Hello! First I'd like to apologize to everyone for not updating the adventures in a more timely fashion. We've been back in the "hometown" for awhile now and there is a lot of unfinished business to take care of. Al is back on the bus, he and Sue are still seeing each other.

Inflight Open:
Since the Inflight was a few weeks ago (sorry again) I'm a little fuzzy on the details. Here's some memorable points...

Day one...
Back in town with all my friends... First round I got paired with my coach and buddy Mike Raley. I started the first round with 6 straight birdies.

We played the hard course twice and the easy course twice. I shot well on the hard course (-12 for two rounds) and not so well on the little course (-10 for two rounds). Ah well. I ended up tied for ninth with my pal Mike. Al and Sue didn't get their wake up call at the tournament hotel and both took sevens on their first hole Sunday morning. Al still managed to place high in the tournament.... 4th I think.

Al also competed in distance and MTA (Maximum Time Aloft), and even though he didn't make a catch in the MTA he still won the overall trophy for the tournament.

Next Al, Aquaboy, and myself headed off to the Minnesota Majestic. Long drive... about 11 hours each way. We showed up and stayed in Matt's backyard along with several other people. We visited the "Mall of America" where Dave got some new shoes and we all shot some putt-putt golf. I had the only hole in one for putt-putt.

Al and I shot in the 'bring your own partner' $50 doubles and managed to win by one stroke over Stokely/Russell. That was some good cash and Al spent some of his half on a pair of 'wings and rings' Rocs. The tournament went smoothly. After the first round of the tournament Al and I were both tied and in the leader group. Al shot well, I didn't. After the three tournament rounds I was tied for 7th and Al was in 3rd. I caddied for Al during the showcase final nine. Lots of excitement -- Al got into big trouble a few times and worked his way out with great shots and great caddying. Al ended up in third. The tournament was a big hit. Very well run... the courses looked good. Payout was big too... it might be one of the best dollars-per-pro events of the year.

We headed south to the "Spamtown Open," a small C-Tier tournament held on Monday. Al won open readily. Aquaboy won Am I easily. I barely showed up and didn't cash. Later that evening Al won the draw doubles and I took second.

Long drive back to Michigan and Sue picks up Al. Dave hangs out in Kalamazoo. I hang out in Kalamazoo awaiting the Great Lakes Open.

The Great Lakes Open was, well... great! Best tournament of the year as usual. Over $20,000 in prize money! Steve and Bamba Rico flew out from California. It was good to see Steve again. I had met and played with Bamba at last year's DGLO. Steve ended up in 5th or 6th, just out of the skins.

I shot a decent first round -3. Al shoots -2. I find myself in the second group, 2 strokes out of second place. The new temporary course eats my lunch. I throw out of bounds five times and card a -3. Al doesn't have much better luck and shoots a -5.

Last round has me shooting a -5 on the blue course. Al shoots up with an incredible -12. Mike Raley ends up showing up late and takes a 7 on the first hole. Mike and I ended up tied again. This time for 16th. Al finished 8th. GLO doubles sees myself tied for first with my old roomie Eric Farber. Al takes off with Sue and I stay in Ann Arbor.

Next up will be Illinois State Championships in Joliet this weekend. It's a Sunday only tournament. A strong Michigan contigent will be attending.

-Todd