Hello and welcome to the big event!
Yes it has finally come around this year–the Canadian Open! I am happy to say that I am excited, even though a little nervous, to tee it up tomorrow. It feels like a long time since I have known that I am playing in an event long before the week begins. I have been in Penticton preparing and practicing for the past couple of weeks. The game is there, now I just have to let it come out!
I have a fun pairing tomorrow and Friday, with two of my best friends–Dawn Coe-Jones and Nancy Scranton. People think the pairing was rigged but I honestly can say we did not ask for it! We are going to have to try hard to not gossip and goof around too much. All in all, it will be nice to have my friends alongside me.
This could very well be Dawn’s last Canadian event. She has had a very successful career and she will be sadly missed if she does decide to hang it up after this year. I know she is feeling a bit nervous as well but being with friends will hopefully help her…or at least distract her! ha ha
Tomorrow evening is a special event for Lisa Walters, retired LPGA player from Prince Rupert, BC. She is being inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. I was lucky enough to help with some of the preparation for her scrap book. It is a huge honor and a well deserved one as well! She was a fantastic golfer, winning 3 events during her career. Also she is a wonderful person with many more talents other than just golf. Way to go Lisa!
Good night for now. Off to dream of drives in the fairways and putts going in the holes!!
Thanks for checking in!
All the best to you all, AJ
August 13th, 2008
Hello everyone!
Just got back from a whale watching tour in Cowichan Bay, BC. I went with Dawn Coe-Jones and her husband and son( Jimmy-Big and Jimmy-Little). We had a great time and saw numerous whales, as well as seal, birds, and eagles. It was about a 4 hour trip and I must say that half the fun was jumping through the waves in the boat. Little and I were in the front of the boat and really felt like we were on an amusement ride! It was a bit choppy on the water, but still a great time!
Playing a little golf tomorrow at Dawn’s home course in Honeymoon Bay–March Meadows, a great 9 holes track!
Hope everyone else is having as much fun as I am! Love you all! AJ
July 25th, 2008
Hello,
I am sure you have all seen the news about Michelle Wie and her getting DQed from the State Farm Classic. It makes me sad for her, as I know she is playing so well and had a great chance to win the tournament. But that is the game of golf at its finest, always playing by the rules. She will always remember to sign her card from now on—very very tough lesson to learn. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed playing the first two rounds with her though. She is a very nice girl and has such potential on the golf course. We had a few good laughs and she showed me in person just how far she can hit it! I will look forward to possibly getting to play with her again at the CN Canadian Women’s Open in Ottawa in August.
As for my schedule for the next couple of weeks, I don’t have too much planned. I am going to visit some friends and family and work hard on my golf game. I will be returning to Penticton, BC, to enjoy my parents company and perhaps even take on a few of the locals for a good game of golf! Always nice to take their money–ha ha:)
Please keep in touch and let me know what you are all up to. I hope you are all safe, healthy, and happy!
Bye for now, love AJ
July 20th, 2008
Hello everyone! Thank you for all the birthday wishes—I had a wonderful birthday!
I am now in Springfield, Illinois, where the sun is shining and it is very warm and sticky! I managed to get in to the tournament this week and am very excited to play. I have an interesting pairing though as I am with Michelle Wie. Never played with her yet but I do know she will more than likely hit it past me:) Guess I will just have to stick it closer to the pin to beat her!
Life is good right now and I am enjoying getting my game back in shape. I hope that it is easy to find me this week on the leaderboards!
Thanks for checking on me and have a safe week! Summer time can be fun, but please remember to buckle up and drive safe!
Love to you all! Swing easy, AJ
July 16th, 2008
Hello everyone!
I know it has been a while since I wrote last. Just been enjoying the time off in Penticton with family and friends and trying to think of something great to say next! ha ha
This week in Toledo has really been a whirlwind so far. I came in on the weekend to get ready for the Monday qualifier and it just so happens that United Airlines decided to keep my clubs for a couple extra days–just trying to see how I handled the stress I guess?!? I received them in time to have a quick practice round late Sunday afternoon. And I have to tell you that the clubs worked great—I had a hole-in-one on a 185 yard Par 3–with a 3 Rescue! Sweet eh?? A day too early though as I teed it up on Monday morning for the real event. Since they have had so much rain here in the past weeks, it was shortened to a 16 hole qualifier. I played well and thought I should get in with my one under score–but unfortunately I was one off!! Bummer!
As the week progressed, I participated in a pro am, which ended up getting rained out. I did get to meet some new people from the area though and watch a phenomenal thunderstorm pass by so not all was a loss!
It did not look like I was going to get in to the LPGA event, as there were quite a few people still in front of me on the alternate list. I showed up Thursday morning anyways, just in case. I thought that I could at least talk to some friends and enjoy breakfast, and then even get a little practice in. As it turns out, Nancy Lopez didn’t feel too well before her round and ended up pulling out and I was the only alternate around! With only about 20 minutes to spare, I hit a few balls and tried to get my ‘wheels’ going. As you might have seen, I didn’t get them going too well. Shot 9-over unfortunately but still managed to have a good time. Played with Laura Davies, who is always a great deal of fun to be with, as well as fun to watch as she smacks up the grass to tee up her driver on! I will look forward to tomorrow’s round and look for some great results! I am going to ask a good teacher for a few tips to get it going in the right direction…who knows, maybe I can shoot 60 like Paula Creamer??? How about that round!?! Awesome really!
Any way, that is my exciting week so far here in Toledo. For those of you who don’t know, it is my birthday on Saturday. I love my birthday and am looking forward to the day no matter what it brings!! I will be a young 32:)
Hope everyone is well and swinging smooth! Down the middle and in the cup!
Love AJ
July 10th, 2008
Hello everyone, and a special wish to all the great father’s out there, especially mine!
My dad is either ‘dad’ or ‘papa’ to me but to everyone else he is Bev or Bevan. He is a really wonderful dad and I am so lucky to have him! Not only is he super supportive but also a fun friend to hang around. We have had many a fun time together, often with him beating me on the course (I think it is just because I am giving him too many strokes)!! Actually, he always plays well against me and that is good as it makes me concentrate harder the next time:) I must say that my dad can not only play the game but he is also an excellent caddie! No really, he has one of the best records while caddying for me…I think we have at least 2 top tens and some other great finishes:) Thanks for everything, dad, I love you! And yes thank you to all my other ‘dads’ around the country–all your support is very much appreciated!
Not too much happening with me right now. Same ol’ same ol’. I have been in Corning, NY, hanging out with friends and doing some practicing—always having some fun:) Now up to Rochester, NY, to take on the Monday Qualifier. I get to play a great golf course for the qualifier- Oak Hill. Unfortunately it is not the same course as what the Senior Men played not too long ago, it is the ‘West’ course not the championship ‘East’ course that we are playing. But none the less a very historic and fun place to play.
The game is getting better and I am still being very patient. For those of you that know me well, you know how hard that is for me!! Once those balls start dropping in the holes and in the middle of the fairways, life will turn around. Not to say that my life is bad, it just feels as though it is dragging a little at the moment! ha ha
Summer is a wonderful time of year and I hope you are all taking advantage of it and having lots of fun! I wish I was with my family to enjoy a nice round of golf with my dad this weekend. It will happen soon though, I am sure! For now, I will be borrowing my ‘Rochester dad’, Dave, and heading out to fish for a little while in the morning with his son, Mark. Should be a nice way to start the day and then head out to the golf course for some practice!
Keep in touch and have a wonderful weekend and father’s day!
Love to you all, AJ
June 14th, 2008
Just wanted to tell you all that I did manage to have some fun in South Carolina last week, although I didn’t get a chance to compete in the Ginn Open. If you check the photos page, you can see a couple pics from a little excursion a couple of us took to Detyens Shipyard. Let me tell you that there really are some big ships out there!! Very neat to see how they dock them in the dry docks..then clean and repair them all up to get back to sea ready. My friend, Rick Stokes, runs the shipyard and was a very gracious host for Dawn, her caddie Lane, and myself! Thanks Rick!
Talk to you all again soon! Love, AJ
May 31st, 2008
Hello everyone!
First off I want to say THANK YOU to all my friends and fans in Corning! It was wonderful that everyone came out to cheer me on…even though my game was not exactly where we would have all liked it to be. I do love coming to Corning each year, and I still had a great time this year, although no cut was made:( On to bigger and better things though so no worries!
Right now, I am getting myself ready for the next hurdle…US Open qualifying. It is a 36 hole qualifier, which I am playing in just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. It is on two different courses but on the same day. Long, tough day, but well worth it when you get through and get to play in the Open! The qualifier will take place June 9th (Monday).
After that, I really am not too sure what I am going to do. Most likely I will be in the Rochester area getting ready for the Monday qualifier for that tournament. It has really been tough lately planning my travel as my plans can change week after week. But I guess that makes me stronger and more able to deal with adversity right?? ha ha
I hope you are all doing well! Keep in touch and keep having fun!
Love and hugs, AJ
May 31st, 2008
We have finally reached the week of the Corning Classic!
Things are going well and I am here safe and sound in Corning, NY. I must say it is a bit cool up here but the word is that it is going to get warmer–I sure hope so!
I played in the Monday pro-am this morning and saw everything from rain, sunshine, sleet, wind, and just plain cold! Made it through unscathed though so all better for the experience:) I had a very nice group with me to play with and one on my best friends was caddying for me, Lisa DAmore (formerly Kiggens). She won’t be caddying for me the rest of the week as she is 4 and a half months pregnant and it would be a bit much for her. I have another good friend from the area, Jay Tursik, caddying. He a local pro and very knowledgeable about the course—as well as lots of fun!
I am looking forward to the whole week and enjoying lots of birdies! Please be praying for me and thinking good thoughts–remember, it all helps:)
I hope all is well with everyone. Swing smooth and short and remember to take good aim at your target!
Be in touch soon! Love ya, AJ
May 19th, 2008
Hello and THANK YOU to all those wonderful mothers out there–especially mine!:)
Today we thank all of you for your kindness and support that you have given us throughout the years and through all the ups and downs! Your love seems to heal all wounds and makes us smile even greater in times of joy! Even if you aren’t our own moms, you all seem to take us under your wings and take care of us. I have many moms through all my travels and I would like to thank all of you!
I know I wouldn’t be where I am without the love of my mom, Judy(and my dad too)! There is always someone at the end of the phone line when I call home that says that they love me no matter what; that is what means the most! Thank you for being there and for showing me what great love is all about!
One of my favorite things about my mom is her special ‘cheer’ when she is watching me play golf. It is a definite WHOHOO!! I know I can find my mom any where in the crowd when she does it. I have taught her not cheer at everything as I used to hear it with every shot…but now I am not so picky. I do love to hear it! It always makes me smile knowing that I have my very own cheering section. Also, I love it that my mom is the most positive person I know. She is always looking for the solution and upside to any problem..even when she doesn’t have a clue what it might be. She will read and research until she finds it!!:) Positive and determined–that’s my mom:) Thank you for showing me that there is a positive in any situation in life–life is good! I love you mom!!
Love to all the moms!! AJ
May 11th, 2008
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