Quite the week for Claire.....

 https://twitter.com/LPGA/status/1441445237440724998?s=20

Well its been a week.....Claire's week started with a storm....Literally and figuratively. She played Regionals complete with a rain and lighening delay, and just couldn't get anything to drop or go her way. She ended up with a sudden death playoff for a position to go to State. Her drive ball landed in a huge swath of water and just stopped....she lost by a stroke and was just broken....3 days later she found her rainbow after the storm. She was invited by the LPGA to come to the NWA Wlamart LPGA Championships and meet her hero Lydia Ko. She got to see all the pros up close and meet and talk with them. Not to mention watch complete warm ups and practice rounds. She and Lance got behind the rope privelages to walk 18 with Lydia, Danielle Kang, and Austyn Earnst yesterday on round 1. I think both of them were on cloud nine. Glad this week ended in rainbows for Claire.....

Notah Begay Round 2!

Jesse and his vaccinated friends at the very top far away from others at the MSU home game!! Go Bulldogs for pulling out a win!

A man fishing with his adorable dog and watching all the amazing junior golfers...so sweet

So Claire quailified this summer for the 2nd round of the huge Notah Begay 2 Day tournament out at Orgill Golf Course...She had a brutal day one from long yardages posting an 87.  She just really couldn't hit a shot and just had a rough mental round.  They met a man coming off 18 who's son is an amazing golfer from Texas and he happened to see Claire and literally coached and worked with her last night for 2 hours out of the kindness of his heart.  Claire listened to him today and shot a 78!  Such an improvement and we were tickled.  He was folloing her live scores online and greeted her when she finished 18.  Claire was all smiles.....Thank you Mr Keith!

Claire after the 2nd round

Claire with Mr Keith

Next weekend, MSU vs Memphis IN Memphis at the Liberty Bowl...should be a blast!!!!

 

Claire travels to her 1st Father Ryan Invitational with SBA

Well, due to Covid last year, SBA did not allow the golf team to travel to Murfreesboro for the Fr. Ryan Invitational.  This year, only 2 girls went due to one of the girls in quarantine.  So we traveled up after school yesterday, did homework in the car, and ate an amazing dinner and were up and at the course at the crack of dawn today.  Claire had some difficult holes today, but ended up 9th out of 39.  She has much higher aspirations next year...but a fun trip with great memories! 

Claire and the 2 amazing golfers she was paired with today from Father Ryan and Battleground Academy.

Claire in front of one of the many silos all around the course....

and this was one of her birdie holes!

The prettiest day for golf!

 

Golf, Golf, Golf....

 Well, because high school golf is such a short season because of the daylight changing in October, Claire plays a match almost every single day after school.  And she's getting tired....However, the temps were pleasant and she shot a 38 at a tough Windyke course vs Hutchison, St Marys, St. George's and ECS!! She carried her team to a 2nd place finish! Go Claire!

 And on the weekends, the competitive tournaments are still happening!  So Claire played a tough Olive Branch CC course in a 2 day Sneds Open.  She came in 9 our of 19 girls and wasn't happy, but there were girls from all over TN in the event.  And the ages were 12-18 so the girls were older and more experienced.  She is getting there!!!

 

Claire reps at the FCA Tourney....

Well it was 103 yesterday and it was the longest round of golf ever, but Claire kept it together through the 6 hours and shot a 77!  At a course she has not played in a year!  So we were proud....she still has stuff to work on, but she is definitely turning that corner. There were 200 participants and the largest tourney in TN.  While she did not win, she was up there!!! Go Claire go

Claire with her friend Grace, who plays for St Agnes

 

SBA golf begins...2nd year!

Well, last week it was brutal hot and all matches were cancelled.  So they decided to schedule them ALL this week so Claire will play golf every single day.... At least after school it's only 9 holes.  She plays like 4 other teams at once, so it's a bunch of girls.  Yesterday Claire played a very tough and fast Olive Branch Country Club for a 2nd place finish and led SBA to a 2nd overall.  Today she played at a fast Colonial Country Club against 2 of the best girls in Tennessee.  She battled it out and had a hole with some tree issues, but ended up with a 41 and helped SBA pull a 2nd place finish again.....We shall see what the rest of the week holds!

A practice round with one of her fellow teammates.  Claire was able to give her some tips and course management help!!

 

School Time again.....Sophomore and Junior!

Well, yesterday was Claire's first day as a sophomore at SBA!  She was so excited to meet her teachers and see old friends. She was bummed however, that her first 2 golf matches were rescheduled due to excessive heat....she's ready for next week, that's for sure!

Claire is super tickled to be carpooling with her BF Wallace!

And Jesse starts his junior year next week and will leave us Sunday.  He also completed his internship and the firm took him out to eat on the last day.  He loved it, was apparently very useful, and they want him back during the Winter Break!  Proud of Jesse for his Lance - like work ethic! 

On antoher amazing note, Jesse found out today he received the postion he has been hoping for and interviewd for at MSU.  He will be part of the research team in AERPAW (Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced Wireless).  In regular people speak, he will be research regarding AI, 5G Research, Wireless, and Drones....All his favorite things.  Proud of the opportunities MSU is allowing him thus far!

Go Jesse Go!

 

Claire turns a corner and battles it out at the infamous Greystone!!!!

Well,  the very last travel tourney before Claire starts school was this weekend in Dickson, TN at the infamous Greystone Course. She played it in the spring when it was wet, cold, rainy, and brutal.  She really wanted another shot at it, and so we all packed up and went.  Jesse goes back to MSU next week, so he joined us for this trip and it was fantastic.  Hot and muggy but great nonetheless.  

A hilly Hollingsworth pic

Claire has changed some habits during tourney play and changed up some mental aspects of her game, and it seems to be working!

Lance the giant

Very proud of Claire tackling this very difficult course.  As a matter of fact, the tournament director says that boys love this course because of its long distances and difficult layout, but girls hate it.  Thus why there were much less girls in this competition...no one wanted to play on it because it has the potential for making some very high scores....very proud of Claire for even trying!  Go Claire go!

 

Claire gets invited to The Bubba Conlee Invitational

Well, to make a very long story short, we were in St Louis watching Claire in the Hurricane Event when a rep from the Bubba Tournament called and offered Claire a last minute invite.  A girl fell ill at the last minute and Claire was offered the spot!  Claire knew she would be tired and not completely familiar with the course, but she wanted the opportunity and accepted the offer!  We then drove back to Memphis late Sunday night (really Monday am) and woke back up and drove to Mirimich Course in Millington for her practice round.  The course was set up brutally long and difficult, but she struggled the first 2 days of the tournament and the other girls were from all over the world and US, and she turned it around on day 3  Sadly, she only made it through hole 14 before the rains hit and they did not count anyone's score from day 3.  Claire got last place out of 42 (that has never happened ever) but she learned so very much by even being there......

C

Claire's partners the first 2 days.  Both named Katie and both amazing.  Tall Katie is 19 and signed with the UofM tigers and starts in the fall!!

Kids from all over the world...we loved this chinese Jack Nichalaus umbrella we saw!

Most beautiful course in Memphis!  Nature everywhere!  So proud of Claire for hanging in there and not giving up in brutal conditions!