What a Ride!

With the weather delay at the start of the second pushing tee times back more then an hour and a half, several groups had not finished at the close of the second day of the tournament.  A text from the USGA let all know that play would resume on Wednesday at 7:30 am. Troys group had four important tough holes remaining.  After the very rough first day saving or bettering the plus two round was the goal. For the other two young competitors who were on the plus three total cut line good play was crucial.  The course was rain soaked from yet another night of heavy downpours.. As we walked out to the 15th starting hole we saw the grounds crew hurriedly squeegeeing the saturated fairways. It was cooler and windy. Conditions were going to be tough. All parents and supporters were nervous and filled with anxiety hoping for the very best possible scenarios for their golfer. Troys tee ball on the first swing found the right heavy rough. The hole being a par three a good solid pitch to save par was needed.  We held our breath.  He hit it to eight feet still leaving a test for par.  With confidence he stepped up to the ball and made a great putt to save par. One of his playing companions bogeyed....causing a great deal of stress for his supporters and the other parred, keeping his hopes of making the cut alive.

    On the par four sixteenth, Troy pushed drive right in the rough near a bunker, his second shot hit branches his ball came to land well short and again in the rough. His third shot was a beauty coming to rest about ten feet from the hole still leaving work to do to again save par.  He and Mitch took a good look at the line, talked over speed and Troy again confidently stepped up and drained the putt!  He seemed determined to post that good number. Unfortunately, the playing partner who had previously bogeyed made a double bogey on the hole and his hopes of making the cut were dashed with the two remaining very difficult holes the only left to play. Young Noah Goodwin, the fourteen year old from Texas however was still alive as he parred the hole.

The seventeenth hole being a very long par 3 into the wind, playing about 270 yards would require a special shot.  Troy took aim with driver and a smooth swing resulted in a beautiful shot leaving about a twelve foot birdie putt!  He just missed the putt and tapped in for par.  Noah parred and was still on the cut line with one important tough hole remaining.

The eighteenth hole is a very long par four requiring a tight drive and a lengthy approach shot. Troy hit the green on his second shot after a perfectly placed drive but had about a thirty foot putt for birdie.  His putt went about three feet past
 the hole so he had a testy downhiller left to par out the final four tough holes in tough conditions.  He stepped up, hit the putt right in the center!  He did it.....bounced back incredibly after such a tough day one.  Matter of factly, Noah made par and made the cut just on the line.  He would now need to playoff with eighteen others for ten spots.

After the round, we had one more nice breakfast in the clubhouse and then said our goodbyes to Olympia Fields.  What an amazing experience.  We returned to the hotel to checkout and were on the road home.  While traveling we were able to watch Noah progress online from winning one of the ten coveted spots to qualify for match play and then go on to lose in his first match on hole 21 to the three seeded player.  He is going to be a name to remember for certain.

Presently, we are on the road somewhere in Pennsylvania reflecting on such a great trip.  We truly can not thank all of the well wishers and supporters who have helped so much with this opportunity for Troy and our family.  Someone who deserves extra special thanks is our daughter Katie who kept things going at home and minded our four dogs while we were away. Thanks Kate!  Thanks to all!  And while it's great to get away there truly is no place like home.

That's More Like It!

Due to inclement overnight weather today's tee times were pushed back an hour and a half, resulting in a 3:30 tee time for Troy.  After sleeping in, a little light shopping and a Panda Express lunch, we headed to the course.  Once again, it seemed as though things had gotten busier just as we have experienced with each subsequent day.  There seemed to be many more spectators, and the television networks, (Fox Sports and the Golf Chanmel) had their towers and studio areas set up.  What a job the video crews have....working in the heat laying cables, setting up the towers, positioning the cameras.  As a viewer we often take for granted and don't think about all of the behind the scenes work.  Troy and Mitch went thru the typical pre tournament round work, some chipping and putting and warm up at the range.  Bill and I visited the pro shop one more time for a few more souvenirs.  

Troy started the day with a birdie!  He demeanor was confident and he seemed determined to greatly improve on his first days performance.  His play was very solid and he is presently at two over thru fourteen holes.  Because of the late start and looming darkness, play was suspended for the day on the fourteenth hole.  We will return to the course tomorrow for a 7:30 tee time to complete the second round.  Troy will not make the cut, but we are so proud of his never give up spirit.  We of course played with the same kids from the first day of competition.   One is a fourteen year old from Texas and the other a fifteen or sixteen year old from New York.  Both are very good players and are presently on the cut line.  It should be an exciting end to a wonderful experience for us here at the Olympia Fields Country Club and the U.S. Amateur.  

Some Days Are Better Than Others

Today was the much anticipated start of the 2015 U.S. Amateur.  There was excitement and nervous apprehension for all of us wondering what the day would hold.  The feeling on the grounds and in the clubhouse had changed from the casual getting to know you phase to the more serious, focused, let's get down to business phase.  Players were lined up thirty deep on each side of the opposite end driving range. The putting green was overly full with practicing golfers. Relaxed security had tightened.

Upon approaching the tenth tee on the South Course, Troy's starting hole for the day's round, he and Mitch were greeted by an official who checked everything from clubs being used, glove being worn, balls to be hit and measuring device for yardage.  After clearing this checkpoint they were welcomed to the tee to receive their scorecard and caddy cover for Mitch.  Troy was first to tee off hitting his drive a bit right into deep rough. His second shot again found rough, so deep that he unfortunately stepped on the ball in his effort to find it, resulting in a stroke penalty.  The round just never seemed to get going from there. The course played very tough if your drive did not find the fairway. Scoring on the lengthy holes was only possible with well set up approach shots.  The greens were fairly quick and pins were fair but tucked and protected.

Tomorrow is another day with a different yet still challenging course.  A reset with a good meal, an afternoon movie and a little light practice will be in order for the rest of today and tomorrow morning. Troys tee time tomorrow is for 2:00 pm central time on the North Course.

Practice Rounds Complete; Tomorrow it Begins!

With the two practice rounds complete and some good golf played, we are ready to get things underway.  Yesterday, Troy played the South Course, today, the North Course.  During each round he played with three fellow competitors and each day the experience was great.  Troy hit the ball very well and gained some valuable insight.  Each course plays quite long, just over 7,000 yards.  Par for each course is 70 and both are a true test of golf.  Conditions are impeccable and the layouts are well thought out.  On Saturday, there was an hour delay as a pretty severe thunderstorm blew thru.  The rain softened the courses for today's play.  The tempature has been very warm topping out in the nineties each day.

Today, we were joined by Troy's uncle, Cory Decoteau.  Cory lives in Indianapolis and traveled three hours to join us early this morning for the practice round walk.  He and his wife just had a new baby boy, Keegan on August 11th.  We so appreciate that he could come at this busy time for he and Ashley.   After a nice lunch at the clubhouse and a short rest back at the hotel to watch some of the PGA Championship, Troy has headed back to the course for some more practice time.  Tomorrow will be very exciting and we really appreciate all of the nice comments and feedback we have received from so many back home.

To learn all about the tournamnet, see tee times and watch live scoring visit:

USGA United States Amateur Golf Championship

Several new photos from the practice rounds and of the golf course have been added to the U.S. Amateur 2015 Olympia Fields Photo Album on my Facebook page at this link:


U.S. Amateur Olympia Fields Photo Album

We made It! Wow What a Place!

   

Our travels were going just as according to plan. After a full twelve hours of driving we stopped at a very nice hotel just on the far side of Cleveland. We enjoyed a nice dinner at a lively sports bar with the Browns and Indians playing on the many tv's around the bar.  Afterwards, we settled in ready to wake early to be on the road by 8:00 a.m. with just a little more then five hours to go until our destination, Olympia Fields Country Club!  At 2:00 in the morning we were all awakened to violent pounding on our door and several other doors.  Upon opening we were told that we must evacuate immediately as there had been a bomb threat!  We grabbed shoes and over shirts and hurried outside.  Some two hours later, after bomb sniffing dogs had been thru the hotel we were allowed back in.  Nerves were a little frazzled for a few of us, but others had no trouble sleeping thru and easily falling asleep afterwards.  We slept in an extra half hour in an attempt to compensate, were offered a free Starbucks coffee for the trouble and then were on our way again.  Thanks Cleveland for yet another great travel story!

After an uneventful morning drive, we arrived at Olympia Fields Country Club!  We were overwhelmed by the courteous reception, grandeur of the clubhouse, seamless organized registration, lovely buffet luncheon, wonderfully well stocked pro shop, the grounds and of course.....the golf courses.  Please click on the link below to enjoy a tour of all we saw and experienced yesterday.

U.S.Amatuer 2015 Olympia Fields Photo Album

Today, at 1:00 p.m. Troy will get to hit the links for the fist time playing his practice round on the South Course.  This evening, he will attend a suit and tie reception for players and officials.  Tomorrow he will play the North Course at 8:30.

***Due to several technical challenges and difficulties, we are unfortunately unable to post photos while traveling directly to this blog but will continually add photos and updates to the link provided and on Lisa Evans Facebook page under the U.S. Amatuer 2015 Olympia Fields Photo Album.

The Greatest Game Ever Played

      Welcome to the travels, triumphs and tribulations of a young Vermont golfer, Troy Evans.  Recently having qualified for the 2015 United States Amateur Golf Tournament to be held at Olympia Fields Country Club From August 17th thru August 23rd in Olympia Fields, Illinois, Troy has received overwhelming support and encouragement.  In an effort to keep all who are interested apprised of the journey, we decided to start this blog.  We can never thank enough those who have supported Troy throughout his golf career and with this recent endeavor.  The kind words of support and monetary donations have meant so much and promise to make our trip and this experience a special one.

     From a very early age, well actually all of his life, Troy has been around the game of golf.  His family has a very storied past playing and working in a variety of capacities within the golf course industry.  His Dad, Bill is the Golf Course Superintendent at the Country Club of Barre, his brother Mitch is newly graduated with a degree in Turfgrass Management also working at CCB and aspires to one day be a course superintendent.  Other family members have worked on course crews, in the pro shop and even in the   club food service capacity.  His great grandmother, Thelma Evans was and still is a legend at Rocky Ridge Country Club having the ability to shoot her age up to her 89th year.  From the time he was able to walk he could often be found riding alongside in a golf cart as his Dad watered and tended the golf course on many a summer evening.

     It was at the age of 8 that he began to play.  He and brother Mitch spent countless hours, rain or shine from the first cold days of spring until the last cold days of autumn playing whenever they could, many days from sun up until sundown.  The Country Club of Barre has been their home away from home during golf season.  Mitch was first old enough to attempt playing on the Vermont Junior Tour but Troy tagged along walking all eighteen holes with Mom, watching every shot.  When he turned eleven, he reluctantly, after a bit of persuasion decided to give his first try at a junior tour event.  After a few nervous swings he settled in and was hooked.  It was the beginning of his passion and commitment to playing competitive golf.

     Since that first tournament, spring has been all about high school golf and summers have been filled with Vermont Junior Tour events,  New England events, a few American Junior Golf Association Tournaments, the Vermont State Amateurs, Vermont Opens and this year the U.S. Amateur Qualifier at Hickory Ridge in Amherst, Massachusetts.  From a field of approximately 70 players Troy emerged tied for the lead earning a spot to play in this years national amateur championship.  From approximately 97 national locations and qualifying sites at 20 other countries thousands of top golfers attempt to earn one of the coveted 312 available spots.  The 312 will play two rounds of stroke play, with the top 64 going on to match play.  The eventual winner will be crowned champion and be the recipient of the coveted Havemeyer Trophy.  The likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus are all past champions.

    We will begin our journey to Olympia Fields on Thursday, August 13th.  Troy will be joined by Dad, Mom and brother Mitchell who will serve as his caddy.  We will post regular updates on this blog detailing our trip and the tournament.  Follow along!


Be sure to view the US Amateur preview at:
http://www.2015usamateur.com.