SYBASE BIG APPLE CLASSIC

WYKAGYL COUNTRY CLUB

NEW ROCHELLE, NY 

My player this week is Yu Ping Lin

Monday: Didn't have Internet service last week but I did keep a diary. Click the Canada link above to peruse last week's happenings.

Traveled all day. Started out at 4:00 AM ended at 9:30 PM. My 2nd flight was delayed, lost a bag and had to change rooms due to non-working AC. Just a normal day on the road.

Tuesday: No one at the course today. There is an out-of-state Pro-Am sponsored by Best Buy and many players are attending.

Nine holes is all we played then dropped off the sticks for re-gripping. Yu Ping ordered another 3 metal, driver and full set of irons. Oh, the luxury of being a touring pro.

Wednesday: Having the last Pro-Am time and a delay with groups making the turn we didn't tee off till 2:30. It looked like our group, after their initial tee shots, were fairly accomplished golfers but that idea was short lived. They were all over the lot which resulted into a very long day. Our forecaddie earned his money today. 

Thursday: Shot +1 today and hit it quite well. Don't know what changed but suddenly, Yu Ping has a decent looking swing.

Pam Karrigan, one of our playing partners, couldn't find a tour caddy this week so she enlisted Lisa Depaulo as a one day substitute until her brother arrives. Lisa is a former tour player and currently a rep. for Club Glove. It must have been a good match because Pam shot an excellent 3 under. Lisa seemed to help Pam but was a little short on caddy etiquette. She hardly ever took a pin and didn't help out when another player was in a bunker. Since this was a last minute replacement we'll let her slide.

Friday: We shot another +1 today. Ball striking continues to improve but the putts just aren't falling. Patience is the key right now. 

Lisa decided to stay so she changed her flight but the magic wasn't there today. Pam shot +3.

Our group was timed yesterday for 4 holes and today at two different times. Nancy Scranton was our other playing partner with her husband Mark on the bag. Combine these two with Pam and Lisa and there was too much caddy input slowing us down. At times it looked like neither could make a decision without a lengthy dialogue. When a rules official showed up and put us on the clock the discourse was much abbreviated. 

Yu Ping usually makes club decisions with due haste but yesterday on the 8th hole she was left with a difficult shot to the green, changed clubs and came within 2 seconds of getting a 2 shot penalty for slow play. When other players slow the group down and unusual circumstances get you penalized, it really frosts you.

Saturday: Three over was the best we could do. Just couldn't get anything going. 

We were the second group off the back and played in a very good pace of 2:10. Unfortunately this was too fast and we caught up with the leaders. Our 2nd nine took considerably longer.

While standing on the 2nd tee, the leaders were going down number three. I remarked to Tammie Green that there were all of 15-20 people following them. She shot back "The sad thing is, half of them will be dead next year". A reflection on the age of the gallery.

This seems to be the least attended event of the year. With all the folks living in this area it is a sad commentary on the popularity of the LPGA.

Sunday: AN UNDER PAR SUNDAY! The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the putts were falling. It was a beautiful thing! Finally put everything together and carded a 4 under par day. Made enough dough to pay for her trip to The British Open.

I don't know how people handle the horrendous traffic every day. The "Big City" just isn't for me.

Not going to Evian but will attend The British. It will be my first time over "The Pond" and have some misgivings. I hear this event is not run much like our other majors, have to bring my own towels for example., and might have to take the train to the course. Will have to look at is an adventure.

Won't be taking my computer but will be keeping a diary. Will post it when I get back.