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.
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