Recapping Utah, Colorado and a wedding!
It’s been a minute, I know! Sorry to leave you all hanging after my last post a few weeks ago. The last five or six weeks have been very hectic!
Copper Rock Recap
As I explained in my most recent post, my second place finish at the United Way Classic in Fort Smith, Arkansas got me a spot at the Epson Tour tournament the following week in Hurricane, UT. It was a really tough decision, because my next WAPT event was just two hours away the following weekend, I had a place to stay, and a plane ticket home after it wrapped up. But I took the gamble, flew back to San Diego on Saturday morning and on Monday, drove to Utah. My dad flew in Wednesday night after work to caddie for me.
Round 1 was a bogey free 68. My tee time was early and I had good conditions. I played really well and felt great about the round.
Round 2 was a lot more challenging for me. The wind really picked up in the afternoon and the greens were rock hard. Some bad bounces and a few putts that lipped out instead of in led to a second round 77, and I missed the cut by 1. My gamble didn’t pay off. I was disappointed, but that’s golf. My goal was to continue to fight and maintain a good attitude throughout the round, which I did.
From greens to narrows
I wasn’t going to waste the chance to spend some time in nature with Zion National Park just a half hour away, so my dad and I quickly regrouped, making plans to hike the Narrows the next morning. Despite visiting Zion several times, we’d never been able to squeeze this particular hike in, so we got up early Saturday morning to beat the crowds. It was spectacular!
Afterwards, we hiked the Angel’s Landing trail to the top of Walter’s Wiggles and over to Scout’s Lookout (since we didn’t have a permit for Angel’s Landing.) It was a view of the park I hadn’t seen before and I really enjoyed it. (left picture below)
That evening, we drove back to Las Vegas, where we were hosted for the evening by our good friend Mike Studer. Early Sunday morning, the three of us went for a hike near his home. Afterwards, my dad flew home (direct to Salem!) the following morning and I made the six hour drive back to San Diego.
Next stop: Denver
A week later, I was on my way to Denver for the Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open. This is the third year I have played in this event. Usually a 54-hole tournament, it was shortened last year due to a hail storm. The format is unusual – a pro-am tournament within the professional tournament. I played with Bob and Kelsey Webster again this year. New to the group were the caddies, Madde Sund and Nolan Thoroughgood. Madde is a former team mate who just graduated from Oregon State and Nolan played for the Men’s team while I was there and has been their assistant coach for the last two years.
I played very steady all three days and was happy with my 8th place finish in a field of 112. Staying with Bob and the crew, hanging out with old friends, and watching my friend Alyaa Abdulghany win the tournament in a playoff were all highlights. It was practically a Beaver reunion because team mates Olivia Armstrong also played and Lauren Murphy came out to watch.
Following Colorado, I had two full weeks in San Diego to practice, rest and get ready for the second half of the season. I was able to get a couple of lessons in and spend some time with friends I hadn’t seen in a while.
Up next?
My next tournament is the Children’s Hospital of Illinois WAPT tournament. It’s a 72-hole tournament played over four days on two courses, Weaver Ridge and Metamora Fields June 25 – 28. I skipped the St. Louis tournament June 19-22 for a very good reason – my brother’s wedding! Tim and Sarah were married June 21 in Hood River. I was honored to be part of the wedding. While in Oregon, I was able to squeeze in 9 holes with my swing coach Al Cross at Salem Golf Club (which is looking great, by the way!) Thursday, the whole family drove to Hood River where we celebrated for the next three days with 90 of Tim and Sarah’s closest friends and family. Monday morning, I was back at PDX, heading to Chicago for my next tournament. I’m arriving a day late due to the wedding, but it was worth it.
I’ll post my tee times once I know them here and on my Instagram page @ellieslamagolf.
