April 2012
Event:
Lea Open $100k (PNG)
Only event for the month but was a big on
for me. I was trying to win the event for the 3rd time in a row but
could not produce the form off previous years. I finished a disappointing 31st
on even par with the winner at 16under. Just played poorly and the three peat
was not to be.
May 2012
Event:
PNG OPEN $130k
Had a real chance of winning this event
this year after finishing 4th,3rd and 2nd the
last 3 years. I was 6under after the first two rounds 3 shots from the lead. I
struggled during the 3rd round shooting 2 over par and dropped to 5
shots behind. The final round I had a real chance of winning until the 17th.
I caught a terrible lie in the middle of the fairway and instead of playing
safe I tried to fly the water and hit it on the green. At the time I was one
shot of the lead and when my ball landed in the middle of water resulting in a double
bogie my tournament was finished. I ended up finishing 9th on 5under
with the winner on 9 under.
There was a highlight for the week if you
could call it that. In the second round on the 16th I was over my
ball ready to go and next thing I hear all this noise. My caddy was standing
next the edge of the water known to have crocodiles in it. Next thing a Crocodile
has surfaced and my caddie has started sprinting across the fairway. Highlight for
me not so much for him. The caddies are not the smartest at times and this was
one of his better efforts.
Event:
Blackwater Pro Am
Blackwater would have to be the worst
experience I have ever had on the golf course. I shot 4under the first round
and was 4 shots from the lead. The second day I didn’t feel 100% and by lunch
time I started to feel very low on energy. I had a little to eat and a coke to
try and spike some energy. My energy levels continued to fall throughout the
day and I was physically sick on my 7th hole in the middle of the fairway.
At this stage I was 3under for the day and 1 shot of the lead. I decided to
press on but on the 13th at 4 under for the day and 8under for the tournament
tied for the lead, I collapsed on the course from massive dehydration and
exhaustion. I was taken from the course in an Ambulance to the hospital and
treated for dehydration caused by an extreme case of gastro. Six hours and five
bags of saline later I was back at my billets place. Future reference when I am
physically sick on the course no matter how well I am going I will pull out
next time.
Event:
Emerald Pro Am
Two days later the Emerald Pro Am was far
less dramatic with me shooting 70, 68 2under total finishing 18th. I
played the first round with Tony Stanton our Treasurer and he had 6under his
handicap and he finished it of the next day shooting 5under his handicap for an
11under total and 2nd in his section great effort Tony.
June and July
No golf for me these two months mainly due
to my wife being pregnant with twins and me not wanting to travel late in her
pregnancy.
I was actually very busy working for a Redland Bay member Neil Mitchell in his milk
distribution business. It was a great experience for me and I enjoyed it
immensely. It certainly was a lot different to anything I have experienced
before and enjoyed every challenge presented to me.
I also started teaching at Redland Bay and it has been very satisfying for
me seeing my students improving there game and winning some competitions along
the way. The Sunday morning clinics have also been a great success with
Members, Junior’s and Non Members all enjoying the group atmosphere. I have
also got a lot of satisfaction from my clinic regulars seeing their constant
improvement from week to week.
August
August 2nd 2012 by far the best
experience of my life with the birth of our Twins
Luke Heath Reed born at 2.39pm weighing
2.2kgs
Emma Grace Reed born at 2.40pm weighing
2kgs
They are home now and everyone is doing
well.
Riverlakes
Pro Am
A few days later after the exciting birth I
dusted the cob webs of the clubs and played the Riverlakes Pro Am. After 10
weeks between tournaments I surprised myself having 7 birdies for a 4under 66
losing by 2 shots and finishing 4th.
Looking
Forward
The rest of the year is a very exciting
time with Major events in Australia
coming up and 3 trips to Asia for the One Asia
Tour. In between these events are a number of State Opens and Big Pro Ams which
will keep in form for the main events. I am feeling very fresh this year with
the 10 week lay off and looking for to some big results. Thanks for reading and
I will keep you posted with all my results.
Heath Reed
