It would have been my lowest score ever, at Royal St. George or any other course for that matter. It would have been my first ever sub 60 round. And I didn't know it at the time, but it would have put me in a tie for 1st place atop the leaderboard. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I blew it. Someone just kill me now.
After I entered the week 30 single play at RSG, I decided to dust off the old Taylor Mades and pair them with a Srixon11. Using that same set up I recently earned a 61 at Bethpage, and I was hoping it could get me another under par score.
I got off to a nice start with Birds at 1 and 2. Followed that with 3 straight pars. Then found some luck with 3 straight birds on 6, 7, and 8. Shanked my approach on 9 and missed right, but an up and down flop saved par. -5 under on the front, not too shabby.
The lucky streak continued at the start of the back 9. A par at 11, sandwiched inbetween Birds at 10, 12, and 13. When I drew a nice tailwind on 14 I thought I was sitting pretty in the catbird seat, but I very nearly pissed it all away. Despite hitting full backspin off the tee and hitting less than 100% power, I found myself inches away from disaster.
I missed early on the approach and shanked it left, finding the greenside bunker. Blasted out safely, but hit the slope wrong and ended up below the ridge, all but eliminating any chance at Bird. I two putt for par, and felt like I let one get away.
So now we come to the tough par 4 15th. Toughest hole on the back 9 IMHO, and I'm just hoping for par. Even par on the last 4 holes would give me a 62, good enough for the Crystal St George Smasher. I would have been thrilled to get it, as so far Bethpage is the only course that I've managed to earn Crystal on. As luck would have it, my approach on 15 turned out to be the shot of my short career:
Suddenly I didn't feel so bad about making a mess of the 14th LoL. Not only did I have some breathing room for the St George Smasher, but one more bird gives me my first ever sub 60 round. I had tough but very makable 12 footers on 16 and 17, but missed on both.
So now its down to the 18th. Hit a perfect drive, stopping just short of the bunkers. The approach was a dandy, as she rolled to a stop just 6 and a half feet short of the pin. Surely that is a makeable putt, right?
I studied it from every possible angle. Guaged with both putting view and chipping view. The break seemed minimal, but I can't even tell you how many times I've missed a seemingly minimal break putt because I didn't play enough break. I may have overcompensated here. And I wanted to make absolutely sure I didn't leave it short, so I may have hit it just a tad firm. I even survived two consecutive meter skips and eventually dinged the try, but a hush falls over the gallery as the putt lips out. NOONAN!!!! I tap in for par and sulk off with my tail between my legs. If only I had taken aim dead center and hit an even 5 feet of power, it just may have gone in. Hindsight is 20/20 I suppose. A once in a lifetime chance at a 59, and I let it get away. x_x
TL;DR I hate this game.