Ray Sizer's blog
Oh what a day!!
Last night we heard that Jarrod was teeing off at 7.35 on the 10th. Bugga,
that meant getting up at 5.00am for a 6.00am pickup by the fabulous
volunteer drivers in their flashy new VW courtesy vans. Beats getting the bus.
Another restless night meant that I was awake at 4.30am. Very unfair
considering it was my 43rd birthday. No wonder I'm starting to feel sore
after 18 holes of golf carrying the 15kg of camera gear.
I decided to have a wish for my birthday. I do not normally do this but
today I wished that Jarrod would have a great round and be up with the leaders at the end of the day.
Dreams do come true. Jarrod shot a brilliant 66 with seven birdies and one bogey.
Playing with New Zealander Phil Tataurangi who won over a million dollars in a USPGA tour event several years ago and also won the Australian PGA 10 years ago.
You wouldn't guess this from the way he played today being 4 over after 3 holes. Jarrod other playing partner was Mitch Brown from NSW.
Jarrod started on the 10th and had regulation pars on 10 and 11. On the 12 he put his second shot on the par 5 in the greenside bunker and then hit a brilliant bunker shot to three inches of the pin and tapped in for birdie.
On 13 he hit a long drive taking on the corner over the water and had a
short iron into the green but left it short leaving him a chip and short put for par.
The 14th par 3 he again left his tee shot short of the green. He putted from off the green and left himself with a tap in putt for par.
On 15 Jarrod hit a great drive and second shot to leave himself a short iron to the green. His playing partner Tataurangi hit his second shot in the water and Jarrod was starting to get frustrated by how slow Taraurangi was playing not just because he was in trouble but in general play.
Jarrod 's third shot to the green finished in a hollow right of the green which he failed to get up and down from and resulted in a bogey 6.
The 16th and 17th Jarrod made birdie on both par 4's. On the 16th the group was put on the clock for slow play, meaning the officials were watching them, through no fault of Jarrods.
On 18 he hit another great drive across the water. His second shot was close to the pin but he missed the birdie putt.
The 1st Jarrod made birdie when his ball stopped on the lip of the hole for a second and then dropped.
On the 2nd he found the fairway bunker and hit another brilliant bunker shot 4 meters from the pin but left the putt hanging over the hole.
The 3rd was regulation with two putts from just off the green.
On the par five 4th he laid up his second shot short and played a shot 2
meters from the pin and sunk the putt for birdie.
The par 4 5th he had a regulation 4 but lipped out his birdie putt.
On the sixth Jarrod made a great save when he put his tee shot over the back of the green and left his chip 3 meters short.
Seventh was a regulation par.
On the 8th par 5 he had an eagle putt after two great shots. The eagle putt just missed leaving him a tap in putt for birdie.
The last hole he hit the middle of the fairway with his drive and put his
second within 2 metres and sunk the putt for birdie to the cheers of the crowd around the green.
Jarrod signed his card and after an interview was taken away to the press centre for a press conference with the Shepparton News and other minor national media.
After his conference I proceeded to the media eating area and stuffed my face with a magnificent beef curry, muffin and a beer to wash it down.
Again met up with the Fairleys IGA boys Jason and Craig who were going to have a quite night with the drinks last night but judging by the way there were sweating they may have overdone it a little.
Back to the the accommodation for an afternoon of relaxation.
Heading down to the beach now in search of more birdies. Jarrod has already outdone his morning score by finding 7 more birdies, no make that 8 in his afternoon of relaxation. I may have to walk in the water for fear of white pointers, no bugga it I will take the risk and walk on the sand.
Leighton has also excelled with birdies in the afternoon and he hasn't even pick up a golf stick.
Sally is doing the washing and ironing !!!!
Well done Jarrod you are legend.
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