Played my first today. Put many practice rounds in on BPB, and played a ranked round this morning, shot 61 which would have been enough for the lead but of course that was with no pressure.
Stepped out onto the first, dreaming of that $150 Golfsmith card, but alas today was not the day. Started off with a yanked drive on 1, laid up to 30yds and stiffed for par. Followed by birdie on 2, par on 3 (damn down wind and back pin), birdie on 4, chip in on 5, birdie on 6. So sitting -4 through 6 holes feeling pretty good but had the sinking feeling of the meat of the course, the real bethpage about to start.
Into the wind on 7, salvaged a par from the rough short of green. Got the yips on 8, little meter studder missed birdie from 8ft downhill. Parred 9 into the wind.
10th, good drive, slight push on the approach had 21ft uphill breaking left, lipped it out. Did the same with a pull approach on 11, and yet another lip out (too fast) on 12 to the front pin. Missed opportunities. Knowing I need a to play 13 and in at -5, I felt the nerves but birdied 13. Another lip out on 14 (again to fast, but on the low side of the hole). 4 holes to go, -4 in score needed over those holes.
Was aggressive on 15, got a hard bounce over the green, flopped and missing par putt by about an inch. Oh well, a 62 and birdie last 3 holes probably still puts me in first I am thinking. Nice drive on 16, got 166 to hole back pin, hit 160yd club, full back spin down wind to 15ft, dropped it. Thats where it ended for me, last 2 holes, 2 more lip outs and finished with a 65.
I am exhausted. That is some serious pressure, and man a 7.7ft putt for par, that barely caught the edge and dropped on 9 almost gave me a heart attack. The guys who shot 62 are legends in my book. Granted someone will probably go low with a 60 but man that was intense.