Done for Another Year
by Pat Sheridan on 08/26/15While not the result I was hoping for I can't complain about my finish at the Farmington Miniature Golf tournament this year. I carded a 40 in the final round, with five 3s and one ace. While it was a respectable round, I could have done with out the two 3s I took on what should be rather deuce-able holes. However, it was still my personal best at this tournament (previously was a tie for 4th) and I'm quite happy to have taken away the bronze. I earned $50 for 3rd place, bringing my career total earned in tournaments to $1,860 over 37 professional tournaments.
Upper tier winners from Right to Left
One thing I failed to note about this tournament is that it plays slightly different than most tournaments in the US in that the play on a hole is similar to how you would play with a group of friends. Instead of each person "holing out", everyone takes their tee shots and then play follows with the closest to the hole then finishing up their putts. This does put you at a bit of a disadvantage if you lose honors on a hole and have to go to the back of the 3-person bus. I had it adversely effect me on one hole where I bounced off another ball, leaving me with a much more difficult second putt (that I made) but overall it didn't have that much of an impact on me.
The other unique aspect for this tournament is that they split the field into an upper and lower tier after the first day of play. This gives some of the more casual players a chance at winning money. It worked in the Putting Penguin's favor this year as Mandy finished 4th in the lower tier, ensuring both our players were winners! They also give out some minor prizes for certain aces and a raffle for first-time players (a good excuse to give this tournament a try).
Putting on the well, where I took a 3 each round. It is ace-able.
Recapping the predictions:
- I will have at least 5 aces over the three rounds
- I fell 1 short
- I will ace the first hole I play
- Not even close
- I will shoot one round in the 30s.
- I actually managed 2 rounds in the 30s!
- Mandy will shoot one round better than 43
- Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be
- Mandy will have at least 3 aces
- It must be a penguin thing to just miss that final ace
Final scores from the tournament
While there were five USPMGA players in the tournament this year, only two of them made the upper tier top five, proving that in local tournaments those who know the course best have a great chance at beating the pros. Next year is the 35th anniversary of the tournament and they are planning on having a special trophy to celebrate the occasion. Seems to me like it would be a good time to give a minigolf tournament a try if you haven't played in one before!
Finishing up the tournament with a two putt
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