Throughout the tournament I felt myself working through different ups and downs, but would shoot a decent round and continued to leave myself in contention after each round. I battled to be on the lead card both for the 2nd and 3rd round. This is a great feeling especially knowing when you aren't shooting your best you are still in contention. I would be going into the final round in 3rd place... but after that round I fell to finish 8th place. I looked back at the final round I played it wasn't really anything I could've done differently. I found myself inside the circle a lot but the types of putts I had to navigate were always awkward. Either from a knee with trees in my face, big wide lunging straddles around thick trees and bushes, to being completely buried in a bush with no option but to lay up. I would end up 2 birdies and 2 bogeys. The bogeys came from the double mando hole, where I missed like a champ, and on one of the holes they considered a par 4, so those didn't bother me much. But the fact that I couldn't string together many birdies is where my round hurt. Either way I was still having fun and enjoying the round.
The biggest highlight of the tournament was on the longest hole I would card a birdie 3 in each round. I found myself very confident on that hole and it might have fit the stronger parts of my game but I felt accomplished in executing 3 rounds in a row. The hole played from a tight tunnel into and open fairway that would finish to a tight green. The hole really required a good placement drive to a good upshot. Throughout the weekend I saw that hole eat up a lot of very good players including the player who won the tournament took a 6 in the second round. I found myself feeling nervous in the final round playing that hole, but right before I through the disc I started singing before I threw to settle my nerves. The disc I was using is a Maroon First Run PD2 who I have referred to as 'Adam Levine'. So I sang "This Love" by Maroon 5 and pumped my drive out in the fairway and cleaned up for an easy 3. Little things like this has helped my game improve every round. Keeping things light and fun has been key and this is one small way I have chosen to enjoy my time playing disc golf, even in the more serious moments it can still be fun.
With any tournament you will find holes that will back you up. We pulled up to the final hole of the final round and were waiting for another group to wrap up and there was some discussion of a playground near by... I went running and decided to play a bit while we waited. I figured why not? This is supposed to be fun, remembering that the reason we play this sport is because it is fun. Maybe I went too far but it was fun and gave me a lasting memory that I will use in more rounds to come.
After finishing in the tournament I had a lot to take from the tournament and I love that I am continuing to learn more and more about my own game. I think being able to constantly learn I will continue to improve and push my game to another level.
Remember whenever you are on the course to keep things light, keep things fun and really enjoy yourself. It could be on the first hole of a casual round or the final hole of a tournament round, you are playing disc golf and that is such an awesome thing. Each round, each throw, and each putt should be looked at as something fun. I know it can be taxing to keep that attitude all the time but the more you do it, the more you will find yourself shooting better scores and walking off the course much happier even when it didn't go your way.
I will be throwing up another blog soon, most likely a disc review. So let me know what you guys want me to review next.
Thanks for reading. Remember to keep those #putterpants on and have the #mostfun. I am a Discmaniac. Cheers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPpTgCho5ZA
Enjoy
