Lessons Learned

Hello Family & Friends!
      As some of you may have heard, I had a successful tournament last week at Wigwam. I shot 68 69 72 (-7) and took 2nd place!! It was a whole new experience for me, as I was leading after the first two days. I did my best to stay calm and play the course the exact way I had the previous days. Although I ended up shooting par, it wasn't quite good enough to hold on to first place. Perhaps my nerves, excitement and allowing my thoughts to get ahead of myself, played a role in the end result. Here is just a little bit of how my final round unfolded.....
       I stood on the first tee excited and confident to get the day started. However, I didn't start as well as I hoped, and made a few bogies in the opening holes. A little frustrated, I pulled it together and made some birdies. From there, my day was up and down, compiled of missed fairways, good punch shots, great putts and a lot of boring pars. When I showed up at the treacherous 18th hole I was one over par but ahead of the other two leaders in my group.  I thought if I birdied the last hole, the way I had both days previous, I would have the win in the bag. I stood up on that tee box and striped the ball down the "alternate route" hole #1 fairway, while I watched my competitors tee off with irons down the skinny 18th surrounded by water. As I walked to my ball, having avoided all chances of water, my heart rate picked up thinking, "I may have won my first professional event". Arriving at the ball I had 210 yards over the trees to reach
the big par-5 in two shots. I took a few deep breathes and stuck it on the green for the third day in a row. When no one else was looking, I jumped up and down in excitement. Before I got out of control, I was reminded by my trusty caddy that I still had to putt and that someone already in the clubhouse may have had me beat. He was right...like always. I two putted for birdie and drove nervously to the scoring tent. As soon as I arrived, I saw the red numbers on the scoreboard, and saw that my competitor fired a 68 to beat me by a single shot. For many minutes I was angry, angry knowing I had lost and knowing I had hit only four fairways that day. After cooling off, a fellow competitor reminded me how grateful I should be because with the way I drove the ball that day, I could have easily ended up in 6th place. She was exactly right. Although the tournament didn't end how I anticipated, I am grateful for the loss. I learned how to lead, how to scramble for pars, how to stay in the moment, and how to act when you lose.
        With a week of rest, I take on Ahwatukee CC starting on Monday! Wish me luck!

A Word from the Caddy

Hello Everybody,

          As you can probably tell from the title, this post is being written by Cheyenne's caddy and husband, Bruce. Cheyenne has asked me to share with you all what we have been up to and how the 2014 season has started.  It has been two weeks since Cheyenne's first official professional season has began and everything is going as you would expect when starting a new career. There are always going to be ups and downs, and bumps in the road to overcome. In the first two tournaments of the season Cheyenne finished just out of the money line, but that's not important. We have learned how incredibly powerful the subconscious mind can be and how important confidence is to be able to perform at the highest level. Despite the imperfect results, I was very proud of the way Cheyenne conducted herself the last few weeks... she is slowly learning to not to be so hard on herself! Also, I am learning more and more every round how to be a better caddy and help her on this journey. Speaking of which, a few words on my caddy journey....

        When Cheyenne and I decided to pursue the desire to become a professional golfer, I knew pretty close to nothing about the mechanics of a golf swing.  It was a mutual decision that I would become her caddy to save on money and be able to share every step of this journey together. After that was decided I knew I had a LOT of learning to do. My first step was to research what being a caddy meant, and how to become the best caddy I could be. I found a book written by former and current PGA and LPGA caddies that taught me a whole lot about what goes into being a caddy. One of the biggest lessons I learned from that book is that caddies not only carry the bag and help determine club selection, they need to be encouraging, positive, knowledgeable, and many other things. These few attributes would be much easier to achieve if the professional golfer you are caddying for wasn't your wife. For those of you who are married, you know that when one of you isn't happy, the other isn't too far behind. The most difficult part about caddying for your wife is being able to separate personal from professional. This is something that we are both learning and will continue to learn for the next few years. With the ups and downs that have come with this journey, it has been one of the most incredible, yet difficult things we have ever done. Cheyenne has a very bright future ahead in golf and we are just tapping into her potential. We are working harder than ever and are very excited for what's to come. We take on Wigwam Golf Resort this week in Litchfield Park, AZ! Wish us luck!!

Ready to go!

Hi All,
       I hope that this post finds you all happy and healthy!! With one day left until the tournament season kickoff, Bruce and I couldn't be more excited. We have been working incredibly hard, on and off the course, to prepare for the season ahead. In the last few weeks I decided to become a practice club member at The Raven Golf Club in Phoenix. This course gives me the opportunity to practice at a good facility, has a course I can challenge myself on, and a has a weekly skins match for me to test my game. If you aren't sure what a "skins" game is, you may be better off to "Goggle" it, than to sort through my complicated explanation.

        Apart from spending a majority of his time on the golf course with me, Bruce has started a physical training program for the other golf students that work with Kene Bensel. This program combines flexibility, speed, and strength all into one. Bruce came upon this opportunity when Kene stated that he didn't think his students were working out correctly or at all. He believes that using heavy weights and doing slow movement exercises (like squats) are nearly pointless for a golfer. After talking more with Kene, Bruce knew he could help. With five years experience as a Decathlete, a lot of Bruce's training, in the throws division, involved what's called "separation" between the athletes' hips and chest. This same movement is incredibly essential in the golf swing and is commonly known as "X-factor". Along with that, this program also incorporates stability and balance to improve the players' all around fitness, including, flexibility, speed and strength as previously stated. Since starting this 3-day a week program one month ago, Kene couldn't be more pleased with the results he is already seeing in his students. Not only can his students perform the golf swing in the way he instructs, but some are also picking up yardage with all of their clubs. So far, this has been an awesome opportunity for Bruce to teach what he is great at, and a way to supplement our income.
       In the last month, Bruce and I, have put more effort than ever before into pursuing our dream of playing golf at the highest level. We are excited and incredibly motivated to keep moving in the right direction toward this dream. I can't wait to see if our hard work will pay off this season!
 

2014

Happy New Year, Everyone!
           I hope you all had as much fun ringing in 2014 as Bruce and I did. As we enter into this year, we have so much to be thankful for and feel so blessed that we get to spend the next 365 days chasing our dream of playing on the LPGA.

         Over the last couple days we have created our tentative tournament schedule for the end of January through the end of April 2014. We are so excited that we have the opportunity to play in so many events and gain valuable experience without having to leave the state of Arizona. You can find that tournament schedule on the new tab I have created at the top of the page.
       With so many tournaments coming up, Bruce and I are spending a lot of hours on the golf course. Mainly, we have committed to working hard on the mental part of the game, something I have foolishly neglected for years!! As golf great Bobby Jones said, "Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course...the space between your ears." I think he is exactly right. Along with improving my mental strenght, we are also working hard on routine and course management, things that won't break down in pressure situations. Bruce has done a great job so far of holding me to these commitments.

        Lastly, I just want to say how incredibly thankful I am for the generous family and friends who have helped me financially and otherwise thus far!! Without all of you, I couldn't pursue this dream.  I also want to give a huge THANK YOU to Outback Golf Academy, for allowing me to volunteer in exchange for range and playing privileges at Western Skies Golf Club. I have enjoyed the experience working with younger players and teaching them the game that I love so much. I can not thank Craig Hocknull, Outback Golf, and Western Skies enough for giving me this opportunity and for being so incredibly encouraging !!! If you live near Gilbert, and want to get your kids into golf, I suggest you look into Outback Golf Academy. 
        That's all for now, thank you all again for your continued love and support!!

Greetings!

Happy Holidays, Everyone!
       I am glad to see you found me at my new blog address! After many readers have mentioned the lack of updates on my blog, I have finally decided to take their advise and get back on the blogging train. Maybe my New Years resolution should be to keep up on my blog??  A lot has happened since my last post, but I will try to make it short and sweet!
       At the end of August, as many of you may remember, Bruce and I tested our skills at LPGA Qualifying School. Although I did not make the cut to the next stage, we walked away with a lot of knowledge of the professional golf world and tournament experience under our belts. Since q-school, Bruce and I have driven across the entire Western US and back again. We visited our friends in Eugene, Farm-sat in Coeur d'alene, packed up our belongings and made our way to my home town, Gilbert, Arizona. We have decided to stay in Arizona until around May of 2014. Starting in January, I will have the opportunity to play in many professional events around AZ. We cannot wait for 2014!!
         As of right now, I am working hard with my swing coach, Kene Bensel, enjoying the holiday season, and loving being home. Bruce is busy being a wonderful caddy, husband, and is currently in search of a part time job. We are both very excited for the adventures that the new year will bring, and we are very grateful for have so much love and support from friends and family!
Thank you all
Cheers!!

The Battle Begins

Hi All!
        Once again I have fallen behind on my blog writing and for that I apologize. Let's see, where did I leave off.... Oh yes, EUGENE!! After Bruce and I left Coeur d'Alene, we headed to Eugene where we got to be apart of celebrating two awesome marriages. With a week between the "I Do's" Bruce and I got to spend a lot of time at my old college course, Emerald Valley. It was so much fun to be back in Eugene to visit with friends, old teammates and family. I even got to take part in a friendly Thursday competition amongst the wonderful members at Emerald.
          After spending ten great days in Eugene, it was time to pack up the car once again and drive 1,250 miles to my hometown, Gilbert, Arizona. As soon as we arrived in Arizona, I realized how much I had been spoiled with Oregon and Idaho summer weather!! 110 didn't feel as nice as I remembered it. With limited days in Gilbert, Bruce and I spent many hours with my coach, Kene Bensel. Within the first few seconds of Kene seeing me swing, he told me it was the best he had EVER seen me swing!!! WEWWWWW! What a giant boost of confidence right before LPGA Qualifying School. After making sure my swing was in check and my putting looked good, we packed up again and headed for  Palm Springs, CA.
         Arriving in Palm Springs, Bruce and I were ready to take on the Sun Coast tour in preparation for Q-school that would take place on the same courses in the following week. During our practice rounds we played great, despite 115 degree temperatures and the muggy blanket that covered us. After the practice rounds we were ready to go!! That brings us to yesterday, August 18th when I teed it up in my second professional tournament. After hitting the ball so great for many weeks straight, I thought it would be impossible for anything to go wrong. However, I was wrong...very wrong. It seemed as if something it my swing changed over night, and for those of you who play golf you know that this can happen. I really struggled my first day of the tournament shooting an 80 and feeling totally disappointed. I couldn't believe my game seemed to be crumbling in front of me at such an inopportune time. After spending the afternoon cooling down, I started thinking about my swing and wondering what I could do differently the following day. With some love and tons of encouragement for Bruce, we decided to wake up early the next day (that being today) to try and figure out what went wrong. This isn't something I would normally do in the middle of the tournament, but I decided since I had a huge week ahead of me and that I didn't tee off today until almost 1pm, I had plenty of time. After a little bit of freaking out and watching some video, Bruce and I were back to hitting it great!!! I went out on the course today with a ton more confidence and a swing that was easy to score with. Despite a few little faults and missed putts, I shot a one-under 71! Although I kind of shot myself out of the competition with my first round, I had been looking at this tournament as a very extended practice for the week ahead in the first place. With two more days of competition ahead, I hope to continue playing better on these courses and have tons of confidence heading into Qualifying School, beginning August 26th. You can follow my progress in the Sun Coast Tour event at http://www.suncoastseries.com/ . Also, check back here to hear my thoughts about Q-school and a few words from my wonderful caddy, Bruce! Thank you all for your kind words and support, we couldn't do it without you!!

On The Road Again....I Can't Wait to Get On the Road Again!

Hello Everyone,
        I realize it has been a while since I last posted but don't worry, you haven't missed much. In the past week Bruce and I took a few days off to spend time with my sister, our nieces and some visiting friends. We devoured far too much great food, enjoyed the beauty of Lake Coeur d'Alene that had tempted us for over a month, and had some time alone together to celebrate our first year anniversary. As we get ready to leave Coeur d'Alene for the next month, the farm and the forge will be in full swing and sure to be missing our help, just as we are going to miss home cooked meals and being surrounded by family.

      Bruce and I are packing up the car today to leave on our next adventure starting in the morning. Our first stop: Eugene, OR to be apart of two wonderful weddings. Following Eugene, we will be driving down the west coast toward our final destination, Palm Springs, CA to play in LPGA Qualifying School at the end of August. We are both very anxious and excited to get on the road. We feel like we are ready to take on any golf course and that our hard work will pay off!! As most of you know, this venture doesn't come free of charge. We are spending the money we saved over the past year, along with the donations of gracious family and friends to pay for entry fees, hotels, food, gas and equipment. If you are interested in aiding us in pursuing our dream, you can use the Paypal button at the top of the page to show your support. Thank you all for your generosity, kind words and pushing us to the limit.