I'm back! :) I've waited for this moment since I paid my $400 membership fee for the Symetra Tour back in December. There were a lot of almost moments where I was #3 or #5 on the alternate list and thought I might get lucky. But it actually happened and I got into my first Symetra Tour event! Gosling's Dark 'n Stormy Classic just north of Atlanta, Georgia! I'll always remember this one not just because it was my 1st official Symetra Tour event but also because it was sponsored by a rum company with an awesome name!
Most of you know that this was not my first rodeo in an LPGA type of event. But what made this one so awesome is that it actually counted! Not that the U.S. Women's Open and the 2 CP Women's Opens didn't count, but this one was my first as a pro. My name didn't have an (a) beside it on the leaderboard and I actually could get prize money if I made the cut. And I did make the cut! My first round was glorious! I was only 1-under but I was so excited that I got out of the gates without tripping and falling on my face! The 2nd round was decent, but you can only do so much with one birdie on the day so I ended up +3. Round 3 started off splendidly, but then the cursed downpours and awkward lies plague took over for 5 holes and I found myself hanging on for dear life. I finished the tournament T49th at +7, and all in all, for my first event as a professional golfer on the Symetra Tour, I was pleased. The one outcome goal I was really hoping for was to make the cut and I did that. And even though I feel as the score didn't reflect even 1/4 of what I know I am capable of doing, it's a start. And a start in the right direction.
So if any of you were wondering, the Symetra Tour has a similar but also completely different feel from an LPGA event. There aren't that many roped off areas. Spectators can easily mingle with players if they choose to (still not suggested during play though :P). It doesn't cost much to come see us play some really good golf (shout out to Madelene Sagstrom for breaking the Symetra Tour money record in May!). Credentials aren't needed to access every area for players. There are no bleachers or TV cameras. All the players are pretty friendly and we all laugh and talk about stuff we did in college and junior golf while practicing. All the players sign pretty much anything you give us and we'll take as many pictures as you want (ok…maybe not like 15 selfies). Kids are welcomed! We love seeing little ones out there! If you want to stop us while we're walking around the practice areas or even during the practice round to ask a question or grab picture/autograph, we would love to! This is a family environment for the spectators, but also a learning and growing environment for us players as well! We want to be a part of a movement to get to the LPGA, but also to grow the game and show it is the greatest game ever played!
Now that I've successfully made it through my first tournament on the Symetra Tour, here's to many more to come! Well…at least 2 more for now… :) Here I come Brockton and Albany!
p.s. Congrats to the University of Washington women's golf team on the NCAA National Championship! Stanford gave them a solid run for their money!
G.O.L.F.
Most of you know that this was not my first rodeo in an LPGA type of event. But what made this one so awesome is that it actually counted! Not that the U.S. Women's Open and the 2 CP Women's Opens didn't count, but this one was my first as a pro. My name didn't have an (a) beside it on the leaderboard and I actually could get prize money if I made the cut. And I did make the cut! My first round was glorious! I was only 1-under but I was so excited that I got out of the gates without tripping and falling on my face! The 2nd round was decent, but you can only do so much with one birdie on the day so I ended up +3. Round 3 started off splendidly, but then the cursed downpours and awkward lies plague took over for 5 holes and I found myself hanging on for dear life. I finished the tournament T49th at +7, and all in all, for my first event as a professional golfer on the Symetra Tour, I was pleased. The one outcome goal I was really hoping for was to make the cut and I did that. And even though I feel as the score didn't reflect even 1/4 of what I know I am capable of doing, it's a start. And a start in the right direction.
So if any of you were wondering, the Symetra Tour has a similar but also completely different feel from an LPGA event. There aren't that many roped off areas. Spectators can easily mingle with players if they choose to (still not suggested during play though :P). It doesn't cost much to come see us play some really good golf (shout out to Madelene Sagstrom for breaking the Symetra Tour money record in May!). Credentials aren't needed to access every area for players. There are no bleachers or TV cameras. All the players are pretty friendly and we all laugh and talk about stuff we did in college and junior golf while practicing. All the players sign pretty much anything you give us and we'll take as many pictures as you want (ok…maybe not like 15 selfies). Kids are welcomed! We love seeing little ones out there! If you want to stop us while we're walking around the practice areas or even during the practice round to ask a question or grab picture/autograph, we would love to! This is a family environment for the spectators, but also a learning and growing environment for us players as well! We want to be a part of a movement to get to the LPGA, but also to grow the game and show it is the greatest game ever played!
Now that I've successfully made it through my first tournament on the Symetra Tour, here's to many more to come! Well…at least 2 more for now… :) Here I come Brockton and Albany!
p.s. Congrats to the University of Washington women's golf team on the NCAA National Championship! Stanford gave them a solid run for their money!
G.O.L.F.