Golfweek Amateur Tour - The Podcast
Welcome to the Golfweek Amateur Tour Podcast!
If you love amateur golf, the thrill of competitive golf events, and the camaraderie of the golf community, this is the podcast for you!
Join hosts Tim Newman and Chris Rocha as they bring you the latest from the Golfweek Amateur Tour, covering everything from all of the local golf tours through the road to the National Championship. We’ll break down recent golf tournaments, highlight standout players, and dive into what makes amateur golf competitions so much fun.
But that’s not all, we sit down with tour directors, course pros, and players from across the country to hear their stories, get insider perspectives, and maybe even pick up a few tips along the way. And, of course, we’ve got Roger’s Rules, where we tackle the quirkiest, most debated rules in golf (because let’s be honest, we all need a refresher sometimes).
This isn’t just another amateur golf podcast, it’s a golf podcast for everyday golfers who love the game, the grind, and the great people that make up the Golfweek Amateur Tour. So hit subscribe, grab a drink (or a range bucket), and let’s talk golf!
Golfweek Amateur Tour - The Podcast
Bogey-Free Brilliance and Fripp Island Fireworks
Kurt Lambert just did something most amateur golfers only dream of—firing a bogey-free 64 to tie the course record at his home club in Minnesota. On this episode, Tim Newman and Chris Rocha break down Kurt’s unforgettable round and how his rivalry with Matt Fossey pushes them both to elite levels of performance. With handicaps of +2.0 and +1.2, this is amateur golf at its finest.
We also dive into the action at the Fripp Island Regional, where A-Flight winner Scott Edwards birdied the final hole for the win, B-Flight champ Max Emerson prevailed using borrowed clubs, and C-Flight’s Eric Walker proved that course management always matters.
Tim and Chris also discuss their personal takeaways from recent travels, the importance of finding joy in competition, and a special V Foundation fundraiser happening on the Arizona tour.
Whether you're chasing the cut line or chasing a record, this episode is for you.
Topics Covered:
- Kurt Lambert’s record-tying 64 and the power of friendly rivalry
- Standout moments from Fripp Island Regional winners
- Chris Rocha’s shift from A-Flight to B-Flight and what it taught him
- Golf as a family sport and community builder
- Fundraising through golf: V Foundation initiative in Arizona
Want to get in the game?
Find your local tour and start playing competitive amateur golf today:
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Support the Arizona fundraiser: https://www.32auctions.com/gwatvfoundation
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Hey, Chris, welcome back. It's good to see you. Glad to see you're back from your first trip to Arizona.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, it was a fun trip. You know we'll talk about it later on the show, but it was a good time. Family enjoyed it and I've never been out there and the views were what they say, just spectacular red rock mountains. And if they do it again next year I would really consider going that's first.
Speaker 1:I I thought you, I thought that was one one that you went to, maybe not every year, but but on a regular basis.
Speaker 2:But uh, no, uh, what really sold it was seven canyons private course. Okay, um, to the point that, uh, you have to go through the gate and hope that they know that there's a golf tournament, because it's that private. So, that's what kind of made me decide to go up there Great time, great people out there, amazing staff at both courses and, yeah, it was a good time out there. That's awesome.
Speaker 1:And again, you took the family, but you're heading back back that way in two weeks. We'll talk about that a little bit later as well. But I mean, you had a good day, a good two days, and obviously we'll talk about that later, but it is, even though I'm gonna give a shit about it, it is good.
Speaker 2:It was good to see that you played well, for isn't real. Yeah, you know I feel like we keep saying it, but I think later on the episode you're going to wait and hear what we talk about, because I think a lot of people need to hear it. And if you're on the fence about it, I have changed my mind and fully support what the decision was, so we'll talk about it later.
Speaker 1:Okay, Awesome, Spent this past weekend at Fripp Island. So we're going to talk to those winners and I'm just telling you, if you like Hilton Head, you would love Fripp Island and if you've not played Fripp Island, you need to make sure that that is 100% on your schedule for next year. And I know we say that about a lot of these regionals, Right? But I mean, when you watch the interviews because I did them outside I mean, you're going to be able to see just a small bit of what I'm talking about. Nice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's beautiful out there.
Speaker 2:I mean, you know the pictures that they post online. They make them look fantastic. So you know, I'm open to any regionals that we want to go to and we'll definitely pencil that one in.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Let's go ahead and get this thing started.
Speaker 6:Let's go ahead and get this thing started. Let's go. Ladies and gentlemen, golf Week Amateur Tour proudly presents Golf Week Amateur Tour, the podcast Talking about all things Golf Week Amateur Tour, including interviews with tour directors, players and course professionals. Now here are your hosts, tim Newman and El Paso Las Cruces tour director, chris Rocha.
Speaker 1:Welcome back. We are officially six months into the new year. At the end of when this comes out, it's the last day of the month.
Speaker 7:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's happy Fourth of July. I'm not going to hell for missing that one.
Speaker 2:I don't think we'll ever miss that one or our memorial episodes. Never, never but we will miss the ones that are more important.
Speaker 1:I don't know if there's anything more important than some of those, but I mean you know.
Speaker 2:Mother's Day is more important than all of those.
Speaker 1:Well, you're right, let's be real with that one. Okay, I'll give you that.
Speaker 2:Father's Day. If we miss Father's Day, we'll get a pass for that one. We miss Mother's Day. If we miss Father's Day, we'll get a pass for that one.
Speaker 1:We miss Mother's Day, and we hear it from every mother and wife out there Exactly, so we can't do that. Obviously, lots of good stuff going on Yesterday. You know, obviously we're not recording this on the day it goes out, but yesterday Dennis and Jennifer did get a bit of good news, which is good, but they still got a long way to go. But anytime we can get some good news from them, right now it's a good day. So what's going on with you? Anything good, everything's good. Where are we going to start? Everything's good, yeah, man, you sure. Well, I'm not sure. We'll talk about it later, all right?
Speaker 2:I already know, but we'll talk about it later.
Speaker 1:We'll tease it. Well, yeah, it's a good tease too. I did go to Fripp Island this past weekend and interviewed the winners. So we've got Fripp Island winners on this episode. The winner so we've got Fripp Island winners on this episode. And we got a Champlay player shot 64 a couple weeks ago.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean that was big news, especially if it comes from Dennis all the way down to our desks. It trickles down pretty far, but it's good news for us at least.
Speaker 1:Well, it is and it's good news for him. I mean 64, I mean I can't wait to hear. I can't wait to hear about, hear about the round, and you know that's getting into numbers that are are really so rare. I think maybe we've had like like 10 64s ever, something like that, something like that. So so that's a that's a really good, really big deal and it actually comes from friends up in Minneapolis and Matt, so let's just go ahead and welcome them in. Matt Fossey and Kurt Lambert Champ. Flight from Minneapolis.
Speaker 5:You've done this before. I have.
Speaker 2:I've actually this before I have.
Speaker 1:I've actually done it once or twice. Guys, welcome to the show.
Speaker 5:Thanks for having me, Glad to be here. Thanks for having us guys.
Speaker 1:Well, Kurt, thanks for shooting 64.
Speaker 2:You made our job easier, funding a guest.
Speaker 1:Heck of a lot easier. I mean anytime people can make my life easy.
Speaker 5:I love them for it, so thank no problem.
Speaker 1:So is 64 lowest round ever it is, yeah, it was yeah.
Speaker 5:Eight under and the bogey free round. So I've never done that in my life matt was there with me we're playing together, so yeah how much money, crazy.
Speaker 1:How much money did you take from him?
Speaker 5:60 bucks. Well, that was the pot of the champ fight, it wasn't much that week, unfortunately.
Speaker 1:Okay, it's all right. Yeah, he picked the wrong week.
Speaker 5:Yeah, don't worry.
Speaker 1:I'll take a 64 any week. I mean any time right.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So tell us about the round I mean, because obviously when you have a round like that, I mean it's special and my guess is you started feeling something early on in the round and things just kind of started falling into place, yeah.
Speaker 5:I mean, I started off with three birdies right in a row.
Speaker 5:And you know obviously playing with Matt. Matt is obviously a great golfer as well, so we like to battle it back and forth. Yeah right, we like to battle it back and forth. Yeah right, we like to battle it back and forth. Every time we get to play with each other it's pretty neck and neck. To beat him is obviously hard. You've got to make a lot of birdies and you've just got to have fun with all your attitude. Yeah, right off the bat I had three birdies in a row. I've never really done that before have three birdies right away. So that was kind of. That's obviously good to have good momentum for the round to start that off right away. And then on hole five I made another one. So I was four under right away through five. And at that point I'm like, well, let's just keep making birdies, see what else I can do. So yeah, let's just keep making birdies, see what else I can do. So yeah, that's how it started.
Speaker 1:It started good, though, so was there ever a time that you got a little bit of luck?
Speaker 5:Oh yeah, I mean, if you're going to shoot anytime, you're going to shoot something low, you got to get lucky here and there mean I the one time. I specific that I can remember that I made birdie on a par three. Matt remembers this too, but we both had probably I mean you were farther out probably 60 feet at least.
Speaker 9:Oh yeah, he was happy to see that because I gave him a sweet read yeah.
Speaker 5:So matt was sick. I'll run quickly, run over this. Matt was 60 feet out. I was probably 45, 50 feet out and matt's putt obviously went right on the line that I was gonna go over and, um, he, yeah, he had a good run at it. And then I'm like, well, I saw that and then it was a. It was a quick one and went all the way downhill and it went in. So so that for birdie, so on a par three and I was looking four or five in the face if that didn't hit the pin and go in. So, yeah, there was a couple out there that I mean you got to make long putts if you're going to go low, yeah.
Speaker 1:So, matt, as you're watching, you said it was fun to watch what was fun about it. Because, matt, as you're watching, you said it was fun to watch what was fun about it. Because, again, when you shoot that low, that's special. And go back to National Championship. A few years ago, when you guys played out at Hampton Hall, we had a bunch of really low scores. Compare the round with Kurt with that for us as well.
Speaker 9:Well, anytime again you're shooting that low, low, it's just, you're on point, I mean and that's what he was the other day.
Speaker 9:It was ridiculous. Every shot went where it was supposed to, with the exception of maybe one or two uh. But yeah, you know, I mean for us up here in minnesota our course a little bit different. This one was uh, was set up perfect for Kurt. But compared to national championships, shooting a good score in nationals is obviously a little bit different. You got a lot more guys in the field and a little more pressure, I'd say right. The only pressure when Kurt shot this number he shot the other day was the fact that when we first met, we met on that golf course.
Speaker 5:Oh, wow.
Speaker 9:And it went the other way for Kurt that day. So I got to take his lunch that day, so he was out for revenge and from hole one it was clear that he was going to get it. But it was a blast to watch. I mean, he just hit the ball where he needed to and then he made the putts. It was just great golf. And so as far as that luck goes you talked about that long putt that he made that's all fine and dandy. We do need a little bit of luck. But he also missed about a four, maybe a three-and-a-half footer for birdie as well.
Speaker 1:So it could have been even better than it was. That would be my next question to you. As golfers, we always come back and say, well, I could have shot a better score. Chris always comes back and says I could have been eight under, could have had nine birdies. I don't know about that, but what could have he? I mean as a golfer, what was he saying coming off? I could have shot 58, 59?.
Speaker 9:No, you know what? Well, if you know anything about Kurt, he's a very chill guy, very humble guy, but great golfer, and so afterwards he was just stoked. I think that's your best round to date, is that right, kurt?
Speaker 5:Yeah, yeah, it was 67. Oh, sorry. Oh, before that yeah, before that, but now it's 64.
Speaker 9:Yeah, sorry, I get it, chris yeah before that, but now it's 64. Yeah.
Speaker 5:Sorry. I get it, Chris. Yeah, no.
Speaker 9:I agree. Tear, you know crying up in it.
Speaker 1:He shot 69 in April at Columbia.
Speaker 5:Oh yeah, columbia Gold, that's right, I forgot about that and that could have been better.
Speaker 1:That's how good he is. I forgot about shooting 69. Whoops yeah.
Speaker 9:My bad, I told you, humble guy man, but a great player. And after the round, again, he wasn't crying over spilled milk. What could have been, you know? The true course record stealing it. He was pleased because what a round. I mean it's the best round he's shot to date. So he was just happy about it and so happy that he bought me a shot.
Speaker 1:I said I'd pay for it, but he wouldn't allow it. Kurt, come on up.
Speaker 5:We love guys like you Well, I appreciate that, yeah.
Speaker 1:So I didn't realize it was a course record as well.
Speaker 5:That's a. Yeah, that was a cherry on top. I didn't know that either. I ran into the front desk I'm like what's the course record? And the guy kind of looked at me like I was just pulling his leg and he's like, uh, I don't really know, Let me call my boss real quick. And then he said 64 was it? So yeah, I tied it with a one guy.
Speaker 9:Um so yeah, I tied it with a one guy. Um so yeah, but yeah, that was cool to hear that too. Yeah, that's the record. Still, don't let him take it from you, yeah that's right.
Speaker 1:That's pretty awesome so you. My guess is you guys play together. You know, on tour, fairly regularly kurt give us some dirt on matt. Because, when? Because when he comes down here for national championship. You don't really understand all that goes into it. And I need some ammo when we're sitting on the deck on Wednesday and Thursday night.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir.
Speaker 5:Well, I mean, where do I start? Remember?
Speaker 1:it's a family show, but that's okay, I can still cut some of it out.
Speaker 5:No, I mean, obviously Matt's a great guy. I'm stoked to be in the tour, Like when we played with each other a couple years ago when we met. We went in a playoff together and he beat me obviously at the course that I got the course record on. So, yeah, he gave me the golf week card and went from there. But you know, obviously Matt plays a lot of the. You know our state am stuff, qualifiers, state open qualifiers and all that stuff. So you got to be a good player in order to, you know, even qualify for our state opens and state amateurs. So you know it's, it's a good rival. I think we're, we're both. We both know that we're fairly the same golfers and one one of us can go good one week and one of us can go bad the other week. So I mean it's, it's always a fun little battle. But, um, you know, I don't, I don't know, I don't really have dirt. I wish I had more.
Speaker 1:But I don't believe you. So do you play in any of the state AM type things as well?
Speaker 5:Yeah, I actually disqualified for the state AM on Monday.
Speaker 9:Oh, lynx at North Fork yeah. I got in.
Speaker 4:Good for you.
Speaker 5:And then state open was yesterday. I missed it by two shots, but luckily we have a second chance qualifier so I'm going to try that again. But yeah, usually last year I made both, so I'll try my best again this year.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you guys know this, but Joe Jaspers played in the US Senior Open, oh is that right, oh, yeah, yeah yeah, jaspers, what a player.
Speaker 5:Yeah, oh, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1:Gaspers what a player. Yeah Well, you know he's been. He's qualified for US Senior Am, I think the last three years in a row and then chose to just do the regular Open this year.
Speaker 1:So obviously when this comes out, so it's actually he's actually playing this weekend. So when this comes out, we'll know we'll already know how he did. But again that's a big accomplishment and again it goes back to, I think, the testament to the tour and how well it truly keeps that competition for everybody, but especially you guys as champ flight players, allowing you to compete in those types of events, your stadiums, your state opens and those types of things as well. All kidding aside, yeah, that's what I those types of things as well.
Speaker 5:All kidding aside, yeah, that's what I love about the tour as well is it gives me the competitiveness. What I need, like, obviously, battling with Matt gives me that little edge of you know I want to compete and you know it keeps me going. So when I get to these qualifiers I've had a little practice of competition and I'm sure Matt can say the same thing. It helps us to, you know, prepare for these bigger tournaments. So that's what I love about them. And we get to travel and play different courses and you know, as a golfer, the more golf you play on different courses, the better you'll be. So, yeah, I think it's good prep for us.
Speaker 9:Absolutely Just getting the reps right.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So. So, Matt, what's going on in in, uh, Minnesota right now? I mean, it's, how long do you have daylight till 10 o'clock, 10, 30? Yeah.
Speaker 9:Well, I mean 9 30,. You're pretty much wrapping it up and. I think we've already hit the peak, so now we're going to start going the other way. You know we're going to start losing time here.
Speaker 5:Oh.
Speaker 1:I know we don't have much to start with and we're already losing it again what time does the sun come up, though I mean you generally get out in the morning, right?
Speaker 9:I mean, you know, 6 am is probably light enough to be out there, but that's if the course will let you out.
Speaker 1:When the mowers are out there, just move them out of the way. Yell for them. I won't aim at you, I promise.
Speaker 9:Yeah, if you pay enough, they'll let you out there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm sure they will.
Speaker 9:We got a pretty rainy week. This week, though, it's outside, it's coming down right now.
Speaker 1:That sucks. It's almost too hot here in Hilton Head to play. Oh stop.
Speaker 5:It can never be too hot.
Speaker 2:It's 82 degrees and too hot to play out there, all right.
Speaker 1:It's 90s with high humidity.
Speaker 2:Get out of here.
Speaker 1:Seriously. I mean, I stay inside all day. I look outside and I say it looks too hot.
Speaker 9:How hot you got it going down there.
Speaker 2:Chris, we're in the hundreds. Oh, that's it. That's it All right, no humidity.
Speaker 4:Just dry.
Speaker 2:Dry as a bone, just dry. Dry as a bone, just dry. You don't even sweat, you do actually, but it just evaporates so quick you don't even feel it.
Speaker 1:Okay, If your shirt's not wet to me. You didn't sweat, so call me when you start sweating. Let me know when it's that hot.
Speaker 9:Ridiculous I know, that's what I am, matt. Go ahead, matt. We got. So for Kurt 64, we got. These are what we've got him for the trophies here.
Speaker 5:Oh, there we go.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's awesome Right.
Speaker 9:He's got the old golf week on the other side.
Speaker 2:You better not give it to him empty.
Speaker 9:No, no, I wouldn't dream of it after his accomplishment.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 9:But then just for a little something for him we got.
Speaker 5:Oh, look at that the course record 64.
Speaker 9:That's awesome, so you'll look forward to receiving this guy Sweet yeah, that's awesome, thanks.
Speaker 5:Yeah, expect it full now.
Speaker 9:Well, of course, I wouldn't do you like that.
Speaker 1:We'll talk about what he's going to put in. You know off air.
Speaker 9:Water, and then when? We drink it. You'll have some stories to tell these guys. A little dirt on me after we drink it down. There you go.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. So, Matt, with the schedule that you got left, if people are going to be up in your area, what's the one tournament that they can't miss? What's the one course that they cannot miss?
Speaker 9:Jeez, that's a good question. I mean we may have played some already that they shouldn't have missed. But one of my favorites is Keller, and we're going to have a two-day up there, so we'll be at Keller and Manitou Ridge for the first one. But Keller is uh, they just put in probably I don't know $10 million that course handful of years ago and it's just it's. It's in pristine condition all the time. It's just a beautiful track. So that'd be one I would tell guys they got to get out to. But unfortunately we got one this weekend that it's too late to sign up for. But that's Troy Byrne and that's actually just over the border in Wisconsin, so Hudson, wisconsin. But that's a beautiful golf course, it's a Tom Lehman design and that's one that you shouldn't miss.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, that's the one thing I don't think people truly realize. When you get up in that area upper Midwest, whether it's, you know, in Minnesota or Michigan or Wisconsin, the quality of the courses are phenomenal. People just don't truly realize it because you can only play golf for like three or four months out of the year.
Speaker 9:Yeah, I agree, we're spoiled up here. We've got courses left and right that are, I mean, top-notch golf courses. But you're right, we've got such a short season that even golfers like Kurt and I that get out all over town, we still, at the end of every year, we think, oh man, I wish we could have went and played here or there, but there's just no time.
Speaker 1:So the other question I got for you, matt as a tour director, you know you have to deal with people changing flights all the time. They want to come up, they want to go down. How do you handle it? You know, especially your say you got an A-flight player who says you know, I want to go back to the B-flight. How would you handle that?
Speaker 9:Well, you know, first of all I got to start by giving them a load of crap because you know that. Well, you know, first of all, I gotta start by giving them a load of crap because, you know, if you made it all the way to a flight, I don't know, I don't know what's going on with all this backsliding, uh.
Speaker 2:But now what if? What if the a-flatter voluntarily moved up?
Speaker 9:all right, well I'll, I'll cut him a little bit of slack on that end, but there's always got to be a little bit of ribbing going on. Oh, there's been plenty. Oh, is that your situation?
Speaker 2:I don't know what he's talking about. I was just curious. That's usually a ribbing regardless.
Speaker 9:Okay well tour directors shouldn't be allowed to move flights. I don't think.
Speaker 1:In the middle of the season. I agree with you. I mean in the middle of the season. The only way you can move as a tour director is up to the next flight. That'd be my, you know, that'd be my opinion too.
Speaker 9:Only up right, Jesus Christ.
Speaker 7:Only up.
Speaker 2:Just to let you know what's happening now happens between 9 pm and 4 am, Wednesday night of Nationals with probably three bottles of what Matt got you.
Speaker 5:Of what will be in here.
Speaker 2:It's a good time, yeah yeah, but let me ask you this let's change the subject real quick.
Speaker 1:Going back to your round Of course we're going to change the subject.
Speaker 2:When did you know that you had something special going on? Because I'm curious about that.
Speaker 5:I mean, I think I actually have my score. I brought my scorecard here with me.
Speaker 9:I'm looking at it yeah.
Speaker 5:I don't know if the viewers can see this, but I mean I was at one point I was at 600 through 13. At that point I've never really and the whole round was bogey free too I've never also had a round bogey free, so that was obviously special as well. I had a lot of par saves. But I think once I got off 13 and I was 6 under, I'm like okay, if I squeeze in maybe one or two more, that could scare the course record, or I mean I'm already past my personal record.
Speaker 5:Then, when we got to 17, I had about a 20-ish foot putt and I had no idea which way this putt was going. It was kind of a double breaker. I'm like just aim at the hole and hit it and went in, and then that got me to seven. I'm like dang, let's go. And then down 18. That was par five hit my uh. Second shot probably 30. I was actually 35 yards out and I kind of got lucky. It laid a little short, but it jumped forward a little bit and then stopped and I don't know it was. I don't know how that shot happened. Matches matt was watching it too.
Speaker 9:It spun it was awkward.
Speaker 5:It had some stank on it though yeah, it landed short but then it hopped up to the hole and kind of spun. So I had about a six or seven foot slider to make it. I mean, I was analyzing that putt for a while and it just dripped in and yeah we were all pretty stoked and then we got to eight under. But yeah, I didn't think getting it to that point going off a 16 was possible. But yeah, you got to get kind of lucky so so what did you want more?
Speaker 2:the bogey free round or the possible course record?
Speaker 5:oh, gosh, probably the course record, but I mean it's slim pickings. I mean, obviously, if you have a bogey free round, that's pretty, pretty impressive as well. I mean that course is kind of set up perfectly for my game. I hit it fairly straight and not that incredibly far and drive the ball maybe 290, 300-ish.
Speaker 9:That's short for all you guys. Sorry, sorry.
Speaker 2:I get that with a 40-mile gust of wind behind my back.
Speaker 1:And that could be three shots for me. 290 could possibly be three shots for me, that's true.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I mean that course is just set up pretty good. For me Nothing really went wrong that day. It's very rare that I can say putting was right, chipping was right, my irons were good, driver was good Nice it's rare to see. But yeah, I had a lot of good stuff happen that day.
Speaker 9:It was all working, it was all working.
Speaker 5:It was yeah, and I do feel like I did leave a lot out there too. There was hole eight and nine. Eight at a 10-foot birdie putt and just left it a little short, and then nine yeah, I had a four to five-footer for birdie and missed it, so it could have been 10, but I'm not going to complain here.
Speaker 1:I could have had 10 birdies. I should have had 10 birdies. I should have had 10 birdies, dude that's. I mean either way, eight birdies, 10 birdies, whatever that that's still an incredible feat.
Speaker 2:Um you know, eight birdies no bogeys course record you beat matt, that's number one number, one thing here let me say something about that, since you all were getting me. It's really nice when you get to beat Matt Last national championship. During that night of drinks there was a couple bets thrown out there, matt. How did it end up for you?
Speaker 9:You guys are breaking up a little bit.
Speaker 1:Can you hear me?
Speaker 9:yet yeah, I know what it's like to lose Not very often, but yes, I know what it's like to lose Not very often, but yes, I know what it's like, but to a B-flighter, though Amen. All the more reason you should be an A-flight. I mean, I don't know why we're both in flights.
Speaker 1:Oh, here we go, here we go.
Speaker 9:No he beat me up fair and square. I'll take my lashings when I deserve them.
Speaker 1:Well, guys, thank you so much for spending some time with us tonight. I really do appreciate it. Kurt, are we going to see you in Hilton Head this year?
Speaker 5:I am planning on being there, so yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 9:We'll see you guys there, yeah, I was there a couple years ago we got to win the team game for Minnesota.
Speaker 5:Yeah, me and Matt are planning on doing the two-man. Isn't that what it's called? Yeah, yeah, so hopefully we'll play good and maybe do something special there.
Speaker 9:I'll jump on his back. He can ride me to victory there, right.
Speaker 5:We'll ham and hag it.
Speaker 2:It's a family show, guys, family show.
Speaker 1:Well, that's part of the key, though I mean you two as a pair are I would put you, you know, in the top echelon of anybody else in Champlain. I mean, you know, I don't care whether it's Joe Jaspers or Lance Lacombe or a guy.
Speaker 3:We talk about all the time from Alabama you know who I'm talking about.
Speaker 1:There's really good champ players all over the country.
Speaker 9:But when you look at the top tier from each tour, you guys are right up there with everybody else Agreed.
Speaker 1:I appreciate you saying that it's about time we get some dudes out here. Well, I mean, just look at your index right now. So, kurt, you're at minus 2.
Speaker 9:Matt you're at minus 1.2. Always second man, always second.
Speaker 5:Well, you know, that means you just got to work harder, all you got to do is shoot 64.
Speaker 4:Yeah, there's, one 64 and you'll be there.
Speaker 2:That's all I got in you.
Speaker 9:That means I get 13 strokes. Oh man, Already cashing checks.
Speaker 1:We'll talk about sitting on the deck.
Speaker 9:There you go. Oh yeah, I can't wait for that. I got to say about Kurt's round. Normally I root four guys, but after about the fourth birdie I was hoping he'd miss a three-footer and of course he didn't. And then after about hole 11, when he made that long birdie putt, then I was back to rooting for him and I just wanted him to go low. So I got back on board so what?
Speaker 1:was there ever a point in time when you, when you said to him look, I'm not gonna tell you nice shot anymore, because I'm tired of saying it?
Speaker 9:that happened very quickly, very quick. I mean about hole three after the third birdie. Well, especially because I think I'm pretty sure that was the hole. He was off to the left and I thought, all right, he may have a little tree trouble, he knocks it to about two and a half feet. I mean ridiculous. And then I was like man, I can't even root for this guy anymore. I'm wishing bad things, but I turned around on that pretty quick.
Speaker 1:It happens, it happens. All right, guys. Well, again, thanks so much for spending some time with us, best to the family. Can't wait to see you guys in October and good luck the rest of the way. We'll see you here in a couple months.
Speaker 5:Yeah, sounds good.
Speaker 9:Thanks for having me All right, all right, okay, thanks guys.
Speaker 1:Let's take a break from the show to hear about Strixon's ZX Mark II drivers.
Speaker 8:ZX Mark II drivers are for major players, major winners, major power.
Speaker 2:All new ZX Mark II drivers only from Strixon Tim, it's just awesome to see, or you know, or be able to talk to somebody who has a course record at any course, because you know, you hear the story of Tiger walking up and saying where's the first tee and what's the course record, and to be able to say, yeah, I got the course record here, what about it. It's just something cool to talk about and I'm glad we were able to get them on, because the second that I got the info from Dennis about his round, we had to have him. It was just one of those things that there wasn't. There was not an if or maybe it was a. We need to get you on and you know he just seems like a humble guy, like you know my third 60 of the year and happened to be a course record. Oh shucks, yeah how about that?
Speaker 1:You know, uh it's, I mean he's, he's just so humble and and and laid back like uh, you know off, like you heard in there.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I forgot about the 69. Yeah, yeah, and, and it's always best, it's always a greater accomplishment when you be mad. Um, yeah, I wouldn't know that. You know having the interview, and it's always best, it's always a greater accomplishment when you beat Matt. Yeah, I would know, Well, there's that, you know, having the interview and having at least two of those guys on that interview beat Matt it's a good feeling. It really is.
Speaker 1:That's funny. That's funny man, but again laid back dude. And why does it seem like you know the really good champ players are really so laid back? It's funny that when you look at the champ play players you know the really really good ones are so laid back, you know, just like the ones we've interviewed this year. I saw Lance this weekend how laid back he is. Corbin Holt from Alabama, who I couldn't remember his name in the segment, but Corbin from Atlanta, laid back dude. Matt's a laid back dude.
Speaker 4:Chris from.
Speaker 1:Hilton Head Laid back. I mean, it's just you know ho-hum. Yeah it's a normal kind of day Shot 64, you know I was fine with that, but it could have been 62. But oh well, and that's just kind of who they are. Maybe that's something to it. And even David Schmidt, the winner from Fripp Island who we're getting ready to talk to, he was laid back. Yeah, just kind of a normal day, just kind of made it through the course, nothing great. But, maybe they're telling us something.
Speaker 2:I don't know, maybe, maybe we're all overthinking it too much. We get angry and upset, and if we just had that laid back mindset, who knows what could happen.
Speaker 1:Who knows? Well, let's go ahead and talk to these winners, and there's some really good stories in here. You're going to love them. Let's do it.
Speaker 10:Welcome to Fripp Island, the Ocean Point course, if you like Hilton Head, you're going to love Fripp Island, and if you miss it, you need to make sure you come out here next year, dave. Dave, what are your thoughts on the courses this weekend?
Speaker 7:uh, they're very good, great good course, and they uh obviously a little tight, you know, but they're short so they can have a little tight, which is they get uh moist right, you need to.
Speaker 10:You know protect the course a little bit. So you know you're, you're from the Charlotte tour and we always expect good champ players out of Charlotte.
Speaker 7:But I said we're all right, there's some good players. There are some good players.
Speaker 10:I know this is your moment, but we do have to mention you know Joe Jaspers is playing in the CREEP Bulls. I'm going to watch him next week. Are you really Good for you?
Speaker 1:And wish him well, but this is your moment, so tell us a little bit about the round yesterday 1 over 72 on the creek poles.
Speaker 7:Yeah, again the same sort of thing, captain in play for most of the time and you're going to have a bad shot here and there, but this time it's pretty straight, you know, and it makes a few putts around there. So you just, if you're up and down, it's a cheap to go, you know, just steady.
Speaker 10:And you come over here to the point course, which I think this is a beautiful course. I think the creek course is a little bit tougher, but I think this is much more scenic, absolutely beautiful. And you're playing with. You've got a good portion with Jeff Long, david Dodge and TA Fulmer and you know Long is a guy who's going to put pressure on you from the first tee shot on.
Speaker 7:How was that Absolutely going to put pressure on you from from the first tee shot on? How was that absolutely he buried the first hole, so he did that while I was there. I mean, it's Jets, obviously, if you don't play, it's sorry. I mean, but I was just trying to construe the most up and you know, but I keep plugging away at it, keep trying to knock at that door yeah, so so going into today, I mean Jeff, jeff had you by one, tee Boomer had you by by two.
Speaker 1:so you IA Pullmer had you by two. So I mean really you're right where you wanted to be.
Speaker 7:Yeah, like I said, with these tight course slides, there's nothing that can happen right in the end. Really, I just kept it pretty steady when I did make a mistake. I, you know, just take your medicine and try to do the best you can, and I managed to put it away, so it's good.
Speaker 10:So what advice? I mean, you've been a champ flight player.
Speaker 1:What advice would you give to the C and D flight players who they come out and they don't really think their way around courses or around as much as the champ flight players would do. What advice would you give to that?
Speaker 7:I mean it's all about course management Trying to, instead of making a triple buggy, trying to limit to just a bogey. So you have to punch out, you have to punch out someone's at this orbit. Sometimes trogues tend to uh over swing. We're trying to hit it easy. Whether so I mean that's only if I start already. Good, there's trying not trying to hit it too hard, just trying to keep it in the middle as much as you can.
Speaker 1:So even if that means not hitting dry.
Speaker 7:I mean, could be hitting an iron, or Absolutely definitely.
Speaker 10:So pick your spot and hit the fairway and give yourself an opportunity.
Speaker 7:Exactly. We don't have to be all out near the green every time.
Speaker 10:As long as I think you're in the fairway, I to be all out near the green every time, as long as I think you're in the field, I'm going to give you something, joe Yep. Well, david, congratulations on the win today. I really do appreciate you spending some time with us and have fun out there with the shot.
Speaker 7:Thank you very much. Obviously, I want to say about Joe. I mean, he's an awesome guy he is, and it's going to be awesome to go watch them play in that senior hour. It's going to be great. But thanks, trevor, take care of yourself.
Speaker 10:Yes, sir, welcome to Fripp Island. And one thing I've got to say before we get started is, if you like Hilton Head, you're going to love Fripp Island Absolutely 100%. This place is freaking beautiful. It is very beautiful, great golf courses, great atmosphere, fun place to come play here with an A-flag champion, Scott Edwards from the Hilton Head Tour.
Speaker 1:Scott, like we just said, great course you played the Ocean Point the Creek course yesterday, ocean Creek and Ocean Point today.
Speaker 10:Tell me about Ocean Creek, ocean Creek. I had a really good, solid day, ball striking wise and sticking to my game plan. So at 73 it's a par 71. Golf course I was two over. I'm very happy with that round. Golf course over. There is fantastic shape, easy to make putts on the greens, it's just a lot of fun to play. Hit it really solid and stuck to a game plan that I did Well, 73, I mean you blew everybody away.
Speaker 10:I think that's a low round for touring both days. Wow, that's such a shock. And actually you know a 73 on that course. I don't care what teams you're playing from. That's a heck of a season it was.
Speaker 10:That's not an easy golf course. Like I said, I hit, I hit. I think I hit 15 out of 18 greens. I had two penalty pars where I hit it in the water and made a 40-footer on the 11th hole to save par from a penalty shot. I mean I had a little bit of luck in the round as well. But then that's golf, we gotta have some luck. But other than that, though, it was a pretty solid day. Any birdies to tail, guess you? I did not. There was one big skin out yesterday. That's alright, take the 73 any day, take the win and take the free entry in the Nationals. With that you come over here today. You had a five-stroke lead and you shot 84 today to finish, one stroke ahead of Sean Canick from Charleston.
Speaker 10:Tell me about the Ocean Point course and what was a little bit different where you lived. Didn't I hit it near as well as I did yesterday? Got off to a decent start. I started out bar birdie bogey, so I was one even through three and then just lights went out. I couldn't find my swing. I couldn't do anything right. I think I shot 43 on the back nine and then I turned it around, shot 40 on the front.
Speaker 10:But I was really proud of the way I finished because I bogeyed one and I had two, three and four left to play two's, a long par three. I missed it left, hit a great chip up there to like that. I saved my par. Next hole I made a great par and the last hole was a par five. I had like 40 yards in and I hit it to four feet to make the birdie, to win it, because the gentleman behind me made pars. How was that? That's a pretty awesome walk off. Anytime you birdie the final hole to win the four-minute, it's got to feel good. It does, it really does. I mean I was proud of that. I was really proud of me hanging in there finishing the last three holes the way I did, because I looked at the leaderboard and at that point I was going to be home, right, and so you know it was fun. I felt the pressure, it was fun to feel it and I mean I did it and that's really important.
Speaker 1:You know we talk a lot about that, especially when you come to region.
Speaker 10:You know, single, single day, events are what they are, but when you come to region so today then you and you got good competition. There are times you, you have to buckle down. You be showing that you can do that when you have to. Yeah, yes, sir, 100 percent. There's a great time. I mean, I had an absolute blast. Can't thank the staff here at prip island enough for what they did for us. I was just. I know it's a lot of work for them, since I work at a golf course and we do this as well.
Speaker 10:Exactly, I can't really thank the people here for everything that they do for us, dennis, everything that he does for us. He runs a great tour. I just love it. It's fun, it's competition and I've still got the little jitters going from today, but it was a great idea. Well, scott, congratulations on the win and appreciate it. We'll see you around. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1:We're back at the Ocean Point course with the B-Flight champion, max Emerson from the Hilton Head Tour. So far it's been the Hilton Head winners about A-Flight, b-flight. The Hilton Head's done well, congratulations. You got a four-stroke win over JC Moore of Hilton Head Tour. Tell me a little bit about yesterday over there at the Creek Coach.
Speaker 4:You know, beautiful course. Greens just weren't rolling as fast as they looked. I had some struggles getting up and down. Otter finally get it up on the back nine started making some putts and just kept getting up and down, struggling off the box but hitting greens and two-putting Made a couple birdies. I think yesterday too It'll be two or three. But all around just kind of kept my game pretty solid yesterday Just tried to, like I said, up and down. Then he has an event for evening With your clubs. Yeah, what happened with your clubs? My truck got doled yesterday, had a little couple issues with that and then left my clubs in the truck, forgot about them, went to the garage this morning, grabbed outside of my dad's B790s. Taylor Midstill just kind of came out here today, went on the range, hit him for about an an hour and a half, tried to figure out distances and hit four-iron on just about every G and just I actually played pretty well Well you shot 79 on the Ocean Point course, which is a tough course.
Speaker 10:There's so many houses clubs. That's a heck of a story right there.
Speaker 4:I just came out today. I just didn't care today. I just came out today, I just didn't care. Today, I just came out, I just started swinging and it just went where I was looking all day. But you know, maybe that's some more of the story. You just don't care and it hit the ball. Don't apply too much pressure to yourself. Make your reactions to it, and it's not as hard. Yeah, yeah. So some of the guys have come up and congratulated for you. Own course is your own course. Yes, sir, um, my dad was the uh head pro out here for about seven or eight years since kid. Yeah, so you know these scores pretty well. Yeah, I've known this course. I get back in my hand. So what's your? What's your best score on the score that? Well, uh, best score on this course? I think it's, if you're called, it's my clubs. I'm going to say 77 or 78. You know, I'm not an underpark type of guy. I can be flight, but not having my clubs definitely made it interesting today. Well, that's awesome, max.
Speaker 10:Congratulations on the win today and we'll see you real soon.
Speaker 1:Appreciate it. Thank you, take care. All right, welcome back to the Ocean Point course. Here at Trip Island We've got our sea flight winner, eric Walker, from the Charlotte Tour. It's funny, we've got two Hilton Head winners, two Charlotte winners and a Charleston winner. So I think Hilton Head and Charlotte really took over this weekend. That's awesome. Let's start with you and your round. Yesterday you shot a 79, which wasn't the low round of the day this evening, which is hard to believe. So walk us through the round.
Speaker 11:It was ironically what I would call boring golf, old man golf. I had a lot of fairways, the driver was working really well, wasn't hitting it long but I was hitting it pretty straight and it just made for a little less stressful round Right and front nine was a little more. I had a double and some bogeys and it was a little more kind of getting things going. And then the back nine. I got on a string of about probably the last seven or the last eight holes where I hit fairways and hit greens. But here was the key. I had a lot of 40-foot putts, 30-foot putts and I two-putted all of them.
Speaker 1:Okay, first off, that's huge at that course, sure, that. First off, that's huge at that course, sure.
Speaker 11:That is huge at that course. So I had a lot of. I don't remember how many. I think I had 30 or 31 putts, which is good, but I had a lot of two putts from long range, which, you know, wasn't like I was hitting great greens in regulation. They were just barely greens in regulation but I was salvaging pars on some of those.
Speaker 11:That little streak in there is what got me there. What did it for you? I think I had one. I had a Sansei which is unusual, made about a 10 or 12-foot Sansei putt and about a 20 or 30-foot putt on nine for par.
Speaker 1:Okay, so just some things kind of fell into place to put it all together, but you did have some trouble yesterday, yeah, so number two I think it was number two because number one goes down along the range.
Speaker 11:Number two coming the other way, I had pulled a drive left and thought it might have clipped a tree, and our other two partners in the other cart drove over to a ball and they pointed down and said here's yours, right here, and it was an AVX, just like I hit. But all I could see was the AVX mark and I just said, okay, yeah, that makes sense. It was on the same line and I go over and I hit the ball. At that point it was going to have to be a layup, by the way, because it was short, thought man. I thought my ball went further than that. Well, it wasn't. And and I hit I don't know like a seven iron or something back toward the middle fairway. And then we go another 50, 60 yards up.
Speaker 11:Somebody says, well, here's an AVX with three black dots, and it was mine. So I knew the rule, because when it happened a couple weeks ago in the tournament in my group, and, uh, the rule is you have to go back and you have to play the proper ball from the proper location and it's a two-stroke penalty, right. So I so in. Oddly enough, once I found my ball, I made a really good. It was one where you have to carry the water on the approach and it hit us like a six iron over the water two putted for what would have been a par and ended up with a double. So it was one of the best rounds I've had in three years on golf, and just you know everything fell into place.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 79 really could have been a 77, which is Easily my best round ever in tournament.
Speaker 11:Play like that.
Speaker 1:And to have it at a regional and to have it at that course, which I think is my opinion. That course is tougher than the point course we played today. I know other people have talked to that disagree with that, but either way 79 on that course is really good.
Speaker 11:Yeah, I was really tickled with it and, like I said, the last, not the back nine. It was really the front nine for us, but the last nine for us. Things were just clicking, you know, which sometimes does, so it was a good round. It made the difference because I didn't have my same game today.
Speaker 1:Well, you still shot 85 today, which I think turns out to be the low round for the flight today. And you know, you were paired with Tyler Bennett from the Atlanta, where you won by six over him and he shot 78 yesterday. So you guys were, as I was watching scores, you guys were battling for the front nine, or the first nine, let's just put it that way, and then you kind of pulled away. So tell me about today.
Speaker 1:Well hold on a second Real quick. Poke your head in here real quick. Sorry, I know this is unconventional, but we only do it for this man right here.
Speaker 3:It's very unconventional right now. John, it's good seeing you Good seeing you guys too. What a great tournament. I'm sorry to jump in.
Speaker 11:No, no, happy to have you come in.
Speaker 3:Great tournament, Fripp Island. I'm coming back next year. I didn't play well, but I never do, but I love seeing everybody and it was a great weekend it was.
Speaker 11:Good seeing you guys Good seeing you. You asked about today's round. Yeah, yeah, so one thing I wanted to add about Creek. I hit a little bit of a sort of a pull or a draw and I thought creek, it seemed like all of those approaches that set up for that. Here it seemed the opposite. A lot of times it called for a cut or something.
Speaker 11:But, I struggled with the driver. I didn't miss the fairways into the junk and the hazards and things, but I was in the rough most of the day. I probably didn't hit four or five fairways but I still got up close to the green and my chipping and putting is what kept it together. That's awesome.
Speaker 1:And I lean on my short game all the time. I'm a senior tour guy and that's the only way I can hang with the older guys. I'm a younger guy, but that's what I tell people all the time. I don't play nearly as much as I used to, but I was the same way, didn't hit the ball far, but I would you.
Speaker 11:You mentioned the, the Tyler guy, and I'm going to call him a kid. He's only 20 years old. He was in my car with him and he's good kid and he uh, he played really well in the front nine and, as young guys will do. He kind of got frustrated mid-round, but I think that frustrated because he'd be 30 yards past me and then I would get up and down when he would two putt for bar. It comes out the same on the scorecard but it didn't look the same the way it was done.
Speaker 1:And that's the other thing too. When you talk about handicap right, I mean you say you're older and you know a lot of times older guys will say, well, I can't compete because I can't hit as far. Well, a 14 handicap is a 14 handicap how you get to your 14 and not worry about how your competitors hit or what they're hitting or anything else, you play the way you get low scores, not the way other people get low scores.
Speaker 11:And I'll add too that I had, at least I think, four holes where I did hit it, either in the trouble where I had to punch out, or in a hazard, and I never lost my composure. I just I normally do sometimes. But today I was like, okay, put it back in the middle of fairway, try to get up and down for a bogey or whatever. And I I knew in our flight that that if I could hold that together and never, you know, not go above double right be okay. I had one triple on 18, but everything else was salvaging a lot of bogeys and pars here and there.
Speaker 1:And that's key. But, eric, thank you so much for spending time with us. Congratulations on the win and we'll see you in Hilton Head. Yeah, we appreciate you guys, take care now. Thank you so much. All right, welcome back to the Ocean Point course. Here at Fripp Island We've got our sea flight winner, eric Walker, from the Charlotte Tour. It's funny, we've got Two Hilton Head winners, two Charlotte winners and a Charleston winner. So I think Hilton Head and Charlotte really took over this weekend. That's awesome. Let's start with you and your round. Yesterday you shot a 79, which wasn't the low round of the day in the Seafoam, which is hard to believe. So walk us through the round.
Speaker 11:It was ironically what I would call boring golf, old man golf. I had a lot of fairways, the driver was working really well, um wasn't hitting it long but I was hitting it pretty straight and it just it made for a little less stressful round. Right Um and front front nine was a little more. I had a double and some bogeys and it was a little more kind of getting getting things going. And then the back nine. I got on a string of about probably the last seven or the last eight holes where I hit fairways and hit greens. But here was the key. I had a lot of 40 foot putts, 30 foot putts and I two putted all of them.
Speaker 1:Okay, first off, that's huge at that course. That is huge at that course.
Speaker 11:So I had a lot of. I don't remember how many. I think I had 30 or 31 putts, which is good, but I had a lot of two putts from long range, which you know, wasn't like I was hitting great greens in regulation. They were just barely greens in regulation but I was salvaging pars on some of those.
Speaker 11:That little streak in there is what got me there. I think I had one. I had a Sansei which is unusual made about a 10 or 12 foot Sansei putt and about a 20 or 30 foot putt on nine for par. So just some things kind of fell into place to put it all together, but you did have some trouble yesterday.
Speaker 11:Yeah, so number two I think it was number two because number one goes down along the range. Number two coming the other way. I had pulled a drive left and thought it might have clipped a tree and our other two partners in the other cart drove over to a ball and they pointed down and said here's yours, right here, and it was an AVX. Just like I hit. But all I could see was the AVX mark and I just said, okay, yeah, that makes sense. It was on the same line and I go over and I hit the ball.
Speaker 11:At that point it was going to have to be a layup, by the way, because it was short. I thought, man, I thought my ball went further than that. Well, it wasn't. And I hit I don't know like a 7-iron or something, back toward the middle of the fairway and then we go another 50, 60 yards up. Somebody says well. Somebody says well, here's an AVX with three black dots and it was mine. So I knew the rule because it happened a couple weeks ago in the tournament in my group and the rule is you have to go back and you have to play the proper ball from the proper location and it's a two stroke penalty.
Speaker 11:So, oddly enough, once I found my ball, I made a really good. It was one where you have to carry the water on the approach and I hit like a six iron over the water two putted for what would have been a par and ended up with a double. So it was one of the best rounds I've had in three years on golf, and just you know everything fell into place.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 79 really could have been a 77, which is Easily my best round ever in play, like that. And to have it at a regional and to have it at that course, which I think is in my opinion, that course is tougher than the point course that we played today. I know other people I've talked to that disagree with that, but either way, 79 on that course is really good.
Speaker 11:Yeah, I was really tickled with it and, like I said, the last, not the back nine. It was really a front nine for us, but the last nine for us. Things were just clicking you know what sometimes does, so it was a good round. It made the difference, because I didn't have my same game today. Well it was.
Speaker 1:You still shot 85 today, which I think turns out to be the low round for the flight today. And you know, you're paired with Tyler Bennett from the Atlanta, where you won by six over him and he shot 78 yesterday. So you guys were, as I was, watching scores, you guys were battling for the first, for the front nine, for the first nine, let's just put it that way and then you kind of pulled away. So tell me about today. Well, uh, one second, real quick, poke your head in here real quick. Sorry, I know this is unconventional, but we only do it for this man right here. It's very unconventional, right?
Speaker 3:now, john, it's good seeing you, good seeing you guys too. What a great tournament. I'm sorry to jump in.
Speaker 11:No, no, happy to have you come in.
Speaker 3:Great tournament, fripp Island. I'm coming back next year. I didn't play well, but I never do, but I love seeing everybody and it was a great weekend. It was All right, bud.
Speaker 11:Good seeing you guys Good seeing you.
Speaker 11:You asked about today's round. So one thing I wanted to add about Creek. I hit a little bit of a sort of a pull or draw and I thought Creek seemed like all of those approaches that set up for that. Here it seemed the opposite. A lot of times it called for a cut or something, but I struggled with the driver. I didn't miss the fairways into the junk and the hazards and things, but I was in the rough most of the day. I probably didn't hit four or five fairways but I still got up close to the green and my chipping and putting is what kept it together. That's awesome and I lean on my short game all the time.
Speaker 1:I'm a senior tour guy and that's the only way I can hang with the older guys, the younger guys, but that's what I tell people all the time. I don't play nearly as much as I used to, but I was the same way, didn't hit the ball far, but I would get close to the green and chip it and putten and that's what kept my scores down. And that's what you have to do.
Speaker 11:You mentioned the Tyler guy and I'm going to call him a kid. He's only 20 years old. He was in my car with him and he's a good kid and he played really well in the front nine and as young guys will do. He kind of got frustrated mid-round, but I think that frustrated because he'd be 30 yards past me and then I would get up and down when he would two-putt for bar and it comes out the same on the scorecard but it didn't look the same the way it was done.
Speaker 1:And that's the other thing too. When you talk about handicap right, I mean you say you're older and you know, a lot of times older guys will say, well, I can't compete because I can't hit as far. Well, a 14 handicap is a 14 handicap. How you get to your 14 is different than how I get to my. Else you play the way you get low scores, not the way other people get low scores.
Speaker 11:And I'll add too that I had, at least I think, four holes where I did hit it, either in the trouble where I had to punch out, or in a hazard, and I never lost my composure. I normally do sometimes. But today I was like, okay, put it back in the middle of the fairway, try to get up and down for a bogey or whatever. And I knew in our flight that if I could hold that together and never, you know, not go above double, it'd be okay. I had one triple on 18, but everything else was salvaging a lot of bogeys and pars here and there, and that's key. But cars here and there, and that's key.
Speaker 1:But, eric, thank you so much for spending time with us. Congratulations on the win. We'll see you in Hilton Head. Yeah, we appreciate you. Take care now. Thank you so much. Let's take a break from the show to hear about Strixon's ZX Mark II irons.
Speaker 8:A great iron set needs more than good looks. It's got to be fast and got to be pure, but good looks never hurt either. The all-new ZX Mark II irons from Srixon.
Speaker 1:Chris, again, I said it at the opening and I said it a couple times in interviewing these players, the winners from Fripp If you like Hilton Head, you're going to love Fripp and you really need to get there. It's beautiful, it's laid back, the courses are in phenomenal shape and they treat you really well. And I would say and again, I said this before, but I tell people, or we tell people a lot that you have to get to this regional, you have to get to that regional, and it's true, but this is what you really have to get to as well, because I mean, with having these regionals all over the country, you know, if you go to them, you're going to play a little bit different style of golf, right, right. So, like last year when we were in Louisiana, that course was a phenomenal course, right, you know, a little bit different than the week before when we were up in Michigan. Yes.
Speaker 1:Which, again, and you know, the Scottsdale courses are different from them. You know so and you know you've been up to Buffalo Ridge those courses are a little bit different. So you know, if you can get out and play some of these courses you know, in different parts of the country you're going to see some, some really good quality golf courses all over the place.
Speaker 2:No, I completely agree. You know uh me being able to play these courses, you have to learn green tendencies. Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know the greens here in El Paso and Arizona, you don't have to worry much about the grain. You go up to Michigan uh, big cedar, you gotta worry about the grain. You go up to michigan uh, big cedar, you gotta worry about the grain. You go to louisiana, you gotta calculate the humidity, uh, within your shot, because it's gonna come up short if you don't do that. Um, even going to hilton head, I had to learn how to adjust my yardage to sea level. So it's, it's it makes. I think this is, you know, one of the only games where you have to actually take into consideration where you're at. Like, you can go play basketball in any arena and the ball's gonna bounce the same and the court's gonna be the same. You know, typically the same type of wood, right, uh, football you, I think the only thing you have to worry about is altitude. You know how you're gonna breathe and such like that. But here there's a lot of calculation that is involved where you're at. If you're not used to hitting trees and you're in the trees.
Speaker 2:What are you going to do then?
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:If you're not used to hitting in the desert and you're walking in there and you hear something move in the bushes, how quickly can you run out of that desert? It makes you think and, and like you said, any you could put the schedule of regionals up on a wall and throw a dart at it, and whichever, wherever that dart lands, is going to be a great event, right and and great courses and a fun time. Um, and I think that's what's great, not only for our regional schedule but also for the tour is you could do the same thing and throw a dart to any tour, yeah, and you'll meet great people.
Speaker 1:And you know that's why I mentioned and brought up Matt and the quality of courses they've got up there. I mean you'd be surprised at some of these courses. You know when.
Speaker 1:I was, you know, in the Midwest, you know, running St Louis and Chicago and Milwaukee. I mean it was every week going to a really, really, really good course. You know that again, are different based on the regions. But you know, when you look at Minnesota and Michigan and Wisconsin as a poor example, the plushness and the greenness of the grass and the vegetation, again when you only have a few months out there, it really is incredible and it's pretty and really good courses. So get out there guys. Get out there travel, go play in some of these other tours in these regionals.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely, it's a great time. I'm one that will quickly be on a flight, if I could, to play an event, and the good thing about FRIP is it's not in the cold time of the year, so maybe my traveling group will consider that one, because apparently Ohio is too cold for them. Oh my.
Speaker 1:God, oh, my God. But it is what it is no, it was not too cold. I it is what it is no, it was not too cold. I mean it was hot, but I mean it was bearable. I wouldn't say it was too hot.
Speaker 1:You know, when JR was there and we got him in on that one interview Again, it's always good seeing JR, I mean it doesn't matter where you are, whether you run into him at Stu's Subs which I haven't yet or you run into him at a golf tournament what have you? I mean? Jr always has a smile on his face, always willing to talk and spend some time with you and chat. It's guys like that that just make this tour so daggum special.
Speaker 2:Yeah, every, every tour has a JR, I guarantee you yeah.
Speaker 1:So get out there and play. And you know you and I over. You know it's June 30th. Over the next 30 some days, you and I have got our schedules are packed yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, jam-packed.
Speaker 1:Jam-packed full of golf stuff, family stuff, personal stuff. If you thought the season's going by quick, I'm hoping this month for some things goes by really quick and for other things I hope it takes forever, like I'm sure when you're in Hawaii you're in a couple weeks. You're not hoping that it goes by quick, you're hoping that you can stay and you can enjoy some of those times and it doesn't fly by.
Speaker 2:For sure. I mean, I can't wait. You know, we're all excited for it. We just found out. Well, I just found out my wife probably knew that we get back on a weekend and then that morning my kids go back to school. And they just found out and they're like no, no, you want to stay in hawaii don't, don't send us back to school.
Speaker 2:Oh my god um, they're definitely gonna be wanting it to go slow, but uh, it's gonna be a good time out there and I can't wait um yeah and then the season. You know you got two months left of the season and then it's nationals and the page and start again.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but before you even get, before you even get to Hawaii, you're going. You got another trip to, to Arizona, arizona.
Speaker 2:Yep For our dual event at Tubac. See you make me, you make me think about it now. See Tubac, Arizona for 4th of July weekend. My home away from home. Love that course. Like Kurt said earlier, it just fits my eye, fits my swing path and I've won there a handful of times, so can't wait to go back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I know you and the family like going up there it's peaceful. Yeah, and I know you and the family like going up there it's peaceful.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:It's a lot of those other things that we get from golf that just kind of you know, centers you and brings you back to some peacefulness and some reality.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, I mean. You know everybody needs a reset every now and then. Life is not easy and there's bumps in the road all the time Some that you expect, some that you don't and it's just nice to go and have a reset, spend some time with your family and not have to worry about what's going on in the world.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. And you know, and with that you know, I know you got a lot going on in it and I know why you made that switch. I just like giving you shit about it. But you know, if you're going to be in a playoff, I don't care. You need to win the playoff.
Speaker 2:All right For for all the listeners. That's, that's my point. Know, I was really excited to be in a flight and and I know my game can compete in that flight. But, like I mentioned, things happen in life and I had to put golf on, not even the back burner. I had to put them in the fridge and, uh, let them marinate there. And you know, it got to the point where golf was just show up, hit a ball around the course and and put the clubs back in the trunk like I don't think I broke 90 all year long. Um, so I did, did the thing that I thought was right stepped down to b flight. Uh, went up to sedona and I can guarantee you all of arizona's tour gave me crap about it.
Speaker 2:Um, because that's I can only imagine you know they're the little brother and they have to give you shit. But honestly, tim, it was probably two of the best rounds I've had in a long time. That's including nationals last year. How well I did, just because I felt at peace. You know, like Kurt said, you just zone out, you know, and every shot was, I would say, in great. Every putt was by the hole or in the hole, just having such a great time.
Speaker 2:Groups I was with was having such a great time. Didn't even realize how close I was in the leaderboard until after day one. And then on day two knew something was was brewing because I was leading our group and we were the group of leaders. Um, if I knew something was going on, and when I tell you the nerves of being in contention, they, they are real and I haven't felt them in a long time. Uh, shaken for four holes, man. Um, knew I was beating my group but didn't realize that the groups behind us were also making a run at it and uh took my eye off it and guy caught up, we tied, went to a playoff and uh, shaken like a leaf on that first tee. Uh lost in the playoff, but but I was still happy with the way it turned out because it was still two good rounds of golf I think. Both rounds I was 90-plus percent in the fairway and like 60-plus percent greens in reg, so there was good shots that I was hitting and I felt comfortable.
Speaker 1:That's good and, like I said again, I know why you did it. I just like giving you shit. I know. And again, if you're going to do it, you got to. You just got to win the playoff. That's the problem, you know, and now.
Speaker 2:I know. So when we, when I go to playoff Cause, I'll just claim it on all two days.
Speaker 1:Just you know, just just put it away on Saturday.
Speaker 2:Right, I might as well at that point.
Speaker 1:Just put it away on Saturday, It'd be good, It'd be good. Oh, my goodness gracious, Uh, but again we so much stuff going on. Um, I love Fripp. I'm hoping to get to the Blacksburg Regional, and that is now up in the air. I thought for sure I was going to go. And again some family stuff has happened. That litter I just found out right before we started recording this, this, and that's going to throw the travel schedule off again. So so we'll we'll see what happens, but uh is what it is.
Speaker 2:No, I mean one thing I learned from from this journey. You know you got to take care of yourself first, yeah, and, and make sure that that your togetherness is there with you, your family, whatever's going on, golf will always be there, and if you're not enjoying your game and you're getting more upset than you are having fun, it's not good. It's not good for yourself, and I learned that real quick for yourself, and I learned that real quick. And now you know, anytime anyone comes and talks to me about moving down, I want to hear them out, because before it'd be quick to be like, ah, you don't need to move down, you're good, you're good. But it was a good learning moment for me.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm glad you learned something from it and and you know, the other piece to that is especially you as a tour director. Your players can sense it too right Right.
Speaker 1:Players can sense that, that you're not having fun, that you're not happy. And I'm not saying that you were going through the motions, as as a tour director, you were going through the motions of playing golf, right, and there's there's a difference there and and you know, I'm sure that they could feel that, and you know, I'm sure that they could feel that something was going on and that you were distracted. And again, that is what it is and there are other more important things in life than playing golf, than playing golf. As we're coming up over the next couple weeks, we talk a little about the holidays. July 4th is obviously coming up. I'm just going to put this out there. I'm not going to tell anybody all the details on it. It's not my story to tell, but July 9th is a big day and we need make sure that we're. You know we are.
Speaker 2:Sending positive vibes.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure. For sure. I mean, it's a big month for not just you and me, but for a lot of tours around the country. You know a lot of regionals going on Arizona. They're doing and I'm going to put this out there now for them Gabe doesn't know I'm doing this, but they're doing their yearly fundraiser for the V Foundation and every year they raise.
Speaker 2:I mean there are top raisers you know on tour but they do a silent auction, which I think is kind of cool with a bunch of different trips. I mean they got Myrtle Beach trip out on there. Raven Golf Club, rich Carlton Golf Club, orlando.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So there's a bunch of different things on there and they're raising money, obviously, for the foundation. And they're raising money, you know, obviously for the foundation. They've already hit 35% of their goal of $10,000, which ends July 6th.
Speaker 1:Do they have a link on the website for that?
Speaker 2:I don't know, on his website. I know I'll send it to you and you can put it in the show notes. But if anyone's listening, it's 32auctionscom slash guat, the foundation. Um, in case anyone's interested or definitely reach out, you know, reach out to me, or, or gabe, the arizona director, we can get you that link. Uh, it does end um july 6, so we have you know once this episode goes off. We got six days.
Speaker 1:Six days.
Speaker 2:But I mean there's 150 different items to bet on or you can buy now and he even got where we just played Seven Canyons, a twosome out there and it's already got seven bids and obviously, honestly, it's priceless. If you can get it, congratulations, because it is priceless. I didn't let anybody on that course. I'm surprised we got on there, to be honest with you.
Speaker 1:Well make sure you send me that that link and I will put it in the show notes and maybe we can get it posted on Facebook and some of the other social media sites as well and get some movement on that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean again, there's things all over. They got some in Benton Harbin, michigan. They got an Ireland trip in case you want to go out to Ireland. One in Hawaii. Four night stay in Hawaii, california. Uh, they got an Ireland trip in case you want to go out to Ireland, I do One in uh, hawaii. Four nights stay in Hawaii, uh, california, you name it, pauley's Island, south Carolina. You know where that's at?
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah, it's just outside of Monroe Beach. True Blue Golf Club Foursome. Yep, yep. We World, we is. And I say we I mean that as club foursome. Yep, we as a tour are on those courses all the time, cool. So, yeah, check it out I mean.
Speaker 2:But, like I said, there's always all these things that are happening around the tour that anyone can be a part of.
Speaker 1:Let's go ahead and get that link out and get people spending some money and raising some money for the V Foundation.
Speaker 7:Yes, yes, definitely.
Speaker 1:And I know we talk about this every week too. You know we've got our raffle for irons. Make sure you Venmo me at TimNATC for the. Strixon irons. I meant to ask Kurt what he's playing.
Speaker 2:That could have been good or bad, depending on what he's playing.
Speaker 1:Oh man oh boy. Well again, I guess at least he brought his clubs, he didn't pull a Roger and he didn't have his car towed and had to piece a whole set of clubs together. Right, right, right.
Speaker 2:I mean, I think at that point you're a little more cautious of where your clubs are when you're shooting 60s and just brushing them off like it's another day out there on the course.
Speaker 1:Exactly, All right, bud. Well, it's good seeing you again and we'll I guess we'll catch up one more time before we. Before I'm done, I said before we like I'm going Hawaii with you.
Speaker 2:Right, no, I've already told my tour. Well, I actually haven't told them about that, but I'm off the grid while we're at 2 Buck. But I will definitely be off the grid while I'm in Hawaii and let my assistants take over.
Speaker 1:Hey, how many guys check one to 2 Buck.
Speaker 2:Last I checked we're about 25 to 30. So about half the field.
Speaker 1:That's pretty good.
Speaker 2:That's pretty good. I'm telling you, man, it's a fun time. It's just fun because of the atmosphere. Honestly, Everybody's walking around. You're all either at the pool or you're just taking a walk around the property. I'll go spend an hour and a half on the short game area, just music blaring and having a good time.
Speaker 1:Well, you enjoy it, enjoy the time with the family, and we'll talk to you again here real soon.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, you be safe. Bye-bye, thank you.
