Delaney Shah
I got to play my second event of 2021 at Zellwood Station Golf Club. This course is located near Apopka just west of Orlando. Unfortunately, we did not have nice warm Florida weather for this tournament. My first round was at 9:54, and when I got to the course to warm up it felt like 30 degrees and there were 15- 20 mph winds all day. Although the weather played in my favor since I was used to the cold and loved to play in those conditions, it was still pretty miserable when you added the wind into the mix. The course had some funky holes where ball placement was definitely important. If you hit your approach shot on the wrong side of the green, you would have a putt where you would have to aim 20 feet outside of the hole to take the break. The greens were also very small, and had lots of slope, meaning I had a lot of 4 foot putts where I would have to aim outside of the hole and trust my line. Matching break and speed was key, which made your approach shots vital in order to make birdies and minimize bogeys. This course was also built around a huge cavernous dry lake, which holes 12-16 are built around, with the course calling that section "Crater Junction".
Despite the weather, I tried my best to stay positive, knowing I would make some bogeys with the wind, but also could make lots of birdies. I started off my round with a bogey, but bounced back with birdies on holes 2 and 3. A bogey at 4 and pars on 5, 6, 7 I was heading into hole 8 at even par. Hole 8, a par 3, I hit my tee shot just left of the green. I chipped it to 6 feet, but ended up three putting from there. The three putt was just wrong matching of speed and line, but I finished out the front nine with a par on 9 to shoot 2-over. Making the turn I was feeling confident, and made a birdie on 10. Hole 11 I found Out of Bounds off the tee, making par on my second ball which resulted in a double bogey. I bounced back with birdies on hole 13 and 16, around Crater Junction. Hole 17 I hit my tee shot in the bunker which plugged in the lip, so I made bogey there. Hole 18 is a par 5, I missed the green but hit my chip shot to 6 feet. However this 6 foot putt was on the huge slope, so I aimed 3 feet to the right and barely tapped it, which lipped out and took the slope to rest about 5 feet away. I drained that comeback putt to shoot 75, which with the conditions, I was happy and confident with the way I fought through. I knew that score could of been a lot lower since I had 5 birdies but two doubles. After the round was over, three girls shot 74 and three shot 75, putting me right up at the top.
The second day the cold weather returned, but this time with less wind. I felt confident going into the round knowing with less wind I could score even better. I started off the round with a par at one, and a bogey at 2 due to a poor tee shot. I then made pars the rest of the front nine, shooting 1- over on the front. I wasn't hitting the ball great for my approach shots, but I was leaving myself in the right spots to still make up and downs. Going into the back nine, I knew if I kept missing it in the right spots I would be ok. However, my iron swings started to get more away from me, which resulted in bogeys on 11, 12, 13, 16, and 17. I was leaving myself with difficult up and downs and trying to make 10 footers to save par. Signing for a 78, I was not happy. I had dropped to T6, and went to the range to work on gaining back my confidence. During my round, I hit plenty of fairways, and had 29 putts, so the other parts of my game were helping me manage my game.
Going into the last day with a good swing thought for my irons, I knew I could shoot a good score. I started off with pars on 1- 4, and a bogey on 5 due to a poor lag putt. I finished out the front nine with pars, shooting another 1- over on the front. Knowing there were many birdie opportunities on the back nine, and that I was hitting my irons better, I made the turn. However, I could never get any momentum, and bogeys on 11, 14, and 17 due to a bad bunker shot, a bad punch shot, and a chunked chip left me shooting 3- over on the back. Shooting 76 placed me in 6th place, 3 spots short of making money. Knowing if I could get the two doubles back and a few errant approach shots I would of been right in the money mix.
Although I was still disappointed in my performance, I reminded myself of how much progress I had made from the last week. My tee shots had improved greatly, and my putting was still on point. Playing these events can get you wrapped up in scores and making money, so I try and take a step back to look at the positives and the progress I have made to put it into perspective. Without that, playing these events and not making money can easily get you down and lose confidence. Knowing I had improved my tee shots and overall scoring, I felt good about my golf game and the direction it is heading.
The day after the tournament ended, I had the opportunity to play at Isleworth Country Club in Windermere with a member I had met at Golden Bear Club where I practice. Isleworth is one of the most pristine golf courses in the country, and is home to many famous golfers and other celebrities. Isleworth is also known for having one of the hardest par 3's in golf, tipping out at 250 yards through a small gap of trees.
I have one more event next week, February 9-11, at Timacuan Golf Club, before I take a week off competitively to go to Melbourne to volunteer at a college tournament Louisville hosts.