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What a journey it was out in the Dakotas. Benji and I both agree that this was the best summer we have ever had. Benji had some great finishes in tournaments while I was enrolled in the school of hard knocks in the tour life. What I learned was very important for becoming a better player. Golf is not easy as we all know.

The last tournament, The Gallatin Valley Open, I came in 5th shooting 72-68. The first day I shot 4-over 40 on the front nine and I took some experience from my previous tournaments and shot 4-under 32 on the back nine.
The next day I shot a bogey free 68 to make a move up the leader board to cash my first Professional check.

Benji ended up coming in 9th shooting 73 both days.

Results from The Gallatin Valley Open


Here are a few pictures from the drive home...






I have been running around this week getting everything ready for school. Sunday morning I am heading to Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

Benji is still in Bozeman, Montana for another week. He figured he would continue the dream vacation with the Montana boys going to the rivers around the area and fly fishing. Benji doesn't start working again at the UW Driving Range and Montlake Ale House until the first of October.

I have plenty of pictures and video to work with so once I get some time at school I will post them on the blog, so be on the look out!

Thanks to all who check out the blog! Hopefully next year we can get out there again.

Until next time,

-AVL

Day 38-44

We have been keeping busy on the course this last week in Bozeman. We have played Cottonwood, Valley View Golf Club and Old Works in Andaconda, Montana.

Check out some photos from Old Works...










Friday, September 10th, we are playing in the Ironman Tournament at Old Works. The course is tipped out and all the pins are in tough locations. It is a two man best ball format.

This weekend we have our final tournament which is the Gallatin Valley Open at Cottonwood.

Oh by the way.... We have some new shots...



The stare has to be done after a golf ball is caught.

Day 37

We drove from North Sioux City, South Dakota to Bozeman, Montana. It was a 12.5 hour drive.

Passing through the Badlands in South Dakota.


Our total milege to this point.

Day 34-36

We had a practice round at The Ridge in Sioux Center, Iowa. We played 11 holes and then the rains came...










On Wednesday we had 36 holes to play at The Ridge. The greens were an incredible 14.5on the stimpmeter. Benji shot 75-72 and I shot 70-74, both of us missed the cut.


Here are the final results from the Tour Championship.


On Thursday we are driving to Bozeman, Montana.

Day 33

Benji and I got into the small of Milbank, South Dakota on Sunday afternoon. With only 3,400 people in the town, not a lot is going on. We watched the end of the PGA event and then headed over to Pine Hills Golf Club for a practice round.

We are glad we saw the course before we play a 1 day Pro-Am there on Monday. The course qualifies for the Northwest Obscure Golf Association. Numerous blind shots, water hazards and short holes makes for a challenge. The course has a mix of small quirky greens along with large greens. The greens roll nice and it should be a good test for Monday. Here are some pictures from our day out at Pine Hills...







Doing our best St. Andrews Swilcan Bridge picture at Pine Hills Golf Course in Milbank, SD.










After the Pro Am we are heading North Souix City, SD to a KOA camp. Then we make our way to Souix Center, Iowa for the Tour Championship for the weekend. 36 holes on Saturday, 18 on Sunday.

Day 31-33

Day 1 of the Bobcat North Dakota State Open:

Benji and I both shot 75. I played in the morning and made the turn at 3 over and shot even on the back.

For Benji's round in the afternoon the wind picked up and baked out the greens. He hit a flagstick from 190 yards and the ball then went into the water in the greenside hazard. In the last 3 tournaments, Benji has atleast hit one flag per tourney. His round also lasted 6.5 hours.

This tournament was formatted with 2 pros and 3 ams in each group which made for very long days on the course.

Day 2:

Benji shot 70. He played solid but just had one bad hole. He was punching out from the trees when his ball caught the trunk of a tree sending it into the hazard. Benji missed the cut by 2.

For myself, I shot 81. Made the turn at 3 over again and knew I had to make some moves if I wanted any chance of making the cut. Instead the round went the other way.

Here are the results from the Bobcat North Dakota State Open

We are leaving North Dakota today and heading to Milbank, South Dakota. We will drive 3 hours and play a practice round at Pine HIlls Golf Club for a one day Pro Am tomorrow, August 30th.

We are looking forward to playing a new course and teeing it up in another tournament.

Until next time,

AVL

Day 30

Thursday, August 26th,

Benji and I played a practice round at Fargo Country Club. It was a nice day, around 80 degrees with a slight breeze. The forecast for tomorrow is calling for wind and sun. I tee off at 8:20am while Benji tees off at 1:20pm.

The greens are very firm and fast. The key to approach shots is staying below the hole and taking one club less for the ball to run up to the pin. This is a very Northwest style golf course so Benji and I feel comfortable playing here.

Here are a few pics from today at Fargo Country Club...