Firestricker ve Legin AM at Kiawah Ocean
Firestricker won 3 & 2.
Well played
Today #1 seed FireStricker faces off against #2 seed Legin at Kiawah Ocean for the Flight Three Title. The sets will be black tees, hard pins, normal swing, easy course conditions and live weather feed. As you all know now the āoriginalā gorilla Kong49 made his debut against JimBob and did rather well. He can sure hit them hard but he needs a really wide landing strip for his Bubba Watson like drives. Having never had the privilege to play Legin I asked around about him but no one really could tell me much. Fortunately or unfortunately for me I just walked off the tee from this same course in another clubs playoffs. Let me send kudos to out member Priors here as we had a great battle with him besting me by 1UP. Kong49 unfortunately didnāt participate because the hard course settings would have had him scratching his head and eating too many bananas. Feeling pretty good with that game and in great anticipation I walk up to the tee to meet Legin.
Hole 1 - Par 4 ā 395 yards
After seeing 22 MPH winds, fast fairways and greens Kong49 is relieved to see these 7 MPH left to right winds. Both drives find the fairway and distance is pretty close with the edge to Kong49.
Legin has honors and his approach nestles nicely on the green about 10ā short while Kong49 hits onto the soft greens and overcooks the spin and ends up on the fringe. Fortunately I can putt and drain the putt to birdie.
All Square
Hole 2 - Par 5 ā 543 yards
With 8 MPH right to left crosswinds for the banana swinging Kong49 trees on the left are a little concern. With a little loft for the paranoia my drive finds the center of the fairway. Leginās sweet drive and approach are nearly perfect. My 2nd shot is pretty close to the same distance from the pin and when Legin takes a long time to set up I start worrying about what I might have to contend with. Something doesnāt look right as he misses badly to the right.
I take all of the 30 second clock to make sure of the slow green read for eagle.
FireStricker 1UP
Hole 3 - Par 4 ā 390 yards
A 75% drive leaves me in the fairway while Leginās matches me to my left.
Leginās approach is sweet but low.
For me the sand trap always catches me so I decide to shape it to pin from left to right and this time the soft greens help my and Iām on the green. WooHoo
Leginās putt lips while I hole mine.
FireStricker 2UP
Hole 4 ā Par 4 ā 453 yards
Drives no problems.
The 30 second shot clock is playing havoc with me today. The hard settings had a 60 second clock so I chastise myself and say āsmarten upā as I come up short on my approach.
Legin capitalizes and does what he needs to as he finds the green.
When Legin lips again I thank the golf Gods for the gift.
FireStricker 2UP
Hole 5 - Par 3 ā 207 yards
Hello nemesis long iron. Even with the soft greens my 5I is too hot and ends well off the back of the green.
Legin continues to be perfect with GIR as he nails the green.
My pitch just misses correcting my mistake and when Legin for the 4th hole in a row canāt make his putt (another lip) it is truly not his day.
FireStricker 2UP
Hole 6 - Par 4 ā 455 yards
Drives went well for both.
Leginās approach is closer than mine and putts both fall.
FireStricker 2UP
Hole 7 - Par 5 ā 527 yards
Holy smoley what a shank. Kong49 say hello to Mr Bunker.
Leginās plays it safe but his short drive is dead center. His long approach canāt get there and ends up in the short rough.
Feeling a little better when Legin didnāt drive the green he pulls out his 1 iron and just wails it out to a safe spot.
We both get up a down and get our birds.
FireStricker 2UP
Hole 8 - Par 3 ā 197 yards
Irons to green and putts to hole give us both birdies.
Heart beat hurt me as I tried for the ace and left me with a 16ā putt.
FireStricker 2UP
Hole 9 - Par 4 ā 464 yards
My 346 drive looks nice out there but Legin is right there with me.
Another heart beat from the pitching wedge and this time I said let it go BABY.
Legin hits his 9th GIR and we both slam our putts home.
FireStricker 2UP
Hole 10 - Par 4 ā 439 yards
A relatively calm day this hole shows 2 MPH.
Drives are dead center and both of us find the green within 2 grids of the pin.
Leginās 15ā putt misses left and my 12 footer finds the center of the cup.
FireStricker 3UP
Hole 11 - Par 5 ā 562 yards
8 MPH right to left tailwinds aid both our drives which find there marks over 350+ yards away.
Both our approaches set up relatively easy putts for eagle. I used a 1 iron that I had to shake the bejesus full forward spin to get within 4ā of the pin. Iām thinking Leginās might have pulled a wood out of his bag. Wondering if Legin is scratching his head as he sees something sticking out of my ar$e with that purely luck shot. I take the horseshoe out and hang it on my bag.
FireStricker 3UP
Hole 12 - Par 4 ā 466 yards
Dead 6 MPH tail wind should aid our drives. I was surprised when Leginās drive squirted by me.
My A wedge didnāt get it done as Iām left with a 17ā putt while Leginās is well in side of me.
I miss my first putt of the day and am horrified when Legin misses his as well.
FireStricker 3UP
Hole 13 - Par 4 ā 404 yards
Lucky number 13
8 MPH tailwinds pad out successful drives and my G wedge seems way way long so I back spin the bejesus out of it and save it from the rough but leave an 18 footer to the pin.
Meanwhile Legin has his 13th consecutive GIR and we both make our putts for birdie.
FireStricker 3UP
Hole 14 - Par 3 ā 194 yards
Prolly too conservative with my long iron Iāll be looking at a 25ā birdie putt attempt.
Legin continues to be perfect in his GIRās as he is within a grid of the pin.
I drain my putt as I wipe sweat from my forehead.
FireStricker 3UP
Hole 15 - Par 4 ā 421 yards
10 MPH right to left crosswind sets me down in the right side fairway 351 yards away with Legin to my left just behind me.
Legin hits his 15th GIR and my G wedge continues to go way long.
I pitch up close and Leginās misses another putt. How can you not feel for his run of bad luck.
FireStricker 3UP and Legin is now dormie
Hole 16 - Par 5 ā 579 yards
A 367 yard boomer helps me with a chance for an eagle.
Legin gets to the green, his 16th consecutive GIR, in 2 with a great drive and even better possible wood to the green.
Not sure my 1 iron will get me there but am content to play for the birdie and take a chance on 17 to try an win it.
My pitch settles 3ā from the pin.
On the green Legin has a long putt and just misses right.
FireStricker 3 & 2
Legin, Kudoās you played a perfect tee to green game today but unfortunately those putts didnāt drop for you. Not sure the best man won here but what can I say other than great game by you sir.
Thank you
FireStricker