Motnola defeats CoCowboy 3 & 2 in the third round of TPX flight 1 consolation bracket. Cowboy's swing was off early on
and he straightened it quite a bit in the back 9, but the damage was done. The rain (yes, RAIN
) and easy course conditions also slowed the greens to a crawl, so lots of putts were left short.
Hole 1. Par 4. We both have good tee shots and approaches. I make my birdie putt but CC’s is short. Mot 1UP.
Hole 2. Par 5. Both on FW. CC’s second shot lands just off the green, while mine bounces onto the dance floor. I miss a 37-foot putt, though. So two birdies. Mot 1UP.
Hole 3. Par 4. I find the FW, but CC’s tee shot goes left and short into the thick grass and I can tell he's off his game. His second shot lands a few feet off the green, while I get on the green but have a 27-foot putt that rolls short. We par. Mot 1UP.
Hole 4. Par 4. Tee shots are fine. Headwind from left to right about 10 mph. My second shot is on the edge of the green, while CC misses right. I miss my birdie putt, though,
and I’m thinking I may pay later for these missed opportunities. Mot 1UP.
Hole 5. Par 3. Crosswind left to right 11 mph. I make the green, but have a long putt ahead. CC lands on the bunker. Of course, I miss the birdie putt and we’re still Mot 1UP.
Hole 6. Par 4. Crosswind again about 11 mph, I think. You know the drill: I make FW and CC misses it. But this time I finally capitalize with a thumper approach.
I birdie and he pars. CC says in chat his swing is all over the place and I know I’m getting away with murder because normally this would be going the other way – and wouldn’t be even close.
Mot 2UP.
Hole 7. Par 4. The wind picks up and I find the green. CC is in the bunker. My second shot lands way off in the rough, though. CC has a great approach.
I manage a birdie, but so does CC. Mot 2UP.
Hole 8. Par 3. My tee shot is short, while CC’s is right on target. I par, he birdies and were Mot 1UP. Now I'm remembering all the birdie putt chances I have missed.
Hole 9. Par 4. CC has found his swing!
He’s on the green while I draw my shot into the rough. We have a 10 mph headwind, though, and both our shots are short of the green. We both par. Mot 1UP.
Hole 10. Par 4. I make the middle of the FW, while the wind carries CC off to the rough. My second shot is off the green, but his finds the bunker short of the green. We both par. Mot 1UP.
Hole 11. Par 5. I’m on the FW and CC on the rough. My approach shot is on the edge of the green. His is way right. I eagle to go 2UP.
Hole 12. Par 4. We both find the FW. But I’m on the green after 2 shots, while CC is off to the left. I miss my long putt, though. Pars all around. Mot 2UP.
Hole 13. Par 4. I shank my tee shot and land in the bunker. CC has a good tee shot, but his approach is short of the green. I'm off the green as well, but my third shot goes in from about 35 feet for a birdie
and I’m 3UP. Now I know lady luck is on my side.
Hole 14. Par 3. The wind is up a bit again, at 14 mph, I think. I have a 27 foot putt that I leave short. CC has a much better tee shot and makes his putt to win the hole. Mot 2UP.
Hole 15. Par 4. Tee shots find the FW and approaches find the green. CC is farther out and his putt is short. I make my 11-footer to go 3UP again.
Hole 16. Par 4. Dormie. The first of the 3 tough final holes in this course. Headwind right to left at 7 mph. We find the FW. But my second shot is the bunker while CC’s is in the FW short of the green. My first try off the bunker is way short and, to my amusement, rolls back down into the bunker.
CC pars and wins the hole. Mot 2UP.
Hole 17. Par 3. Second dormie. Tailwind at 12 mph. CC goes first and hits the lake.
He said later he heard the miss-hit sound as soon as he hit it and knew. I club up and land on the rough, counting my blessings that I got to see his tee shot first. His second tee shot attempt lands on the green, but far from the hole. I par to go 3UP and win the round.
Good game CC. Like I said in chat, if you had your swing early on, this would likely have gone the other way.
Motnola