2 Weeks of Majors have Am Tour Players Ready for Finish.

The last 2 weekends have provided an off weekend for some and for others it was a way to test their game as a higher level of competition as Regional Majors were on the schedule.  On the weekend of July 16-17th 2 players went down to challenge TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, while 4 more golfers challenged 2 courses at the Turning Stone Resort on the weekend of July 23-24th. 

Down at TPC Sawgrass, Sarazen Flight player Matt Blum and Senior Hogan player Kevin Muehring were up for the task of taking on the challenging course and conditions at the Stadium and Valley Courses. Playing in sunny and 90 degree conditions, the courses were in great condition with very thick rough throughout.  The rough made for tough decisions on the course cause many of the errant balls that found the rough did not get good lies.  None the less both had lots of fun playing the challenging layouts.

In the Senior Hogan Flight, Kevin Muehring shot scores of 100 (Stadium) and 87 (Valley) to total 187 and finish tied of 8th place.  One of his great memories on the weekend was probably hitting the famed 17th green and taking his par. 

As for Matt Blum in the Sarazen flight, it was a big celebration for him as he got to celebrate his 33rd birthday by getting the tournament underway on the Stadium Course on Saturday.  His tee shot, which was the first stroke of the tournament, sailed down the right rough about 130 yards away from the hole.  Much of the rest of the weekend was enjoyable, but he felt bad he didn't bring his "A" game to the course.  He shot 105 (Stadium) and 107 (Valley) for a 212 total and finished in 20th place.  Bright spots in his round were that he made a nice 12 footer for birdie on the 13th at the Stadium course and took home a skin as well as nearly driving #16 in two and getting a par.  He also hit the green on #17 in one, but found himself on the wrong section of the green and had to take a 3-putt bogey. 


In upstate New York, the 4 players that went to Turning Stone Resort had a swell time also. Led by the play of Hogan flight player Brandon Wang who finished 5th in his flight.  Wang shot rounds of 84-81 to finish at a 2-day total of 165 and was only 4 shots back of the lead.  He posted the medalist round on Sunday with his 81 in the Hogan Flight. 

Snead flight player Ben McDonald shot 120-107 for a 227 total and finished 18th in his flight.

Senior Palmer John Smallenburg finished with a steady 2-day total of 163 (82-81) and was 6 strokes back of the lead in 8th place.

And rounding out the players who went to a regional event these past 2 weekends was Senior Sarazen flight player Peter Gitnik who shot a pair of 101's to total 202 and ended up in 13th place. 

We hope to see everyone out on tour for the summer finish as we make the final push to qualify for the 2011 National Championships at PGA West in La Quinta, California September 18-27.