok, and the greens are severe and very fast. Glenn and I went down to Torrey Pines after we played to look at the course, and it is gorgeous! Did not bother to watch the election results for obvious reasons.

I made it out to California without incident, and the tournament starts tomorrow. I like the golf course (Redhawk), and I am ready to play. I picked up Glenn Funk last night who will be keeping me company for the week, and he is pumped up as well. I tee off at 8:40 Tuesday.

My sweet sister Jill sent me a great book last week on a whim, or perhaps it was destiny! It is called Golf's Sacred Journey - Seven Days at the Links of Eutopia, written by David Cook. it was outstanding , almost a life changing experience. I recommend it highly to golfers and non-golfers alike, and it will have a positive influence on your life for sure. No hints about what it it about...you have to get it to find out! Anyway, I believe I have a new confidence and perspective as I approach Q-School.

More after today's final practice round.

Well guys, the time is almost here. I leave for Temecula, CA on November 1st for the first stage of Champions Tour Q-School. The tournament will be contested over four days, November 4-7. As most of you know, this is the event that culminates three years of effort to make my golf game better. I have gotten better, and will be going to California full of confidence and anticipation. You have to look at it like just another tournament, but it is so much more than that for all of the competitors. For some it is the last attempt to qualify; for others it is the only time they will be trying. For others still, it is just the next year of a seemingly endless pursuit of golf at the highest level for the "over 50" set.

You can follow the action on the PGA Tour website, and the name of the course is Red Hawk. I need to finish in the top 20 (my goal is to win) to advance to the finals later in November at TPC Eagle Trace in Florida. My good buddy Glenn Funk will be going with me to California to caddy and be my boy Friday. Any of you that might know Glenn are aware that he is an avid golfer and one of the most positive people I have ever met, so he will be a positive influence and a good companion on the trip.

I need to thank all of my sponsors that have helped me get to this point in time. They have been very supportive of my efforts, and I certainly could not have done this without them. As we Catholics say, "light a candle for me" and pray for many putts to find the hole out in California!

Golf can be such a cruel game. I did my 4th Champions Tour pre-qualifier this past Friday at Croisdale in Durham, NC. It was for the SAS Championship in Cary this week. I shot 73, and was knocked out of a playoff by the last guy in the last group! The low 6 advanced, and I finished tied for 7th. Such a bummer. I played very well tee to green on a fantastic but tough course, missing only 1 fairway and hitting 14 greens. I putted well, but did have 3 three putts from about 75 feet each time. The greens were huge, and I made many good rolls and had 3 birdies. I did birdie the last hole, and hit the ball tight several times on the back 9. I am encouraged by my play, and will be working very hard on my short game and putting before Q-school in early November.

The Rockbarn Champions Tour pre-qualifier was Friday at Brushy Mountain G. C. I continued my putting woes and shot 79 with 38 putts. It took 71 to advance to the regular qualifier. Definitely do-able. I had been putting well, and got off to a terrible start with a short miss for birdie at the first hole and then consecutive 3-putts at 2 and 3. I ended up the day with only one birdie, and 3-jacked the last hole for good measure. I guess you can tell I am a little fed up with my putting. I go through spells where I putt like Tiger, and have spells where I putt like Helen Keller! It is maddening.

Next on tap is the SAS pre-qualifier in Durham on the 19th. I am going to Tennessee next weekend to work with a pro that my buddy Glenn Funk knows, so I plan on making the best of that situation and hopefully get some confidence.

Not much to report over the past weeks. I played in the Wyndham pre-qualifier and shot a disappointing 77; putted terrible and actually hit it OK. I was getting out-driven by 50 yards by the younger kids, and it was hard to stay patient after seeing the other players ball so far ahead of mine!

We got both girls back to school, and they are busy doing what college students do early in the semester before the work starts...I hope much fun is being had by Ann Howell and Barrett! (but not too much)

Because I had not played much for a few weeks, I decided to play in the club championship at Forsyth. As a dues paying member the club allows you to participate in tournaments if you wish, regardless of your status as an amateur or professional. Anyway, I played OK the first 2 days and was 2 shots back after rounds of 73-74. I came out on fire the last day and had it 4 under through 5 holes, and shot 67 to win by 2. Not exactly a big win, but it was good to play well the last day and take charge of the tournament. Something to learn from. More later.

My debut into the world of weekly pre-qualifying for Champions Tour events has begun! The results thus far are mixed. I am 0-for-two in my two starts, but was competitive and had my chances coming down the stretch.

As my legion of loyal fans are well aware, the end game of this 3 year adventure is q-school this fall. Everything I have worked on since 2005 points to those 2 weeks. I want to play well and have as much success as possible in everything I do, and every time I play golf I want to set the course record. There have been so many "firsts" over the past 3 years, these qualifiers are just one more in the long line of firsts.

My first week out there was on Long Island and we played at Rockaway Hunt Club. The actual tournament I was qualifying for was the Commerce Bank Classic at Eisenhour Park. I loved the course and had Stephen out with me for a few weeks and he was great. The course was short but played tough because the wind was blowing off the sound and we were right in the landing pattern of JFK. I shot 73 to miss by 3. I was in good shape after 11 holes as I stood 1 under, and then made 2 terrible bogeys on 12 and 13, and hit one out of bounds on 16 (a par 3) where the road was only 25 feet or so from the edge of the green. My nerves were actually pretty good and I felt OK about things even thought he results were poor.

The next week we went up to Binghampton, NY for the Dicks Sporting Goods pre-qualifier. We played at Links at Hiawatha Landing which also was a good track. I had a similar result to last week where I missed a playoff by 3 by shooting 76. The golf course was tough, and I faded by bogeying the last 3 holes and was obviously very disappointed. I shot 1 over on the front with a 3 putt and no birdies. Pretty solid. I was still 1 over in the middle of 16 fairway with a 9 iron in my hand and pulled it ( to the short side no less) and then missed a 10 footer for par after a tough chip. At the time I felt like I needed to make something happen and just hit it left. On 17 I(a 210-yd par 3) I hit a good shot just in the rough and had another tough chip and missed about an 8 footer coming back for my par. I made a meaningless bogey at 18 for my 76, and I knew I was out of it on the tee.

Does anyone see a pattern here?!? I need to do a much better job of finishing off my rounds. I was in position to advance in both events and got a little ahead of myself and did not play as strong as I needed to coming down the stretch. I am trying to stay in the present and play one shot at a time, but for some reason I have not been able to get it done. I will learn from these situations, and get better. I have gone through some periods where I have closed strong to finish off good rounds, but have gone the other way as well. It is frustrating, but I remain encouraged that my efforts will be rewarded. I will not do another qualifier until September, and will pick back up on the mini-tour circuit in July.

Played in two events since my last posting, and the results were mixed. I played in a Sunbelt event in Pinehurst and finished well back with scores of 77-67-79. It was very disappointing because I shot an easy 63 in the pro-am and should have contended for this title. My driver left me the first round and I had trouble recovering to the small greens at Whispering Woods. The final day was moot because I had no chance of cashing and the back nine I frankly lost interest.

From Pinehurst I went to Myrtle Beach for the Spring edition of the Seaweed. This 2 man calcutta is always a blast and the pots this year were over 30K each day. I was only there for days 2 and 3, (shot 72-73) and tied for 1st the final day with Brian Petersen and made a little over $2500.

Anyway, I am off for a short while and then I play virtually every week starting in late June. I turn 50 May 31, so I will be entering the Champions Tour pre-qualifiers starting in June in Boston. I can't wait!!

April ended up on a good note for me with my third consecutive finish in the money at Jones Creek in Augusta, Ga. I did not score all that great but was able to finish 6th with scores of 77-78-76. I have concluded that I am unable to read bermuda greens very well! I hit the ball beautifully all week and putted well, but was unable to make anything as I only had 3 birdies all week. I should have done better, but can't complain too much. I believe all of the events remaining this year will be on bent greens so I should have my putting woes behind me.

I was able to catch up with some old friends this trip; I played golf at Augusta CC and had dinner with Bill Gibbs and his family, and also saw Dick and Stevie Weldon, old family friends from New Jersey who moved to Aiken, SC several years ago. We had a wonderful meal with the Weldons in downtown Aiken, a lovely town just northwest of Augusta. I feel so fortunate to have friends in many places that I play; it makes the travel more enjoyable for sure!!

I am off this week and then play in Pinehurst the following week in the biggest purse of the year on the Sunbelt Tour. I have moved into the top ten on that money list...a good indicator that my game is improving.

April continues to be a good month for me!! I played well in Atlanta this week at Towne Lake Hills with scores of 70-70-73 which was good for 4th place. Three under is my best 54 hole score so far, and I feel pretty good about the state of my game right at the moment.

I played in the final group for the first time, and I was a little "nervy" and opened with a 3-putt on the first hole. I never made anything until a 30 foot birdie on the last hole, and only had 2 birdies all day compared to 10 the first 2 rounds combined. When in the last group again, I will be better I promise!

I had a weird thing happen to me the second round that I might never forget. I played the front 9 in good form with a 33, and arrived at the 10th tee obviously feeling great. The hole is a par 5 that is reachable. I pushed my tee ball down a slope but had a swing but no view on the hole. I was about 230 out and hit a good rescue. I ran to the top of the hill in time to see my ball land and kick a little right. I figured it was just short or in the green side bunker short right. Anyway, we got up there and could not find it, and figured it went into a lateral hazard to the right; the hole did slope that way and the ground was bare.

I took a drop, chunked my 4th shot which rolled back into the hazard. I was able to play that shot onto the green, and when we got up to the slightly elevated green my original ball was on the fringe less than 20 feet from the pin!!! It must have gotten a great kick we could not see, and the ball was in a depression between the bunker and the putting surface. It cost me 3 strokes because I made 7 instead of a most likely 4. I kept it together by shooting 1 under the rest of the way but turned a 67 into a 70 just like that. Instead of being tied for the lead going into the last round I was 3 back. Oh well, in the future I will always go up to the green and look for a ball... I should have been more positive!

I am off to Augusta next week to play at Jones Creek. (wish it was Augusta National!! Ha Ha!) I feel full of confidence and ready to contend. The time to win is here!

April has gotten off to a better start than March finished!! The first Sunbelt event was in Peachtree City Ga, which is just south of Atlanta. I finished tied for 5th with a 219 total on rounds of 69-73-77. The last day was a little frustrating because I was 2 under through 4 and had two 3-putts to turn at even par. The wind really kicked up the back nine, and I got on the bogey train and shot 41. Nobody in our group shot better than 40 the last 9 holes! I had shot under par the other two days on the back, so the 20+ mile an hour wind really did play havoc with the golf ball.

It was nice to finish in the money, and I would like to finish stronger next week as I return to Atlanta to play in Woodstock at Town Lake CC. I will stay with Andy and John Reeves, my sister-in-law, so I should be good and relaxed.

March was not a good golfing month for me. I played in 2 Sunbelt events in Florida and finished 7th and 12th respectively. The first event at Turkey Creek in Gainesville I shot 72-74-74 and played just fair. The greens were very slow and I left putts short or on the low side all week. The next week I was at Jacksonville G&CC, and the greens were running 11 or 12. I had 10 three putts for 3 rounds and shot 75-76-76. To make things worse, I finished one out of the money and hit it in the water on 18 the last day. Ugh! The best part of the week was spending time with Brian and Traci Cook and their children. They were great hosts and I am so lucky to have good friends in places where I play. I kick the schedule back in next month with 3 events in Georgia. I am overdue for some good play!

Well, to quote the old song..."mama said there would be days like this, there would be days like this my mama said! The Sunbelt event at Deer Island was every bit as bad as the previous week was good! I was well rested and ready to continue my confident play last week, and I stunk the course up. I had nothing, never broke 75 and did everything poorly. I was never comfortable on a course where there was tons of water, and greens that I never could get the feeling that I could make anything.

You just have to chalk it up to a bad week, and move on. I came home and have been hitting it great, and plan on playing well when I return to Florida in mid-March. I did discover an alignment problem with my putting, and have been working on that. I really am ahead of last year at this point, and I have never been totally comfortable on old, grainy bermuda greens. Davenport had bremuda as well but they were new and had little grain. Thankfully only 2 more tournaments in Florida, and then on to bent greens and better things! More as I approach the next events...

Well, 2008 got off to a fairly good start with my first Sunbelt Senior event in Florida. We played at Providence CC in Davenport, a new course that is really pretty good. I played fairly well in my 2 practice rounds, and was putting well. I have switched to a longer putter (a 46" belly putter actually) and am using it as a long putter would be used.

Anyway, the first day was really windy and spotty rain and I shot 74 with a double on 2 and only one birdie. Scores were high due to the conditions so 74 was not that bad. I followed it up with 69 on the second day that could have been much lower. The final day I shot even par 72 which was disappointing because I had it 4 under through 13 and was cruising. I may have lost my focus a little after a bad drive in 14, so I learned a lesson there.

Those scores (-1) were good enough for a tie for 6th and a little over $900. The important thing was I came out of the gate strong, played in the next to last group the final day, and didn't back up. (although I did have a tough 3 hole stretch the back 9!!) I will learn from this and be better when the same situation presents itself.

I am spending the weekend in Boca Raton with Pete Larkworthy, a classmate from Babcock that I have not seen in several years. I will head back up to Orlando Sunday ,and Deer Island begins Tuesday.

Today I leave for Florida and the start of my third season as a professional golfer. This is the year I turn 50, so all of the effort I have put forth the past 2 years to get tough and competitive needs to shine through if I have any hope of reaching my goals.

I have been home since early December, and the weather has been mild so I have been able to practice. I did go to Florida in January for a fun competition between some Wake Forest Alums and a similar group from Vanderbilt. (Deacs won of course!)

My practice this winter has been productive. I am using a long belly putter and using it like a long putter. It seems that I make more quality strokes this way, and that certainly is a good thing. I have shot some good scores this winter, with a 67 at Forsyth as well as a career best 61 from the white tees in the Wednesday game last month. I shot 28 on the back by making eagle on 13 and birdies on out from there! Need to do that in competetion! Sure does give confidence though!

Anyway, my game and mind are ready for the biggest year of my golfing life, so lets bring it on.

Well, here we are at the end of year 2 of my efforts to become a successful senior golfer. I am just back from Portugal and the qualifying tournament for the European Seniors Tour. I was fortunate to advance to the finals by successfully negotiating 2 rounds over the Quinta de Cima course in southeast Portugal. I made the cut on the number at 153 with rounds of 79-74. My first round I had a triple/double deal on 14 and 15 to mess up an otherwise decent round. The second round was more solid, but I thought I needed one more birdie over the last 4 holes to advance but could only manage pars. I had quite a wait to see if I made it, and it was slightly stressful!

At the finals, I got off to a solid start and was even after 7 holes, starting on the back. I 3-putted 8 and 9 from long distance and was still 2 over for the round on the 3rd tee. (my12th hole) I hit the ball in a greenside bunker and took 3 shots to get out and made 6. The bunkers were very difficult for me, and every hole I had trouble with was the result of hitting it in the bunkers. I birdied the difficult 4th hole and made another 6 from the bunker on 5 by playing the hole the same way! I had one other bogey and turned a respectable 73 or 74 into a 79 real quick.

I needed to get things in gear in round 2, which was played after day 2 was washed out by 5 inched of rain. I birdied 18 to shoot 71, and I finished the first 2 rounds at 150, somewhere around 50th place. We continued with round 3 after a brief lunch and I was steady until I came to the 5th hole and made another 6 from the bunker (same one!) I made a few more bogeys and play was suspended with 3 holes to play with me at 6 over par for the round and 14 over for the tournament. Playing 33 holes walking was tiring, but I felt OK. The cut to reach the last day was to fall at 11 over, and I needed to birdie the last 3 to have any chance. I stunk and finished 10 over for the day and 18 for the tournament. Again I was jinxed by the bunkers. I played 49 holes well, and lost 14 shots on 5 holes because I was unable to figure out how to play the ball out of the traps. No excuses, but all the Americans had trouble with the fluffy mud-like sand.

I am going to rest through the holidays, and work hard getting into shape for next year. 2008 is a huge year, and I was able to see enough improvement in my game to be encouraged for next year. I lowered my scoring average almost 1.5 strokes to 72.6, won a tournament, and had several top 10's. I will play most of my golf on the Sunbelt Tour next year, and will go over to Scotland for the British Senior Open next summer and then try and qualify for as many Champions Tour events as possible once I turn 50 on May 31st of next year.

Thanks to all who have followed my blog this year, and I look forward to keeping everybody updated next year on my progress.

Wow, it sure has been a while since I posted anything to my blog... I need to do a better job with that! I have just returned from The Patriot, a great Pro-Am in Pinehurst played at National Golf Club. I finished 16th with scores of 73-71-76. My play the first 2 days was acceptable, but I made several strategic decisions the final day that did me in. I putted well, drove it OK and hit several good shots but was unable to finish in the money.

The format for the tournament was cool; we played with 2 amateurs the first 2 days, and then with pros the last day. My partners for the Pro-Am portion were 2 successful ladies, and we were in good shape after the first day (58) but faded a little on day 2 (64) to finish 4th in the net division. I played with Sally Hargrove, a 26 handicapper (shot 87 on day 1) who loves golf and is an international banking consultant. My other partner was Tracy Leinbach, who recently retired as CFO of Ryder. (talk about a powerful group!) Tracy played golf for William and Mary in the early 80's, and earned her MBA from Chapel Hill. Sally graduated from Chapel Hill, and earned her MBA from Wharton. We had a blast, and the ladies were great to play with.

Prior to Pinehurst I played in the Bermuda Open, and it was my first trip to that great little island since our honeymoon 25 years ago! I missed the cut by 3 after shooting 78-78-78. It was windy all the time, and poured on day 2. The greens were tricky, and I putted well but did not make anything over 5 or 6 feet. I did shoot 72 in the Pro-Am, so all was not lost!

Prior to that I played in the Seaweed and finished in the money 2 days and made some cash. I love playing there and had fun.

Next I am off to Portugal for the European Senior Tour qualifying tournament. My birthday is too late in the year to go to Champions Tour qualifying, and if I am able to get through in Portugal, I will be able to play in 10-12 events there. I am looking forward to going over there and experiencing yet again another event that will make me more competitive. Wish me luck!

During The Patriot Steph and I attended parents (Sigma Kappa) weekend at NC State with Barrett and Ann Howell. That was much fun, and we are blessed to have 2 great daughters (no slight to the other 4 mind you) who go to school in close proximity!

Anyway, much practice is on the schedule prior to going to Portugal on November 8. I will be gone for 16 days, and unfortunately will miss Thanksgiving if I make it to the finals. More after that adventure....