Delaney Shah
The second week in Louisiana was filled with good weather, good Cajun food, and lots of golf. This course in Westlake, Louisiana near Lake Charles was very different from the first week This course was a lot more open off the tee, but had lots of water and very fast sloping greens.
I started off the first day with three birdies and a double due to a poor tee shot on my first nine, which was the back nine, and a birdie, bogey, and a double (again due to a poor tee shot) on the front nine. This first round of one-over put me at T21/98 golfers. Besides the two bad tee shots, my swing was feeling good and I putted really well.
The second day was more adventurous. My swing was not feeling good and I was not hitting the ball as solid. I started the front nine with 4 bogeys, a birdie, and an eagle (reaching a par 5 in two and making a 40 foot putt) to shoot one over. As I made the turn, I found a good swing thought that helped me feel more confident over the ball. I made two birdies and two bogeys to shoot another one-over round which put me at T-30, and two shots clear of the cut line.
Making the second cut in a row, I felt really happy, knowing this was already better than how I played all of last year. The third round consisted of winds 15-20 mph, but I started the front nine making a bogey and 2 birdies. As the wind picked up, I made the turn and birdied hole 10, but then proceeded to three putt the next three holes for bogey, ending my 7.5 rounds of not having a three putt. After pulling my putting together, I made two more bogeys and birdie coming in to shoot 2-over and putting me in a tie for 21.
The last day brought even heavier winds, blowing consistently 20-30 mph. This made it very hard to judge how the ball would react and having to hit two or three clubs up from what I would usually hit. On a par 3 which I would usually hit 8 or 7 iron, I had to pull 5 iron, which also makes it harder to trust that the shot is going to react exactly how you want to in the wind. I started the front nine with three bogeys and a double, one bogey being a short putt that I missed but the others were just from approach shots I either over or undercompensated the wind for. Those shots then left me with difficult up and downs that I didn't always convert for par. I turned to the back and made two more bogeys and all pars, totaling to a seven-over 79, and finished in 37th, not making as big of a check as the first week, but still more than I made last year.
I was frustrated with how the tournament ended, score wise, but also realized points I need to focus on. This was the first week with a 3 putt this season and a round with no birdies. On the plus side, I made an eagle, had less penalty shots, and hit the most fairways in my rounds.
Reflecting back on this week, I realize I need to start practicing my low punch shots again to help keep the ball under the wind. I used to be really good at these shots, but since my wrist surgery, I haven't attempted to practice them because it requires a lot of force into the ground and a lot of compression, all of which my wrist was not ready for. Now that I have played three straight weeks, I know my body is ready to start practicing those shots so hopefully I will have them in the bag the next time I have to play in the wind.
I flew back to Florida to pick up my car and drove home to Maryland. I will spend a week at home with family and much needed R&R before driving to Louisville, where I'll spend some much needed face to face time with my swing coach to get ready for the next series of tournaments, which start the first week of April. I will be driving to Abilene, Texas from Louisville, for the first week, then Wichita Falls, Texas the second week, and finishing off the three week trip in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. A lot of golf, driving, and adventures ahead!
For now, I am looking forward to some down time, but very excited with how the start to my season has gone and can't wait to keep it going! I will keep you all posted as my journey continues. And as always, I appreciate your support.