November 10, 2013 - Fab Four at Lexington GC: Flionis, Lynch, Keegan, and Brennan put the peg in the ground at 8am for our first fall matchup. There was much anticipation for this battle. We have played at least ten prior matches, but we decided to set the state clean, calling this the first match. It was balmy November morning, possibly peaking at 50 degrees. I was layered with rain pants, under armour, golf shirt, and sweater. The humorous jabs began on the putting green and never let up until 18 when Danny had a 18 foot downhill slider to potentially tie the match. His confidence was high even though the guy making putts all day was his partner. Danny aka Norstradamus was most notable for calling Keegan's birdie putts on 7, 16, and 17 (each one was over 15 feet and I disagreed it would happen each time!).
Lynch was impressive making 5 birdies, carrying us to a 1up victory (oh how sweet victory is against these guys, boom). Oh, yeah, Danny missed that putt on 18 for birdie; if he only hit it an inch further to the left as his partner guided him toward. I followed his miss by draining a 10 foot uphill right to left slider for birdie, my first and only birdie of the round. I struggled with my swing at times, but putted very well and had my share of well struck shots to shoot 75 (12 pars, 5 bogeys, 1 birdie).
There is a comfortable but fiery competitiveness about these matches and we all let each other have it. As Danny and Keegan cut into our 3 up lead with a par chip in on 12 and a birdie on 13, both by Danny; Lynch threw a dagger by making a 30+ foot birdie putt on 14 to give us a 2 up lead with 4 to go. Danny came back with a 15 foot par saver to halve 15. Then Keegan drained a match saving birdie on 16 for a halve after Rob's two putt birdie. On 17, Keegan made another match saving birdie from 15 feet to cut the lead back to 1up.
Its 1-0 boys. Bring it on for the next match.
Course conditions were very good. Greens rolling nice and the fairways did not require any preferred lies. This is the bonus season for us. Its the rounds you really appreciate and I tend to take the pressure off myself. Relaxing and lower expectations leads to good results.
And this marks a one month countdown to Arizona
You gotta give up control, to get control.
Kurt
