AJGA success and failure

Sean played superbly in the first round of an AJGA event, shooting a -3 69, right up there with the leaders. His second round one over 73 was not as good, but it kept him close to the leaders in a tie for 5th place, only a few strokes behind.

Well, the final round didn't go as well as we had hoped. Sean kinda shot himself out of the tournament with a final round 79.

He just never got anything going. He played even par through 6, but then pulled his tee shot into a hazard on 7, and began to leak oil. He didn't give himself many looks at birdie, and when he did, he didn't get the putts to drop.

Now he's learning how to deal with the bitter pill of dropping back so far.

He had some serious milestones here. First tournament round below par, first tournament round in the 60's, best 36 hole score of his 'career' (142), best finish in an multi-round AJGA event (T18 out of 60). Best score to par in a multiround tournament (+5). None of this is shabby and all of it testifies to some really significant improvement in his game.

I mean, just a few months ago he couldn't finish in the top half of an AJGA event, whereas this week he spent the better part of 3 days on the top of the leaderboard.

But the bottom line is it is not where he wants to be. It is also not where he thought he was headed, both coming into the event this week and, in particular, after the first two rounds. His sense is that he had something in his grasp and let it slip away. And to finish with a last round score of 7 over is, well, embarrassing before his peers.

He hung around the 18th green as the final group, right behind him, finished their rounds. He saw the winner's over-joyed reaction. He saw Steve Marino come up to the kid with a big smile and about knock him over with a massive congratulatory bro hug. Sean wanted all of that for himself. What kid wouldn't?

I think for him, the blow to a self-image he is trying to build is probably the hardest to take. He'll have to learn how to live with this "stain" and face his golfing buddies knowing that they darn well know these scores, too.

But this is water off a duck's back. He was pretty much over it by the time we got on the flight back to home. He'll build on this, not collapse from the weight.

Me? First, I'm a very lucky parent because the toughest thing I seem to have to face is seeing my son work so hard at playing a game, and yet come away so disappointed. This isn't tragedy or calamity. This isn't life or death. This is not a child with a heartbreaking illness or inborn condition. Not by a mile.

It is only a game.

Another part of me REALLY likes how distasteful he finds this outcome. Because I know he'll build on it. He's one of those kids for whom this serves as motivation to work harder so that the next time he does better. That is just the kind of kid he is. His overall trajectory is decidedly in the right direction. And I couldn't be more happy that he is getting these glimpses at success.

This week has been a stepping stone. We had major flight delays and got back home very late last night. But I expect that he'll be out at the club grinding before noon.