BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT..

Day 1, Round 1:
As expected, we had surprises, though no one predicted what surprises we would have. Joby Gray, our "#1 Bag", started badly, reaching 7 over par at one point... That was a real surprise. What was not a surprise is that the kid has courage, he got his emotions together and played five under the rest of the way to post a decent first round of 74.

Another surprise for some, though not for me -the kid has talent beyond what most see-, is that our "#4 Bag", Brock Walker, opened with a bogey, but ended round one with a 68, the best round of our team, and the second best of the tournament. Brock, by the way, is playing with a hurt wrist.

Cameron Marcum, our #5 Bag, opened with a respectable 77, five over par, which he had reached early in the first round. Very commendable to keep it together the rest of the way.

It was not a surprise for anyone that Berek Dyson also posted a very decent round of 75, even with some "nervous putting".

To me, the most pleasant surprise is that Logan Gore is maturing beyond expectations. A kid who could hardly keep it together a few months ago, has been improving in every area of his game, but the best improvement has been in his approach to a round of golf, taking one shot and one hole at a time. His opening 71 was a very solid proof.

Day 1, Round 2:
Joby Gray did not surprise anyone by opening with two birdies to post a 69. Yes, many very well struck putts did not reach the bottom of the cup, and this is a round that could have very well been in the low 60's, but reading greens is also part of the game and you have to accept that sometimes, you just don't have the exact read.... Joby ended up the day with an aggregate of 143, one under par.

Logan Gore had some bad lag putts, nevertheless, ended up with a solid 73 to post a two round total of 144, even par.

Brock Walker, hurt wrist and all, and a middle round full of disappointments, fought back to an afternoon 79 and a 147 total. No surprise there physically, what is commendable is the courage that he displayed in choosing to not skip the State Tournament due to his injury and try to help his team.

Berek Dyson putting touch left him, and he ended up with a 77, nonetheless, you can bet that on day 2, he will go up there and give you whatever he has in the tank, as will our #5 Bag, Cameron Marcum who posted a second round of 84.

At the end of the day, Elk City is sitting 2 strokes behind Ada and Heritage Hall. Only two shots. Today, as I write this morning, it will be a shootout out there, and will be a day full of emotions. After the round, there will be a winner and celebrations, and there will be losers and disappointments. But one thing is for sure, all of us adults know that our kids will give their best out there... Will it be enough? Come and watch!! (or at least follow the updates in A.M. Radio 1240 or in the KECO website!

Day 2, Round 3:
It was not to be. It looked like every time any of our golfers made some progress, it was either not good enough, or they gave it back shortly after. It was like every 8-cylinder engine was running in 6 cylinders, or less... And the more we stepped on the gas, the more the engine flooded.

Joby's last High School Tee Shot.

It was a nervous start from the beginning: first man out, Cameron Marcum had gone to the wrong starting tee and was almost late for his 9:10 tee time, though without a practice swing he ripped it down the middle, but quickly went over par, ending with a score of 82.

Next, Brock Walker, began with bogey, bogey, double bogey. That he ended up with a 73 is very commendable and shows his "never give" up attitude and courage, but clearly, his start hurt him and the team as well. I have to mention that Brock's play was commendable and courageous for the fact that he played with a wrist that has a fracture!

Berek's last High School Tee Shot

Number three man out, Berek Dyson, who last year closed with a 67 to help the team to a second place, could never get his putter going and you could only sense that the harder he tried, the worse it got for him. It happens to all of us... when we get in such a state of mind, we miss the putt before we hit it! His closing round was a 77, a score that could have been much higher had he lost his cool and stopped caring.

Logan Gore, saved a great par on #1 after almost going out of bounds. He opened with solid pars, and when he had played 7 holes, he was 2 under par for the day after a birdie on #7, a hole that his other two playing competitors from Ada and Heritage Hall, had just eagled with chip ins! He closed with a 71... 7 shots short of his playing competitor from Ada who shot a sweet 64! Let me say this: when you are playing good, but someone is playing that much better, it is difficult to keep your concentration because you feel that no matter how hard you try, a train is running over you! Nothing to be ashamed of kid!! You did great! (Logan was low man in our team with 215 (one under par) with rounds of 71, 73 and 71.

Brock's last High School Tee Shot

Joby Gray, "#1 Bag", ripped one the middle of the fairway on #1, but left his approach short of the green. After his two playing competitors birdied the first, he made a tricky 4 footer to save his par which I thought would help his confidence (there is no tougher putt than a 4 footer for par after both of your opponents make a birdie!). After opening with three pars, he chipped in for eagle on #4 to reach two under par, but his usually sharp iron game was clearly not all there, as he missed the next green from inside 125 yards (he did save his par). On the short par 5 #7, after a long drive down the middle, he bunkered his second shot and made par while his two playing competitors birdied. He from there on, he struggled reaching 2 over par for his round that forced him to birdie the last hole (he did) for a closing 73 and a chance for "All State" status, which he earned in a playoff. After his up and down round, this was clearly the high of his day! Joby finished with a total of 216, even par (74-69-73).

Cameron's last High Shcool Tee Shot

FINAL COMMENTS:
For the last two years I have been privileged to see all these kids on a regular basis. I've come not only to enjoy their visits, but to really care for them. I've followed them in several tournaments, and have seen smiles and frowns, happiness and tears. Have spoken with, and shared joy and anguish with their parents, and I can only thank each one of them for the privilege they gave me to watch them play and develop into fine young men.

Logan's tournament';s opening tee
shot to his best (thus far) State
Tournament finish.

I wish all four seniors the best. Since they are all going to college, I hope to see them often enough from now on. You leave first year coach, Tim Ellison, with the difficult task to rebuild a team, almost fro scratch. As of now, Ellison has only one very good golfer in Logan Gore, and two upcoming prospects, a freshman to be, Colin Dyson and Carter Muncrief, a junior to be and who has played on and off the team with limited success. These things go in cycles, and we all understand.

Happy Spectators

To close, while I really enjoy (past, present and future) every one of these youngsters' visits and everyone's company, I have to admit that I have been much closer to two of them, Joby Gray and Logan Gore, both of whom have golf in their veins and come to the course more than anyone else. But the truth is that no matter how close I am to someone, everyone is special.

Happy Spectators

Happy Spectator

This will explain it more: when I first came in 2011, I witnessed just how much Joby really liked golf and he reminded me of myself at his age, when I could not think of anything but golf. I caddied for him a couple of times and it was great to watch some really good golf. Anyway, Logan came along. Little skinny kid who couldn't hit it out of his shadow, 120 pounds soaking wet. Now this skinny kid whose weight has increased to a whooping 135 pounds or so, can drive pretty much past anyone's shadow who is waiting for his tee shots some 270 yards away or more.

Happy Spectators

As I got to work with Logan a few times (when you have someone with talent, please, please, stick to fundamentals!!), he improved rapidly. I made a few recommendations, but he did all the work (lots of it!!). One day he asked me, "I am practicing every day, but I don't seem to get much better (he didn't know how good he was getting). What shall I do?" I told him, "try to imitate and play with the better players". He took me at my word, and from that point on, he sought to play with Joby as often as he could and would come to the course always looking for Joby.

Happy Spectator

At first -as expected-, Joby would avoid him, because Joby had his own routine and did not want interruptions or distractions. Joby has always practiced and played more than anyone in this town... that is, until Logan started doing the same.

Happy Spectator

Little by little, Joby began accepting Logan as his golfing companion and are now very good friends, to the point where last Saturday, Joby called in the morning of the Great Plains National Bank outing asking if he could hit some balls before he "went to the city to play golf". When he said he was coming with Logan and that both were going to go play together, I laughed and reminded him how he would come and try to get ahead of Logan, he laughed and said, "yes, I remember, but I am glad we are now good friends". I would say, "inseparable friends through golf".


Maybe now that Joby will head on to college two years ahead of his buddy Logan, Logan, Carter and Colin, will make time to play together and learn from each other... then invite others that come along.

Harvey Penick was right when he titled his last book, "IF YOU PLAY GOLF, YOU ARE MY FRIEND" because GOLF IS JUST A GAME!

Thank you kids!