3M Championship in Blaine Minnesota

Record low round at the 3M Championship

With the Open going on this week, the Champions tour gets a small amount of press here in Minnesota. The big news today is Dana Quigley’s tournament-record 10-under 62! He leads after the first round.
He got up and down from 78 yards after putting his second shot in the water on the par-5 sixth hole and chipped in for par from heavy rough on No. 8.
“It’s hard to trash nine birdies and an eagle, but that save on eight was the whole turning point for the round,” he said. “A 1-under, 2-under, 3-under round turned into a 10-under because of that good fortune. If I make double there and go back to even, you don’t know what the mind is going to do. You only get a few chances in this game in each round to either make it a good one or a bad one.”

Quigley went 6 under over his next five holes, including holing out from 84 yards on No. 12 for an eagle. Birdies at 15 and 16 got him to 10 under, before he bogeyed No. 17. He knocked a 5-wood to within 12 feet on the 18th, but his eagle putt missed left. He tapped in for birdie.
He attributes his recent success on the green to switching to a belly putter a month ago, and changing to a more traditional right-handed grip, instead of the cross-handed style he’s used throughout his Champions Tour career.

Tom Kite on the practice tee

Shots from Cedar Creek & St Cloud Country Club

160 yard par 3 … all carry with a 9 iron

Wazz Up????

High power draw to sweep the dogleg left

Lob wedge from 74 yards out

Third shot to 560 yard par five with an open blade cut shot

Par 3 at St Cloud Country Club, with the Mississippi River as a water hazard. (behind Green) The tee box is 100 yards higher than the landing area.

9 iron from the rough

Hole 1 @ St Cloud Country Club – 440 yards par 4

Cedar Creek GC at sunset

High cut shot from the rough with 35 mph gusts blowing left

Independence Day Golf Outing to Hollydale Golf Course

Is it really Friday? I put in 70 hours this week, and was off today and Wednesday. The math tells the rest of the story.
I played golf this morning with an old friend, and was paired up with a husband and wife also playing as a twosome. Pictured to the left is the first tee box.
The club had free food (right), and a pull tabs for golf pricing. We both drew great tickets, so the total cost for 2 players was 44 dollars. So cheap – you could twice. 18 was enough though, as “John Doe” there in the black chased the beverage cart as much as the golf ball! I have been sober for 5 years now, so I concentrate more on my shot-making.
It felt so good to be out today, and the weather cooperated nicely. Sunny, 78 degrees, and a gentle breeze. My game was not the best, but I still managed to win some cash and shoot 76. I think the American flag pins threw me off a tad … (smile)
This was the first time I have worn shorts this summer, and my legs are burnt to a cinder! My farmers tan combined with bright pink calves make for quite a visual. Yikes!!!
Tomorrow is a trip out to see the folks … (and more golf). Sunday?? Yep, you guessed it, more golf – this time at my Uncle’s club up North. How lucky can a cat in Hollydale get? Holiday weekends rock. I better go get some after-sun care for my chickenny legs.

To visit the Hollydale Golf Course web site, click Hollydale Golf