GOLF

Last week I promised to share a short story about what I learned from 14-year-old Cass Dorrington.

Cass, William Jenkins, sophomores at Chapin and I were on the 18th hole at Timberlake Country Club discussing ideas on how to hit golf shots when I shared what I had learned many years ago from Jack Nicklaus. It was then was reinforced by Nick Faldo.

We were standing on the top of the hill in the middle of the fairway overlooking the 18th with the lake both in front and beside the green.

The setting was picturesque, but here was my problem. Based on my performance to this point in our round there was no evidence I could hit the shot. This was not my best day of ball striking.

Faldo’s approach here is what I referenced.

“Occasionally, when things aren’t going well, but someone else in the group is hitting the ball great, I will steal one of the shots they have hit and play it in my mind as if it were mine,” he remembered him stating.

Jenkins is a left-hander and he had hit a Drawing Fairway metal solidly earlier in the round. The shot I was faced with required a slight fade because I am right handed. This was a good place to barrow Williams’ shot from earlier.

Cass, who one day wants to be a filmmaker, chimed in so timely, with a wry grin, and said, “Picasso says good artist borrow ideas while great artists steal.”

It took me a me a minute to recover for between the comment and his facial expression, laughter consumed me.

Whether you decide to borrow or steal shots from other players, attempt to plug-in detail audio and combine with the actual feel with a complimentary mental visual picture just prior to hitting the shot. That’s because these details increase trust with confidence. Increased trust with confidence increases the odds of executing the shot.

Chris Locker recently won a playoff and qualified for the United States Mid-Amateur golf championship in Colorado. It’s his first USGA event, so stay tune for more as the September tournament gets closer.

He shot two under par 68 at Camden Country Club, then birdied the first playoff hole to earn his spot.

This week, we will recognize local youth and high school players and next week we will offer details.

The Lady Eagles won their first tournament of the year the Lady Blue Jacket Invitational played at Diamondback Golf Club in Myrtle Beach. Emily Baker and Noelle Magann made the All Tournament team for Chapin

Timberlake Country Club hosted the first Columbia Fall U.S. Kids Tour. Players came from all over South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia compete in this event in hope to earn a spot in 2020 U.S. Kids Junior World Championship.

Lilly Reed Black of Chapin finished 1st in the girls 12-14. In the girls 10-11, Caroline Hawkins of Columbia placed 1st and Sadie Licta 4th. Kinley Brazell of Blythewood finished 1st in the girls 8-9 and Lucy Williams of Columbia 3rd, Summer-Belle Fair 4th.

Chase Cline of Chapin finished 1st in the boys 13-14 division. Zachart Valsecchi of Blythewood was 2nd and Thomas Herbig of Blythewood 3rd. In the boys 12 division, Harrison James of Chapin was 1st and Teddy Dunn of Blythewood 2nd.

Owen Atkinson finished 1st in the boys 11 division. In the boys 9 division, Connor Wolfe of Blythewood placed 2nd, Zim Atkinson of Columbia was 3rd and Woods Weston of Columbia 4th. Easton Fetner of Columbia finished 1st in the boys 7 division and Kane Vaughan of Lexington was 3rd.