Oxford Cup Qualifier. Keith and me against Ben and Richie. Best ball. Gross 79. Keith and I both shot 83. Net 69. Ben and Richie 7 strokes behind us. We should qualify near the top. Ben and Richie, probably more in the middle of the pack.
Played fairly well with the exception of a couple shots. Rushed a 6i tee shot on 16th as the rain started to pour heavily. Got it quite fat and ended up in the far out front bunker. Made a good 25 yard sand shot onto the green about 15 feet short of the pin. Par saving putt lipped out.
On 15th, hit a good 4W off the tee, aiming it at the right fairway bunker with anticipation of drawing it like I had been doing on the range all last night and before the round. Didn't draw. Right into the trap, up against the lip. Only choice was to layup with wedge short of the water hazard. Got it a bit too good and bounced almost into hazard. Though it stayed short of the yellow stakes by about a foot, the lie was extremely downhill and in deep crap. Took an extra club and somehow got it square on the screws. Unfortunately, didn't expect that good contact. Ball landed on green, two bounces and off the backside, down the steep slope. Flopped up, but 2-putted for double.
Went a touch right on 17th drive, leaving me in somewhat thick rough with a very downhill lie. Couldn't get a good whack at it. Only moved it 100 yards. Still saved a bogey.
On 18th green, it was like a scripted ending. After chipping on to about 12 feet, the rumbles of thunder were getting louder. After everyone else putted out, I lined up my potential par saving putt. The rain was coming down lightly, but the sky was extremely dark. I aimed the putt a bit outside right of the hole. Stroked it smoothly. As it approached, it started to turn toward the hole, inching closer and closer. It seemed as if it might go in but almost came to a stop hanging over the right edge, when all of a sudden a super sharp (and super close) crack of lightning and simultaneous thunder boom blasted the air and the putt fell in! 5 seconds later, they blew the horn to clear the course. Great finish.
