April 8th, 2009 by ccollins

Hello Hoosier Golfers!

Last week I traveled out to California for the Stonebrae Classic. I was feeling under the weather for a good part of the week but managed to make the cut and bring home some dough! The Stonebrae is a new tournament for the Nationwide Tour, and the course is only a couple years old. The country club sits right on San Francisco Bay, making for beautiful scenery and unpredictable winds.

The wind on Thursday was outrageous. To make matters worse, the greens are the most undulated and difficult to read of any course I have ever played. Mainly on the front nine, the greens are gargantuan and would prove to challenge my game extensively. I mentioned last week that I hadn’t been knocking down key putts, and this was certainly true again this week on Thursday and Friday.

I also received some good TV time on Thursday evening. Driving the par-4 number 14 and teeing off on a par-3 … I’m sure all of you serious golf fans were watching!

My confidence is greatly improving week to week as I get more comfortable with my game, along with a new driver in the bag, which seems to be producing more yardage and hitting more fairways. I also made a putter change on Saturday after making the cut. It greatly improved my putting stats, and resulted in a 69 and 70, respectively. I ended up finishing tied for 32nd, which is a little shocking considering the way I felt physically on Saturday and Sunday. I am more than ready to make the trip home and get well again.

Due to the way I feel, I am greatly excited to recharge my batteries on my off week at home and to prepare to leave for Georgia for two weeks for the next set of tournaments. Look forward to chatting with you next week.

Good day,

CC

April 1st, 2009 by ccollins

Hello Hoosier golf fans:

Last week, the Chitimacha Louisiana Open was the first Nationwide Tour event in the U.S. this season. I was so psyched to be back Stateside that I busted out with my second top 25 of the year.

I finished tied for 23rd with a Sunday round of 70, 1 under. Although I finished decently, I was actually not even close to the top of my game. I missed fairways right and left, and was struggling with my putter.

Unfortunately, I cannot blame my poor putting on the greens. The greens were in great shape and set up well for my game. I just wasn’t dropping the ones that counted.

I’m feeling really optimistic heading into this week’s tournament in San Francisco. With a T13 finish in the last New Zealand tournament and now a top 25 in Louisiana, my mind is in a good place for another good finish.

I spent a good portion of my time in Louisiana out on the driving range and on the practice green. I’m still trying to shake the dust off from the offseason. I’ve also been tinkering with a new driver and hopefully will be straightening out off the tee.

If everything comes together like it should, I will be climbing up the money list on my way back to the Big Tour.

Then, after this week in San Francisco, I will head home for another week off. I am looking forward to some good fishing and some relaxation. Hopefully, I will be able to make it out to Brickyard Crossing for my second round there of the year.

I was out at the Brickyard for the St. Patrick’s Day ‘Pay the Temp’ event on the course’s opening day. It was fun to get out on the course when not really practicing or competing, and the weather was awesome.

I somehow managed to make my morning tee time even though I had just flown in from New Zealand at midnight the night before. An 18-hour time difference can cause some serious jet lag, but I didn’t want to miss out on the St. Patrick’s Day festivities! I ended up being paired with A.J. Foyt IV and his friend Luke, and there was some friendly competition on the back nine. Ha ha. It was an all-around good time.

Thank you for your support, and check in next week!

Good day,

CC

Note: You can follow Chad during every shot this weekend at the Stonebrae Classic by clicking here.