Well, this posting is both satisfying and painful to write, so get your Kleenex out and read on! I played in a Sunbelt tournament in Myrtle Beach this past week at Long Bay, a Nicklaus course that was tough and in great shape with really good bermuda greens. I have been playing well and fully expected to compete for a good finish. I was paired with two guys who have won on the Nationwide tour, Tim Conley and Javier Sanchez so I was very fired up.

I'll give the good news first. I made 17 birdies in the three days, a personal best, and I putted beautifully. For the first time this year I averaged under 30 putts per round. (28.67). The bad news is I shot 80-73-70 to finish 7 over and in 13th place. You might be wondering how this is possible with that many birdies. Well, there were two holes on this golf course that I did not get along with, and I was 14 over par on those two holes!!! Let me take you through my play.

I tee off the first day and birdie the first hole and shoot 33 on the front. I arrive at the par 3 13th 2 under after a stupid bogey at 11, and the island hole got the best of me. The hole was playing about 155 and I hit an 8 iron just left of the flag long and into the water. From the drop area I chipped on and 3 putted for 6. I parred 14, and from the middle of the fairway on the par 5 15th I made a 13! That's right a 13. There is a stream running down the right side of the fairway all the way to the green, and I hit my 2nd, 4th,6th,8th and 10th into this hazard. I hit the last 4 balls into the hazard from the opposite side from the rough and fatted each one. To make things worse, I could have dropped on the other side of the hazard (lateral) after my second ball went into the hazard if I had been thinking better, and that would have saved me about 6 shots. That mistake will not happen again!! I birdied 17 coming in and shot 80 with 5 birdies, a triple and a 13.

Day two I also got off to a good start. I began on the back and birdied 11 and 12, and then I promptly hit another ball in the water at 13, this time with a 9 iron. I birdied 14 to get back to 1 under, and I layed way back on 15 this time to take going for the green out of the equation. Well, this time I hooked my rescue out of bounds left! Talk about playing it safe. I had 3 more birdies and 3 bogeys on the front to shoot the 73.

The final day I did not get off to a great start, standing 3 over after 4 holes but playing well. I righted the ship by making consecutive birdies at 8,9,10,11,and 12 to get to 2 under. I was able to par 13 for a change, and actually played 15 correctly and made an easy birdie there. I reached the 18th still 3 under and ended up with basically no chance at a two putt, and 3 whipped the final hole for a 70.

After all that you might think I was devastated with my play. While disappointed with those 4 holes, (14 over) I have more confidence than at any time this year, maybe ever. I outplayed 2 guys that have been career touring pros and winners, and I made more putts and more birdies than the 2 of them combined. I can't wait until the Tour Championship next week! Feel free to comment on this posting...I can take the abuse!!! More later.

Just returned from Myrtle Beach, and the South Carolina Senior Open. I felt good all week and played decent, shooting 73-76-70 for a tie for 20th out of about 60 guys. I actually hit the ball better on the second day, but had 3 lip outs and hit a ball in the water on a par 3 that cost me 2 shots. I putted well, although I had a 4 three putts during the tournament. (all from long distance) I only missed 3 fairways all week, and averaged 14 greens hit per round. I had it 4 under the last day through 14, until being derailed by 3 putts on 15 and 17. My 70 the final round (-2) was the lowest round this year in a tournament relative to par, and I really felt in control the whole day. That is certainly something good to build on.

I head back to Myrtle Beach for a Sunbelt event at Long Bay tomorrow, and will be watching the Deacs play Duke today in football. Everybody at home is well. Ann Howell pledged Tri Delta this week at Chapel Hill, and she is very excited to become part of a great sorority. I personally can't wait for parents weekend to meet all her new friends! Young Peter is doing well also, and he is getting bigger daily. He has cut his 2 front bottom teeth (at 9 weeks!) so he has been a little fussy, but is sleeping well at night and giving Steph some much needed rest. Stephen started back to school this week, and is getting into his routine. His golf is coming along, but seems to be hovering in the 82-85 range; he is disappointed with those scores. A growth spurt should help that some. Mary has been going out to the club with me when I have been home, and she seems to enjoy it. She may just like riding in the cart and getting a snack! She will take her putter out on the green and sinks a few short putts though.

Toddy and Barrett appear to be doing fine as well, as far as I can tell. Toddy has his first lacrosse practice this Sunday, and I will not be there but will make the one the following week. Barrett has quite a full schedule this year at school, as well as taking the SAT prep class. She is one of the three co-editors of the school newspaper at Reynolds, and is taking several classes at the career center, which is a challenge. College decisions for her are just around the corner!

More after Long Bay. Go Deacs!