The first two events of this three-week swing (Four Winds Invitational and Island Resort Championship) are sponsored by the Potawatomi Nation tribes. These two events along with the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship (July 29-31) and the PHC Classic (August 19-21), make up the third annual Potawatomi Cup, which has a total prize pool of $40,000 and is awarded to players based on performance.
Four Winds Invitational in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend has been kind to me on both of my visits there. I liked the course at the Blackthorn Golf Club and I felt like it suited my game well. It is one of the longer courses on tour and is a links-style course. It was important to stay in the fairways because the rough was thick.
It was very nice to have a good round on Father’s Day to honor my Dad who first taught me this game.
We had pleasant, seasonal temps with low humidity during this week. I’m not sure why this area is known as “Four Winds”, but I do know that it often became super windy and Friday afternoon the wind kept changing direction – making it hard to judge how to hit my long shots.
Look at the cute tee markers that the children at the local hospital created.
Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan
We spent this week at the Island Resort and Casino in beautiful Upper Michigan. Sweetgrass Golf Club is located on the resort where we stayed – what a treat to walk right onto the course from the hotel! I also had the opportunity to gamble a little before the tournament started and won money – that was nice!
We heard that there are some great golf courses in Michigan and this was one of them. Just look at the Signature Hole #15, Island Green.
The course at Sweetgrass is a links style course, with wide fairways and great greens. As is true of the other courses near The Great Lakes, wind was a factor during our competition, adding an extra challenge to some shots.
I felt like I played well and gave it my best run on the second day. I worked hard to make the cut and thought I was going to, but fell one stroke short. On Sunday, I caddied for my friend, Laura, who was paired with another friend, Julia, for the final round. I have enjoyed making new friends on this tour. These friendships are making all this traveling a little easier.
Tullymore Classic in Canadian Lakes, Michigan
Tullymore was a really nice course and it was in great condition. It was a course where you needed to have good course management and hit lots of greens. I felt very confident in my plan and executed shots well.
The weather was really nice, the first day it was a bit chilly with a little bit of wind, but, other than that it, was enjoyable golfing weather!
This tournament marks the beginning of the second half of the 2016 Symetra Tour!
I capped off this week by visiting a college roommate and her family in The Windy City! A great place to spend The Fourth, it was fun seeing the sights! We also went to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play, they won!
Teeing off on Day One at Tullymore
First groups are off at the #TullymoreClassic
Follow along at – https://t.co/CK3I6Nrqqt pic.twitter.com/Ip2Ymny5fy
— Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) July 1, 2016
On the last hole of Day One – Tullymore
Here’s video of the @AllisonEmrey ? putt on 18 to get her to 5-under! pic.twitter.com/JUKEstxuDC — Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) July 1, 2016
An interview following Day One