Golf is Not a Game of Perfect and Golf is a Game of Confidence are two classic texts written by former University of Virginia sport psychology professor and mental performance coach to numerous PGA Tour winners Dr. Bob Rotella.
Match photos click here.
Golf is Not a Game of Perfect and Golf is a Game of Confidence are two classic texts written by former University of Virginia sport psychology professor and mental performance coach to numerous PGA Tour winners Dr. Bob Rotella.
And just as Dr. Rotella described, the Cardinal boys golf team has had success this season playing to its strengths and staying confident.
Most recently, this approach led the Huskies to three victories: over the Windham Bombers (Sept. 9), Chalker Wildcats (Sept. 10) and Maplewood Rockets (Sept. 11).
At Pleasant Hills Golf Course on Senior Night, the Huskies defeated the Bombers, 171-210.
A highlight of this match: seniors Bryce Blystone and Blake Strever both eagled the final hole.
Blystone’s eagle on the final hole gave him an excellent round of 38, just two over par, to lead all golfers. In getting it, Blystone completed a round in which he said his driver and approach shots were good, but his putting could have been a bit better.
He did not let that effect his play or confidence as he approached the last hole.
Blystone said he hit his approach shots well throughout the round. In addition, his distance and direction with his driver were excellent as he averaged around 280 yards off the tee and did not miss a fairway.
“I felt really good about my driver,” he said. “I’ve been feeling really good about my driver all year. When I’m hitting my driver well and my wedges well, I just have a lot more confidence going at the hole.”
With confidence flying high, he approached the final tee.
“I hit a perfect drive right down the middle, left myself like 210 in,” Blystone said. “I love that yardage — that’s my perfect five iron yardage — and I told my coach, ‘I’m going to hit this close, I feel like I’m going to hit this close.’
“Then, I hit a really good shot. I left myself like two and a half, three feet for the eagle, and I made the putt.”
Although Blystone’s eagle putt had some break to it, he felt confident because of his experience and understanding of the greens — and confidence was key as he drained the eagle putt.
“I just kept my confidence and tried to stay as calm as I could,” he said.
After Blystone’s eagle, Blake Strever did the same on the final hole.
Strever said he hit a good drive and left himself about 200 yards from the hole. He then hit his approach to within 20 feet.
He felt nerves before the eagle putt, he said, as he was initially focused on the outcome and what his final score would be if he made the putt. But he was able to refocus and concentrate on the task at hand.
“I was nervous” Strever said. “I wanted to make (the putt) because I counted up what I was going to shoot and if I made an eagle, it would have been a 43. I was like, ‘I need to make this.’ I was in my head a little. But I calmed down a little (and made the eagle putt).”
Huskies Head Coach Mike Topalian was pleased.
“It was nice to see the seniors end up on such a high note on that last hole,” Topalian said. “That was amazing, I think we’ve only had one eagle all year (before that final hole).”
In defeating the Bombers, the Huskies were led by Blystone (38), Blake Strever (43), Evan Jones (44), Deano DeCaro (46), Jackson Plonske (46) and Kannon Strever (46).
With eagles flying on senior night, Cardinal carried that momentum on the final hole to victories over Chalker and Maplewood.
In fact, Blystone continued his excellent golf against both with consecutive rounds at even par or better.
Against the Wildcats, Blystone led the Huskies to victory as he carded a 35.
In Cardinal’s 155-174 victory over the Rockets, the Huskies were led by Blystone (34), Jones (39), Blake Strever (40) and Kannon Strever (42).
With these three victories, the Huskies are now 13-1 on the season.
