Qualifiers are Hard

Not just the playing part, but the gigantic loss you feel every time you miss.  It's tough.  It's like losing a playoff when you don't make it.  Crushing.

I played really solid today.  I didn't get anything going until making birdie on 15 and 16.  That put me at -2 with a par 5 remaining.  Pretty good shape.  Disaster struck on 17.

17 is an island green par three, 170 yards.  The pin was in the back (178), so I pulled an 8 iron, trying to hit it in the middle of the green.  I hit it right at the pin, landing pin high, bouncing over the green into the water.  That hurt.  Really bad.  I had to drop at 103 yards, didn't get it up and down, made double.  I ended up with a 72, while 70 was going to advance.

It was a weird feeling at the end of the round.  I was pissed off at the near miss.  It's really frustrating not getting through qualifiers.  But my game was better today than it has been all year.  I made a confident, aggressive swing on every shot.  A few bad breaks cost me, but I really played well.

I think I've been trying to guide the ball around.  I made it a point to make a really confident swing on every shot, and it paid off today.  I didn't have anything resembling a "big miss."  That is a very good sign, as the "big miss" has been a major drain on my game lately.

Mixed feelings today.  Major downer, but there are some positives.

Luke