On another of a long string of sunny, clear, humid days in the Tier, we raced against sunset, teeing off just before 6:00. There was plenty of doubt in our minds that we'd get through the whole 18, but we would go on to make surprisingly great time on the front, and end up with plenty of daylight to spare as we came to 18.
Apalachin was without a doubt the nicest Libous Invitational course we'd teed off on yet. There are some difficult, hard doglegs, like No. 4 and No. 13, but the highlight of my day was No. 16.
The 433-yard par-5 feels like it plays much longer, with a sharp left turn protected by a string of trees about 200 yards out. My tee shot appeared to hug the line of trees perfectly, with a trajectory perhaps a few yards lower than I would've liked.
Down by two strokes, I was particularly discouraged when I couldn't find my tee shot in the clearing just around the corner. I took a drop and played a couple gutsy punch shots through the trees, taking a shameful walk to the middle of the fairway approaching the green, when I saw a second 'S' ball about 40 yards ahead of what would've been my fifth shot on the hole.
It was my drive, perhaps 115 yards from the hole, dead center of the fairway -- and about 150 yards further ahead than where I'd originally sought the ball. With a quality wedge shot, I'd have a real chance at my first-ever eagle.
So what did I do? Of course, I skied the ball a good 30 yards past the green, into the deep woods -- for sure this time -- and ended up having to drop behind the green. Pitching wedge, it turns out, was not the club. Still, with Alex carding a 9, I'd pick up three shots on the hole, giving me a one-shot lead heading to the similarly intimidating No. 17.
After giving a shot back on the long, uphill par-4 penultimate hole, Alex and I headed to 18 tied -- again. It was the third time in three matches we'd teed off on 18 all square; all three times, he had honors, and had to put up with a bit of smack talk.
No. 18 is a short, pretty, downhill par 3 with the clubhouse in the background, protected front left by a bunker and behind right by a line of trees. Alex drilled his tee shot into the trees, leaving his second shot in serious doubt. I would hit my 52-degree wedge about 20 yards left of the green, leaving myself a difficult chip shot over the bunker.
But, as if there were ever any doubt about his everlasting good luck with the trees, it turned out Alex had got a perfect bounce, with a lie right behind the green, with plenty of real estate to work with. I made a pretty good chip, setting myself up for a simple two-putt. He skulled his chip, driving the ball to the far fringe, and left himself an 8-footer for bogey, with me sitting 3 about 4 feet from the hole.
I don't know who was more surprised when he sunk that putt, leaving me a knee-knocker to tie. I'd knock it dead center, giving us matching bogeys on the last, and matching 110's for the day.
Though a bit disappointed I didn't pick up any ground, I'm pretty happy with the 52 I carded on the back. While my drive on 16 may have been a bit fortunate, my tee shot on the 126-yard par-3 12th, which dribbled to about 18 inches from my first hole-in-one, gives hope that I can continue to pepper the greens on par-3's going forward.
I think if I can minimize my 3-putts, I've got a real good chance at winning the whole thing. After Saturday's ugly, ugly 60-61-121 round in Cortland, though, I've got some work to do ...
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