Brian Quackenbush Golf

I played my first pre-qualifier yesterday in Charlotte for the PGA Tour Wachovia Championship. I have two reactions to the actual format. First, it’s one way to weed out people who shouldn’t be at the qualifier. Whether it’s the best way is highly debateable. Personally, I was paired with a player and his caddie who exhibited some of the worst etiquette you can imagine including walking through my line and through-line, rattling clubs and commenting on how hard my shot was before I hit it. This might be acceptable for a friendly round with your buds, but when it’s your job it’s another story. Had this been the actual qualifier, the distraction of this player could have put the other players in the group at a disadvantage. Fortunately, this was only a pre-qualifier…which brings me to my second reaction. These pre-qualifiers are really a joke. Although the wind was blowing pretty hard yesterday, the course was setup ridiculously easy and the qualifying score was still a whopping 78. Every hole location was about the easiest one on the green. The course was wet from overnight rains and we were playing lift-clean-place. The experienced players knew that a score in the mid-70’s would be good enough to skate through the pre-qualifier and, therefore, were taking absolutely no risks. I hit irons off most tees and played very conservative approach shots. I lag-putted just about everything. Even with this conservative approach, I finished 12th and only 4 shots off the low score.

I go back to the same course, Firethorne CC, on Monday for the actual Monday qualifier. 51 players made it through the pre-qualifier and I expect another 20-30 exempt players. So, there should be about 70-80 players competing for the 4 spots in the event. I’m playing well and I like my chances.

I aced the third hole at University of Georgia Golf Course today in a practice round for the Nationwide Monday qualifier. The hole was playing 201 yards, slightly downwind. I hit a 6-iron that landed about 12 feet short and rolled into the hole. My father and two other playing partners were there to witness it. I would have bought drinks after the round, but the course was dry (no alcohol on premises).

This is my third hole in one on a regulation course. I finally tied Dad…we both have three. I have two more on the executive course behind their house, but evidently those don’t count in the “official” total.

The good news…I had 5 birdies today. Unfortunately, I did something that I can’t remember doing since I turned professional. I made two triple bogies in one round. They were actually relatively good scores considering how I played the holes. At the end of the day I was 3 over par and finished 13th.

I took away two things from this round. First, I made the birdies that I needed today to give myself a chance. Without those two mistakes, I’m in contention for most of the day. Second, I know that one of my two primary swing keys just wasn’t there today. I need to find a good balance and monitor these constantly. When I do I perform very well.

I’ve got two days off before the Nationwide Monday qualifier in Athens, GA. It’s two hours south of my “southern home base” here in Aiken, SC. So, I’m going to play a commuter practice round tomorrow and then head down in the morning Monday several hours before my 2pm tee time.

Today was a good ball striking day and a few more putts fell in my second round 68. This was the third lowest score of the day and, like yesterday, could have easily been a few shots lower. I hit 14 greens in regulation and, though I putted well, felt like a few more should have dropped. Olde Sycamore is a challenging course, but I feel like it can be had if you are controlling your ball and get lucky on the greens. The low score of the day was 64, so that proves my point.

I jumped up the leaderboard to 6th place from 20th yesterday.

The season is back in swing this week at the Tar Heel Tour event at Olde Sycamore GC. I started well today and am four shots out of the lead. As always, it could have been better and today was a good example. I hit quite a few good putts that just didn’t roll well. Tomorrow I have an early tee time, so I should have the benefit of smoother greens.

The highlight of the day was my drive on the 602 yard 11th hole. I was left with a 5 iron from 217 yards. Total distance: 385 yards. I benefitted from a following wind, slight downhill, a hardpan bounce and an extra kick off the cart path.

The Tar Heel Tour put in a new scoring system by Blue Golf. It’s definitely an upgrade over the old system and seems to be updated somewhat real-time. Check it out at their website.

I go straight down to Athens after this to the Nationwide Monday qualifier.