Tuesday: Arrived around noon yesterday and, after checking-in to the lovely Motel 6, headed out to our new venue in Springfield, Panther Creek Country Club. I walked the back nine in heat reminiscent of a broiler and called it a day. At first glance, this panther has no fangs but the nines are reversed for the tournament and, after seeing the other side, it does have some character.

• Now what? As I finished my flight check-in at the self-serve kiosk in Portland Sunday night, a couple next to me was about to do the same. The wife was reading aloud their itinerary and asked "This is the 25th isn't it?" Well, it was the 26th and, by the looks on their faces, whiffed their flight by a day! I didn't stick around for the aftermath.

• On second thought: By the looks of the qualifying scores it's going to another birdie fest. Hard and fast fairways and soft greens mean plenty of red numbers.

• Can't believe our eyes: Compared to the caddie digs (or lack of them) at The Rail for the past 30 years, we're in heaven. We're using the air conditioned pool house and being served breakfast and lunch.

Doug Wilbur: This weather takes it all out of you.

Wednesday: Played nine late yesterday and the the rest this morning. Definitely plays longer with the morning dew caressing the turf.

• Sorry, no collectables: While unpacking her clubs, Dina noticed something awry. The driver was in the wrong slot and the bag seemed to have been rummaged through. Looks like one of those highly respectable airline employees didn't find what he was looking for because everything was intact.

• Do I hear... $8500 (on top of their entry fee) is what it cost one pro-am group to play with Nancy Lopez. An auction was held at the pro-am party for the right to choose the pro and she came out on top in the morning flight.

• Location, location, location: That's the key in the realty business and it could apply to a sponsor's tent also. I spotted one that must not be very happy.

Maybe the aroma of fine cigars will cancel the stench of the port-o-lets.

Thursday: The steady 15-20 mph breeze kept the scores within reason. Dina shot even putting us five off the lead.

• Gibberish: Talk of potatoes in tailpipes and cooking dinner on a manifold segued into this story from Jamie Hullett.

Two of her college teammates, who were of Swedish ancestry, had attempted to cut costs by driving an old beater of an auto which seemed to be some model of Renault (or something similar). One day, they pulled in sounding more like a diesel big-rig than any mode of pedestrian transportation so, Jamie went to investigate. As she approached, they exited the vehicle, opened the rear door and asked "Do we need this?" Laying on the rear seat was the muffler which had fallen off while leaving their apartment complex. 

At least they picked up after themselves.

• Aye, aye captain! One unique feature you'll find at Panther Creek is the main scoreboard floating on the lake bordering the ninth and eighteenth holes. I was hoping for a mooring failure, due to today's windy conditions, to add a bit of excitement to the first round of play.

I christen thee the USS Under Par.

• Identity trifecta: How often do you hear the first name Bronwyn? My first was being paired with Bronwyn Mullins-Lane at The British qualifier, then again the other day while listening to a podcast of my favorite tech guru Leo Laporte and now today our standard bearer held this unique moniker. Any other Bronwyns out there I should know about?

Friday: Shot a touch better round of one under and will be playing the weekend.

• Techno-challenged? If you're like me, buying a new device like a computer is as close as it comes to an unwrapped Christmas present. It would only take seconds before it was out of the box and be set through it's paces but not Motorcycle Jim. That Acer he purchased in Portland is still awaiting the grand opening. Why so Jim-bo? it may be out of warranty by the time it's fired up.

• Not the way to finish the season: Thee are plenty of grumblings concerning our last "full field" event in Danville CA. It has been limited to only 108 players due to insufficient daylight (at least that's what they say) and will make or break some fighting for the top ninety positions on the money list. There are even a few players that are exempt this year that aren't in.

• Show me where: One of the caddies is staying at the State House Inn downtown and cannot connect through the hotel computer to the LPGA website. Seems the firewall thinks it's a porn site and has it blocked.

• Gone fishin': A must stop for dinner has always been the Capital City Bar & Grill for their all-u-can-eat walleye for a measly $5.95 and I certainly had my fill yesterday. Washed it down with a few libations and called it a night.

• Novel idea: Alexander's Steakhouse is a restaurant many seem to rave about when we visit Springfield. The oddity offered is the opportunity to grill your own steak which led Jeff Steffler to opine one of his ore profound "Stefflerisms". He figured if you're going to cook your own food, they should also offer a chance for you to do your own dishes.

Saturday: Plenty of birdie putts but not many fell. Shot another one under.

• Anybody out there? The only thing The Rail had going for itself was the best parking on tour. No long lines for shuttle busses to wait in and that's what may be hurting Panther Creek. This is a better course with facilities to match but the gallery is sparse.

• My bad: The delay in yesterday's update baffled me. I sent my web hosting company a complaint regarding the inability to connect but found out this morning it was on my end. For some reason, my firewall wasn't allowing my FTP program through even though no settings had been changed. Go figure.

Sunday: A couple more under today puts us in the middle of the field. Now it's on to Arkansas.

• Got me pegged: After all these years, Dina has come up with the perfect nickname for me. With all the "smart-ass" retorts I come up with, "Last Word Larry" (Last Word for short) seems to be right on the money.