As one chapter closes, another begins!

I hope this post finds everyone doing well and having had a great summer! It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas plans are starting to take shape.

The up and down year continued as my season wrapped up at Q-School in October. As in years past, the Dayton Valley course proved to be a difficult track.  A couple poor swings in the middle of the first round became costly, leading to some big numbers. I continued to fight and persevere through the last three rounds but it just wouldn't be good enough. The first round collapse was too big a hole to dig out of and advance to the next stage. I left everything I had out on the course, and that's what I want to accomplish each and every time I tee it up.

As the season came to a close, I had to made a difficult decision as to my future as a professional golfer. After much thought and consideration, I decided to pursue other career options outside of playing professional golf. I was extremely fortunate to be able to chase a lifelong dream, but sometimes dreams end and others begin. My passion has shifted to a career that uses all my personal skills to positively impact a business and the world. Golf was fun as a game and I loved the competition, but as a profession it is much different. Depending on a little white ball for stability, the constant alone time and travel just wasn't for me. I have been called to live out my mission in a different arena, which involves offering my services to others. Life is bigger than me and I’m excited to share a successful career and life with my wonderful new bride, Ann.

Thank you all so much for your continued support, whether it was financial or emotional, it is very much appreciated. I was overwhelmed at the constant love and encouragement I received over the past 18 months as I went forth on my journey. There’s no doubt in my mind I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this dream without your contributions. Because of that I am forever grateful.

My pursuit of a professional golf career proved to be a valuable learning experience. Starting and running a business, goal setting, overcoming adversity, problem solving, and the gained friendships and support are things I’ll never forget. Each encounter of success and failure provided a lesson to be learned and cherished. This is something no one can take away from me, and I’m excited for what my new future has to offer. I'm happy to pass along a bit of good news as another year comes to a close. As of yesterday, I have officially  accepted a consulting position at SPS Commerce in downtown Minneapolis. I'm very excited for the growth opportunities and work environment within the company.

My wife, Ann, and I wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season!  I hope to see all of you very soon.  Thanks again! 

Sincerely,

Bryce

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Gandhi

Fall Finish!

As the summer season comes to an end, I turn my complete attention to the Fall season. With PGA Tour Qualifying School on the horizon, my preparation efforts will be solely focused on being physically and mentally ready. Last year was a great stepping stone with a successful rookie summer, followed up by qualifying for the 2nd Stage of PGA Tour Q-School. This fall I'll look to improve upon last year's performance, and continue to gain valuable experience from the Q-School grind. Because of my performance last year, I am exempt through the Pre-Qualifying stage and can go right to 1st stage. My location has been confirmed in Dayton, NV at Dayton Valley GC from October 18th-21st. I'm excited to continue working hard and looking forward to a great Fall!

An up and down summer wasn't the consistent outcome I was looking for. My game feels the most mature it has ever been in my young career, I'm just trying to be patient and let the scores and results come to me. From the beginning my team and I had a plan to put the "nose to the grindstone" and continue working to improve for the future knowing there were going to be speed bumps along the way. I'll continue to do just that after a frustrating spring and summer of mixed results. The amazing support of my wife, family, and friends constantly pushes me to be both a better person and golfer. For that I am truly thankful and blessed.

That's all for now from the tips, but until next time remember "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."
-Robert Collier

Take care,
Bryce

In Full Swing!

Hello bloggers & golf fans!

It's now the middle of summer and my golf schedule is in high gear for the next two months! Since my last post, things have been extremely busy on and off the golf course to say the least. As many of you know, I've been engaged to my high-school sweetheart Ann since February of this year. We had a beautiful wedding day on July 9th in Eden Prairie, MN with family and close friends surrounding us. I'm so very blessed to have an amazing and supportive wife. After a fun honeymoon at a cottage on the north shore past Duluth, MN, we were off to Waterloo, IA for the Waterloo Open.

With Ann on the bag caddying for me, we did our best to survive the extreme heat and humidity. In the first round, things started off slowly on the front nine. Rallying with a late birdie, I made the turn at even par. On a course that surrenders lots of birdies, I knew I'd have to pick up the pace. After making eagles on the par-5 12th & 14th, I quickly jumped to -3. Two holes later I added another birdie, only to bogey the 18th for a round of 69. This score would later prove to be just enough to play the final round as I made the cut right on the number. Feeling good about my ball striking, I was off to the putting green to find a little momentum to climb the leaderboard on Sunday. The final round would turn out to be a better day on the greens. Making the turn to the back nine at -1 on the day, a few putts started to fall the last nine holes. Birdies on three of the last five holes helped cap off a solid round of 67, and a 14th place finish in the field of 193 players.

Following a couple days of rest and practice back home in Alexandria, we were right back on the grind this past weekend at the Minnesota State Open at Rush Creek GC in Maple Grove. The beautiful layout would be a great test of golf that would challenge all parts of the players' games. My first round afternoon tee time saw the greens playing firm and fast. A solid start over the first few holes, followed by back to back birdies to round out the first nine found me turning to the back at -1. Making just one bogey and one birdie on the next nine holes allowed me to card a one under 71. This was one of only a handful of under par rounds in the afternoon, so I wasn't too disappointed with the result. I'd been hitting the ball so well, but just unable to correctly read the putts and hit my intended lines. I was trying to be patient, but frustration was starting to set in. My second round score of 75 was very similar to round one, minus a big number hole that set me back. Another great ball-striking round on the final day was once again held back by the "flat stick." A final round score of 72 saw only two conversions on eight chances inside of 15 feet for birdie on the last 9 holes. A 33rd place finish wasn't the result I was hoping for over the three days, but I could take away great confidence in my ball striking into the next  tournament.

I wouldn't have to wait long for my next round as my first appearance on the Dakota's Tour would happen the very next day in Marshall, MN. Another course that tends to yield plenty of birdies, was doing so again this year with soft conditions and smooth quick greens. A trio of 69's (-6 for the tournament) at the end of the three days placed me in 12th position. The surprising part was the change in how I hit the ball. Each day I struggled with my full swing and wedge-game, not giving myself a lot of opportunities to make many birdies. My chipping around the greens is what saved my score during each round, going 20/26 in successful up & downs. Putting was pretty streaky again through the first two rounds, so I decided to make a change for the final day to try and find some magic. I brought my belly putter out of the trunk after the 2nd round while I was practicing and it felt great in my hands. The results showed in the final round as I started to hit my intended lines. I'm okay with misreading greens or an occasional misjudgement on speed as long as I'm committing to and hitting the putt in the direction I want to.

Once again, there isn't a lot of rest between events as we kick off another three day event tomorrow here in Yankton, SD. Today was a great day to get my legs back some and touch a few things up on my game to prepare for the tournament.

Upcoming schedule:

July 29-31: Yankton, SD (Dakota's Tour Event)
August 1: Omaha, NE (Nationwide Tour Monday Qualifier)
*August 4-7: Omaha, NE (Nationwide Tour Event - if qualified for)
*August 4-7: Yankton, SD (Dakota's Tour Event)
August 11-13: Rapid City, SD (Dakota's Tour Event)

That's all for now from "the tips," but until next time remember..."your true opponent is always the golf course!"


Bryce

Practice, Practice, Practice...

The battle at the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am turned out to be just that with my golf swing over the three days. I struggled each round to get comfortable with my grip, alignment, and take away from the ball. Fortunately however, I was able to fight through the struggles and play some good stretches of golf to make the cut on the number. My swing would come and go quickly, and the up and down numbers on the scorecard were and indication of that. A first round 74 was not the start I was hoping for to get into contention. I knew I would need to improve in order to make the cut and be able to play the final round on Sunday. Saturday I got off to a hot start going -4 on the day through six holes, including two chip-ins to quickly get to -1 for the tournament. From there however, things went downhill fast as I had to birdie the last hole just to shoot 72. The final round was much more steady and included fewer mistakes. A couple late birdies got me into the clubhouse with a 69 and a tie for 21st. The upside was how great my putter felt all three days, even though the results weren't there. It was one of those weekends where I hit my lines, but a slight misread or too much/too little speed made all the difference and caused me to keep burning edges.

A slight change in schedule unfortunately happened while I was at the Tapemark event. Because of the recent tornadoes around the Joplin, Missouri area, the Hooter's Tour felt it was best for us to not interfere with the relief/clean-up efforts in the area. Many people hit by the tornado were being housed or living in or around the Miami, OK area where the tournament was supposed to be. The event has been rescheduled for later on in September. I'm hoping to make the trip down this fall to compete to see what the Hooter's Tour is all about.

Next up on my golf schedule is the Waterloo Open in Waterloo, IA. The tournament will take place on July 16th-17th. In the mean time I will continue putting in long hours at the practice facility, as well as playing on a regular basis to prepare for a busy summer of traveling. Also, this Tuesday I'm headed to "The Kingdom" on the Reynolds Plantation east of Atlanta, GA to get a tour fitting from TaylorMade. This facility is one of their two "tour fitting facilities" in the country for professional golfers. This is a great opportunity to get clubs that match up to my exact specifications and golf game characteristics. Check out their website: The Kingdom at Reynolds. If the fitting goes well and the equipment will benefit my game, I'll have the option to play and represent the TaylorMade brand. As one of the top club manufacturers in the world, I'm excited for the opportunity to try out and see what TaylorMade has to offer.

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."It doesn't matter how you get the ball in the hole. There are no pictures on a scorecard, only numbers."


Bryce

Back in the swing of things...

After a few weeks off from competitive golf to practice and recharge, I'm ready to get back at it this weekend at the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am. The tournament takes place at Southview CC in West St. Paul, MN. This is where I made my professional debut one year ago, and I can't wait to tee it up again this year. The tournament is doing great things for local charities by helping to raise money for those in need. In just 40 years of its existence, they have raised and donated more than $6,150,000 to the agencies it supports. I'm proud to be a part of the tournament and everything they represent for the second year in a row. The event runs from June 10th-12th, and the field will be cut down after 36 holes for the final round on Sunday. I hope to get myself back into contention again this year after doing so last year through two rounds before faltering some on the final day. You can follow the action through their website at Tapemark Charity Pro-Am website.

My schedule doesn't slow down after the Tapemark however, as immediately following the final round I will be on to road to Oklahoma. The "Buffalo Run Casino Classic" is being put on by the Hooter's Tour in Miami, OK from June 15th-18th. I was fortunate enough to be able to get an exemption into the event, and am excited for the opportunity to see what the Hooter's Tour is like. I've heard great things about how the tour is run and their treatment of the players. The four round event will have a cut after 36 holes to the top 65 & ties. You can follow the scores through the Hooter's Tour Leaderboard.


That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round."
-Ben Hogan

Take care and thanks for all your support!

Bryce

Destination: Congressional CC

Four spots were on the line to advance to the sectional qualifier of the U.S. Open last Monday at Bunker Hills GC in Coon Rapids, MN. The 61 player field was full of hopes and aspirations of playing at Congressional CC in Maryland at the second major of the year next month. Once again, the typical spring elements in Minnesota came through as thunderstorms and lots of rainfall passed through during the night and into the morning. This caused tee times to be backed up 2 hours later than originally intended. When we finally teed off it was cool and breezy, but luckily enough we didn't have to deal with any more rain.

My round got off to a solid start with a good two putt par. A wayward drive at the second led to a bogey on one of the shorter holes. Nearly making birdie at the par-3 third, I knew I'd have a good opportunity to get back to even at the short par-5 fourth. Finding the fairway and having 5-iron in my hands I was able to get it just in front of the green, and make a good up and down for a birdie. After another solid chip to save par at five, another wayward drive cost me a stroke when I found the hazard. The par attempt from 10 feet just wouldn't fall, and I was back to +1 after six holes. Following routine pars at 7 & 8, I was left with a great birdie opportunity from 18 feet on nine. The putt was online the whole way but wiggled at the hole and rimmed the cup on a hard lip out. It was going to be a day where I would have to earn each shot as the ball just wasn't going to fall in anywhere but right in the middle of the cup.

Scrambling again to get up and down on number ten for par gave me some momentum as I headed into a stretch of holes where birdies could come in bunches. Splitting the fairway with a drive, and a 3-wood up near the green left me a chip and a putt away from getting back to level par. One of my better shots of the day lifted the ball high over the short side bunker and soft onto the green, leaving an easy four foot birdie putt. The next five holes would prove to be full of missed opportunities. On four of them I would have makeable birdie putts inside 15 feet. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any of them to fall as they either burned the edge or just didn't have the right speed. Sitting at even par for the day with two holes left, I figured -1 would give me a great chance to move on, or even a look at a playoff at Even par. A flared iron shot on 17 tested my chipping abilities yet again. The cushion I was looking for going into the last hole almost came on the very next shot as my chip sat on the edge of falling in for a birdie. I was happy with par on the difficult par-3 knowing 18 can yield some birdies if you can find the fairway. Doing just that, I had 131 yards to a tucked front right pin just over a bunker with the wind in my face. Taking dead aim, I caught the ball just a little thin causing it to spin and climb in the air, therefore coming up short of both the green and the bunker. My 60-degree wedge would be put to the test yet again to try and save par. I hit a great shot under the circumstances, leaving myself an 8-foot par putt for 72. I was confident in my reed, and put a good stroke on it, but the ball wouldn't take the brake as it skirted the edge of the hole on its way by. Devastated, and knowing I had probably missed my chance I tapped in for 73.

The scores continued to come in, and the more and more it looked like 72 would be a playoff. In the end, my 7th place finish would cause me to miss out on a 4 player for 2 qualifying spots playoff by 1 shot. Two years in a row now I've just missed out by 1 shot to move on to the next stage to qualify to play in the US Open. It's times like these that I have to take as learning experiences and opportunities to become a better player for the next chance that comes along. I'll continue to work hard and get better everyday until the next time I tee it up. Results like these only fuel my desire to get better and achieve greatness at the next level.

My next scheduled tournament is the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am at Southview CC. This takes place June 10th-12th in St. Paul, MN. Between now and then I am looking at playing in one additional event outside of Chicago next week. I will be sure to keep you all posted as I'll be firming up those plans in the next day or two.

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."You're either getting better or getting worse, there's not such thing as remaining the same. You make the choice!"


Bryce

Home Sweet Home!

The long drive back home to Minnesota from the desert had me excited to compete and get back on the course. After a couple weeks of practice and preparation at the Alexandria GC, I headed down to "the cities" for the Minnesota Golf Champions event at Minneapolis Golf Club. The weather finally cooperated for the first two rounds after a very unpredictable stretch of conditions to begin the golf season here in Minnesota. My first round found me struggling to hit fairways and give myself the opportunities for easy pars and makeable birdie chances. I was fortunate to make some great up and down par saves on the front nine, and head to the back at only +1. Another bogey on the 230 yard par three tenth followed by a sloppy bogey on twelve, quickly had me at +3 and trying to grind out the rest of the round and have some damage control. One more bogey on another long par three, followed by a couple gritty par saves over the last two holes allowed me to get in the house with a first round 76. I was very disappointed after getting off to yet another slow start in a tournament. Finding myself in 25th place, it lit a fire in me to perform the way I know I can. The afternoon was used to find some answers to get myself back in the tournament over the last two days. Playing 18 more holes (non-tournament round) in the afternoon at a course nearby gave me the chance to regain some confidence and gather a couple positive swing and putter thoughts for the next day.

Round two yielded much better results, and I think the afternoon the day before is to thank for the positive turnaround. Two quick birdies through five holes got things kick started as I looked to move up the leader board. One bogey on yet another tough par three on the front tallied up to a one under 35 as we moved to the back nine. Things really started to heat up on the back nine with a great par save at 10, a near birdie at 11, followed by birdie conversions at 12, 14, and 15 to get to -4 on the day and even for the tournament. An unfortunate break on the 18th pegged my ball directly behind a tree forced a chip out, and resulted in a bogey and a round of 69. This score was enough to move up the leader board all the way to 10th place with one round to go.

After two prime days of weather, we were bound to run into some elements in the final round during a Minnesota spring. A windy and rainy day made the already tough course tougher, and longer. The scores reflected the conditions as the rain began to come down harder as the round progressed. I wasn't able to connect on a couple early birdie chances, and a couple gritty par attempts just wouldn't fall. A front nine 38, and a bogey on 11 to fall to +3 on the day caused me to have to dig even deeper as the conditions worsened. My patience paid off as the turnaround shot came in a blast from the fairway bunker on #12. I found myself in a soaked fairway bunker 217 yards away and desperately needing a birdie to get things headed in the right direction. The 4-iron blast just cleared the lip of the bunker and carried to the front edge of the green, and trickled all the way to the pin at the back of the green. The ball came to rest just 10 inches from the cup leading to an eagle 3, and back to +1 on the day. I was able to put the first 11 holes behind me and had a new found confidence and swagger to climb my way back inside the top 10 on the leader board. I kept clawing my back back with a near miss at 13 for birdie, a great sand save at 14, and a two putt birdie at 15 got me back to even. Easy pars at 16 & 17 gave me one last chance to get back to even for the tournament as I walked to my ball in the 18th fairway. A solid 8-iron left me a 10 foot downhill putt to achieve my goal. The putt tracked the entire way, and fell in the cup for a round of 71.

The 7th place finish wasn't what I was hoping for beginning the week, but I was pleased the way I fought through not having my best and climbing my way back up the leader board. Finishing -4 over my last 7 holes left me confident going into the US Open Qualifier the following morning.

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember....."golf is the only game in which the players are their own referees. It's all about integrity"

Bryce

Progress at Gateway Finale

My final Gateway Pro Tour event of the spring season saw the hours of hard work and dedication start to pay off. Solid rounds of 71-71-70 propelled me to a 12th place finish at Vista Verde GC. A patient three days of golf saw a pretty steady scorecard throughout each round. With only 5 bogeys and 1 double bogey over 54 holes, I was able to limit my mistakes and put less pressure on making lots of birdies. Each day saw winds blow from 15-25 mph making it difficult to attack some challenging pin positions, especially on day 3. I had plenty of opportunities to get myself into contention, but my wedge game just didn't set up enough close birdie chances. With blustery winds, tight pin locations, and quick firm greens, it was tough to be aggressive to hit it close. Overall, I was very pleased the way I managed my game, and eliminated the number of mistakes. My approach to the week was a more confident and purposeful attitude, allowing me to feel more comfortable with my game and knowing I have the ability to perform at a high level. Sharpening up my wedges, along with tightening up a few other parts of my game will be the focus over the next week to get ready for my next event.

The Minnesota Golf Champions event is scheduled to be held May 6th-8th at Minneapolis Golf Club in Minneapolis, MN. The invitation-only field consists of the top amateur and professional golfers from the state, participating in a three day stroke play event, with a cut after the second round on Saturday. I'm looking forward to finally playing in the tournament, after having to decline invitations in years past due to collegiate tournaments. The Minneapolis Golf Club (MGC) is one of the premiere venues in the state, especially after a bunker renovation in the recent years to update the layout. A site to past PGA Championships and many other USGA majors, MGC will certainly provide a great test regardless of the always unpredictable Minnesota weather. You can follow my progress in this tournament through the Minnesota Golf Champions leaderboard page.

Less than 24 hours after the Minnesota Golf Champions event concludes, I'll once again tee it up the following morning. I will be participating and looking to advance through the U.S. Open local qualifier, which is being held at Bunker Hills GC in Coon Rapids, MN. With numerous practice rounds and tournament experience at Bunker Hills, I'm excited to have the chance to qualify for the Sectionals of the U.S. Open after missing out by 1 stroke last year.

With some great opportunities to test my abilities in the coming weeks, I will be making sure all aspects of my game are ready to go come next Friday. Diligent and purposeful hours of practice will be had each day back here in Alexandria, MN in order to be prepared for four straight days of competitive golf. I'm looking forward to getting back into the tournament grind and working my way into contention!

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."the more you practice, the luckier you get!"
-Gary Player

Bryce

Going out with a bang!!

Vista Verde is set to host the next upcoming Gateway Pro Tour event. Tournament #12 gets going on Wednesday and runs through Friday after a 36-hole cut. I'm looking forward to this event as Vista Verde is the course that I've practiced and played at the most during my time in Arizona. Birdies will be a little tougher to come by on this layout than the past couple of events, especially when the winds pick up. The undulating, tricky, and typically quick greens tend to be the course's defense against most players. Hopefully I can get off to a solid start and get myself into contention this week! You can follow the results and progress at the Gateway Pro Tour website. Game on!

Tournament #11 Recap-

With perfect scoring conditions during round #1, players definitely took advantage as scores were extremely low. My round was off to a solid start after a few opening pars. Things got going in the right direction with back-to-back birdies at 4 & 5. A couple more good looks at birdie on the front nine just wouldn't fall, and I headed to the back nine at -2. After a disappointing bogey on 10 with a sand wedge from the fairway, I rebounded back with a birdie on 13 to get back to -2. The rest of the round would provide a couple more opportunities for birdie, but I wasn't able to convert. A first round 69 was a much better start to a tournament, but I would still need to make up some ground the next day to make the cut.

The second round saw some tougher conditions as the wind started to blow 15-25 mph. I was looking to get off to a quick start to gain some ground, and was able to do just that. Rolling in an 18 footer for birdie on my first hole was just what I needed. Nearly making another birdie on the next had me feeling confident early on. Unfortunately, that fast start would be quickly given right back over the next 3 holes. A water ball on the island green par-three led to a double bogey, followed by back-to-back bogeys on the next two holes left a major hill to climb in order to play the final round. After making the turn to the front side things started to head in the right direction with a tap in birdie, only to give it right back a the next with a 3-putt bogey. A miscue with a wedge on the next caused yet another bogey and the hole kept getting bigger to dig out of. The rally come much too late as I made some great swings on the last few holes. A disappointing score of 74 however, wouldn't be enough.
_________________________

As I refocus and get ready for my last Gateway event of the spring, I want to approach this tournament with a confident attitude and be patient for results. The progress these past few months has been promising. It's been tough to be patient and wait for the hard work and dedication to pay off, but I feel as though it could come to a head at any time.

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill."
-Charles Swindoll

Bryce

Recharged and Ready to Go!

As a new tournament comes on the horizon this week, I'm once again excited to get back into the thrill of tournament golf. After a break in my schedule to practice and prepare, the Gateway Tour heads to Lone Tree Golf Club on Wednesday for the first round of tournament #11. Having had multiple rounds on this course in the past year, it will be great to be comfortable and familiar with with the venue.

The past few weeks have been diligently spent working on my ball striking and putting. After working with my swing coach and making a minor adjustment, things are progressing as I continue to try and groove my take away. A great putting lesson from Mike Christensen, Kevin Streelman's caddy & fellow Minnesotan, instilled some great ideas to focus on in my putting. Slight changes in my grip, stance, and pre-shot routine have me feeling more solid over the ball and allowing me to make a more consistent stroke. In order for things to really take off with the "flat stick" I just need to continue to build confidence each day, and then hopefully putts will start falling from all over.

Last Friday I had the privilege to play TPC Scottsdale for the first time, and had a great time with some friends and fellow mini-tour pros. The picture above is from my hole out from the fairway on #14 on the Stadium Course. My 2 on a the par-4 came from 176 yards with an 8-iron. Hopefully this marks a turning point, and results will follow the rest of 2011!

Feel free to follow my progress in this week's event through the following link:

http://www.gatewayprotour.com/

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."Talent doesn't take you to an elite level. Focus, an absolute driven mentality, along with talent, take you to an elite level."

-Dave Hakstol

God Bless,

Bryce

Digging Deep..

Heading into the ninth event on the Gateway Tour at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, I was gaining confidence with each passing day. I was beginning to feel more and more comfortable with my game, and ready for things to turn the corner and head in the right direction. If I could only turn that feeling into results, things could get exciting. The first round at Papago got off to a better start. A couple early birdies got me settled in and made the turn at even par. My ball striking was struggling to find a groove in the first round, and became exposed on the front nine as I scrambled to remain around par. Chipping and putting bailed me out quite a bit, but the continued pressure to get up and down around the greens surfaced and I finished with a couple late bogeys for 74. As hard as it was to struggle with irons in the first round, it was exciting to see a few putts fall. Chipping has always been a strength of my game, and it showed getting up and down 6 out of 8 times. When the final scores were posted, it looked as though I would need to get into red figures (under par) to make the cut and play the final round. Getting off to another good start in the second round was just what I wanted. Birdies at #1 & #3 quickly got me back to even par for the tournament. After a bogey from an errant tee shot, I recovered nicely with some good pars on some tough closing holes on the front nine. At +1 for the tournament, a -2 back nine would probably be necessary to play the next day. A great drive on #10, and a 7-iron to 25 feet set up an eagle putt opportunity. The putt held its line nicely the whole way, and tumbled in the front edge for an eagle three. Over the next 5 holes, I struggled to make some 8-15 foot birdie chances and ended up playing them +1. Finding myself at even par for the tournament, the last 3 holes would make or break the chances at playing another day. A lip out from 25 feet on #16 came ever so close to falling in. A solid par on the 245 yard 17th left me with just one more hole to make a birdie. What I thought was a perfect drive kept rolling and rolling through the fairway and into the desert up against a bush. My only option was to hit one left handed out to the fairway. The ensuing wedge shot just rolled by the edge of the cup and rolled to 15 feet. After a good stroke, the ball just didn't break the way I thought it would causing me to close with a bogey and a score of 71. My +1 score for the tournament would find me two shots off the cut line. Encouraged by my ball striking in the second round, and putting in the first round, I just need to find that combination that gets both working together in the same rounds. It's back to work with a week off next week, before we tee it up again in April. I'm looking forward to seeing my game continue to improve over these next 10 days, and get myself into contention where I know I belong each week. Even with a disappointing start to the new year, I'm still at a point where I believe that any round could spark a movement where things begin to click like I know they can. Putting in the time and work ethic will pay off as I continue to stay patient and dig deep to get better each day. That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."Placing the ball in the right position for the next shot is eighty percent of winning golf." -Ben Hogan Bryce

Time to Recharge..

After a week mixed with both disappointment and progress, I made the decision to not play in this week's Gateway Tour event. I want my game to be at the point where I'm confident I can contend each week, and not wonder if I need to battle to make the cut. The next week, in preparation for the Papago Gateway event, will be dedicated to having a well-rounded golf game going into the first round. A strict daily practice plan has been put into place, allowing for the best chance of productivity and progress. Getting each aspect of your golf game firing on all cylinders is the million dollar topic that every golfer searches for. I believe I have a plan to execute doing so, and am excited to see the hard work and preparation pay off in the form of consistent and successful results. Gateway Tour event #7 Recap: Last week's tournament at Wigwam was full of opportunities to go low, but the execution just wasn't there. Scores of 70-70 placed me three shots behind the needed score to make the cut at -7. Birdies were abundant by the field as the course was there for the taking in ideal weather conditions, and a forgiving golf course layout. The positive take-away from the week was my ball striking making strides in the right direction, and is on the path towards improvement each day. It's time now to put all the pieces of my game together during each tournament round, and get myself back into contention where I feel I belong each week. Finding some confidence again in my putter and around the greens will take a lot of pressure off my ball-striking, allowing myself to free up and play my game. Things are close, but I need to continually dig deeper and working smarter to take my abilities to the next level. That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."play one shot at a time." I know it is a cliche, but it's called a cliche because it is true. -Kirk Triplett Bryce

Back at it!

A week of practice and preparation for the upcoming Gateway event at Wigwam-Red has me feeling confident and excited for another tournament! Event #9 starts tomorrow and runs through Thursday after a two round cut. Not only will the following three events have their typical purses, but a Nationwide Tour event exemption on the line as well. A cumulative points race over the next three Gateway Tour events will determine the winner of the BMW Charity Pro/Am exemption later this summer. The past few days have been spent working on the things I believe will be the keys to getting into contention this week. The wedge game, as well as putting, will be put on display at this week's event on the relatively simple layout that Wigwam-Red offers. Capitalizing on the opportunities provided will set the leaders apart from the rest of the field. A pretty forgiving driving course, and with only a moderate length, will allow for an abundance of low scores I believe. I will look to stay in the present this week, and focus on one shot at a time. Breaking my round down into small pieces will simplify things, and ultimately allow me to free up and execute golf shots. I'll let my game plan and patience take over this week, letting the big picture elements fall into place. You can follow this week's scores at: http://gatewaytour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gway11/event/gway118/contest/1/leaderboard.htm All-American Tour Championship Recap: A tough first-round draw in the 64-man match play bracket found me facing off against Swedish professional Niklas Lemke. A battle would only begin to describe this match as neither player led by more than 1 up until the 16th hole. The back and forth match found me behind early after a 3-putt bogey at the first. After a couple near birdie misses for wins at 2 & 3, I finally got a couple putts to drop. The first came after a great 50 yard lob over a bunker to 6 feet, and the second a 2-putt birdie on the par-5 fifth. Those back to back birdies propelled me to a 1-up lead. Niklas quickly countered with a birdie of his own at #6 to square the match. After we both made pars at 7 & 8, I squandered a chance to take the lead on #9 heading to the back nine. Two good shots to the par-5 led to a three putt and a halve, which felt like a loss as we headed to the final 9 holes. A great save from the green side bunker for me at ten, only to be followed by a 25-foot birdie conversion from Niklas to go 1-up. The match would become pretty uneventful after that however, as both players continued to make pars. Neither of us could get our birdie opportunities to fall and take control of the match. A disappointing non up and down from just short of the green at the par-5 14th kept me at 1-down with only 4 to play. On the drivable 15th, Niklas hit it over the green into a tough position for an up and down. I hit one of my best shots of the day to the par-4 as it settled just 25 feet from the cup for eagle. My putt would run out of speed though as it came to rest a couple inches short in the center of the hole. Niklas just wouldn't give any ground as he rolled in his 15 footer for the halve and to remain 1-up. My putter would let me down again, as another three putt led to a loss at #16 and 2-down deficit with only two to play. Both of us parred the 17th, and Niklas walked away the winner of the match and onto the next round. That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."the most important shot is the one you are about to hit!" Bryce

March Madness

Before the real "March Madness" begins on the hardwood later this month, the All-American Tour's version tees off this coming Monday. The top 64 money winners from this year's money list will square off in a single elimination match play event at Trilogy at Vistancia Golf Club in Peoria, AZ. This Tour Championship event has a lot riding on it, as the champion who outlasts everyone over the four days will earn an exemption into a Nationwide Tour event in June of this year, in addition to the winner's check from the $33,000 purse.

My first match finds me squaring off against Niklas Lemke at 12:42 pm on Monday afternoon. I've always enjoyed the match play format, as momentum changes continually keep you on your toes throughout the entire match. Strategy definitely plays a role in this format, and I believe it benefits the type of game I like to play. The link below will allow you to follow all the action in the match play bracket.

http://www.all-americantour.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=4367&pageID=5702

Gateway Tour event #6 Recap:

After a better start to this week's event at Palm Valley, I was confident in my ability to improve my position on the leaderboard in the second round. A string of 7 pars to begin the day, I had to keep telling myself to be patient and putts would start to fall. Numerous birdie chances in the early part of the round continually burned the edge or stayed just a roll short of falling in. Finally, on the par-3 17th hole (my 8th) I hit a great 5-iron into the wind to ten feet. The read and stroke were right on line and the ball fell in for a two. Making the turn at -1, I figured I needed to shoot -2 on the front to make the cut.

A great wedge shot on #1 to within two feet started the front nine off exactly how I wanted with another birdie. After a huge drive at the par-5 second, I found myself just 195 yards away from the green. Unfortunately, a poor iron shot and a poor chip later I walked away with a disappointing par. A bogey at the par-3 third was quickly followed up by two good holes to get me back in it. A lob wedge from 116 yards came to rest just a foot away for a kick in birdie at #4. With just a 7-iron in my hands at the par-5 5th hole, I made my best swing of the day to set up a 10 foot eagle putt. Even with a good stroke, a slight misread led to a birdie and a score of -3 on the day. Two decent shots into the wind on #6 left a 35-footer down the hill. A misjudged first putt left a six foot comeback. Things would get out of control quickly after two misses within 4 feet, and I walked away with a double-bogey 6. With only 3 holes left, I knew I'd need to make some things happen. Near misses at 7 & 8, followed by a good par save at 9 completed another round of 71. The week would end there as my score was 2 shots shy of making the cut. Progress was made in some different areas throughout the week however, so I'll take away the imrpovement in those areas to get ready for the coming week.

The last couple days have been very busy and productive with practice. Some work with my swing coach both on my ball striking and putting has me feeling some confidence again. I'm excited for the opportunity next week, as well as seeing some progress in my game despite the results. Each day I'm getting more and more comfortable and it's only a matter of time before things break out.

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."doing the same things over and over and expecting different results is insanity."

Bryce

Battle at Palm Valley

Another week is upon us as the 6th Gateway Pro Tour event is underway at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, AZ. A better start this morning in the first round came out to a 71 (-1), putting me in a tie for 46th. The course was there for the taking as the conditions were ideal all day. I drove the ball very well today, but just wasn't able to capitalize on the opportunities available to take it deep into red numbers. My focus after the round today during my practice was on my wedge game, and putting to improve my "scoring" clubs. Tomorrow I'll look to keep it in play off the tee again to continually give myself a lot of chances for birdies. The more looks I can get at birdie, the better chance I'll have at moving myself up the leader board. My second round starting time tomorrow is 12 pm & you can follow the scores on the link below. http://gatewaytour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gway11/event/gway117/contest/1/leaderboard.htm Time to climb the board!! Gateway Tour event #5 Recap: Last week's event was a disappointing start to the tournament. An early mistake put me behind the 8-ball in a hurry in the first round. With perfect weather and a golf course there for the taking, I had a lot of ground to make up after only a couple of holes. Any momentum I got going with a birdie, would only be short-lived as a bogey would soon follow on day 1. A first round 75 would make playing all three days a very tall order. Knowing I had to shot something in the low 60's to play the final round, I came out aggressive in the second round. Near misses for birdie on the first two holes, were followed by back-to-back birdies at 12 & 13. Things cooled off however, but a birdie at #18 allowed me to make the turn at -1 for the day. Another birdie on #1 as I made the turn kept things going. Unfortunately, another disaster hole caused a setback with a double on #4. My roller-coaster round would continue as I rattled off three consecutive birdies, only to follow it up with another bogey. A closing par sealed my score of 69, providing a little confidence heading into the following week. My game is close to turning the corner towards the right direction. A few errant shots here and there are holding me back from the consistency that I've been striving for. I've been making enough birdies to get myself into contention, but eliminating the big numbers and costly mistakes are necessary to compete week in a and week out. I am confident that the golf I know I can play is near, and can come alive on any given day. All I can do is put all my heart and effort into it and be patient for the results to follow! That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember...."Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation." -Jack Nicklaus Bryce

Trilogy @ Power Ranch!

Heading into the second week of a very busy competitive golf stretch, I'm looking forward to another week's challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. A busy tournament schedule coming up will help me to continue learning and playing more consistent golf. I'll be looking to get off to a better start today, as I've struggled in first rounds this year. A solid start to this event will be the main focus, as we try to be in contention as the tournament comes to a close in a couple days. This week's competition pins us at Trilogy at Power Ranch Golf Club in Gilbert, AZ. The first round gets underway today, and you can follow the scores at: http://gatewaytour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gway11/event/gway116/contest/1/leaderboard.htm. Gateway Tour event #4 Recap: A windy three days at Anthem G&CC had me feeling like I was back home playing high school golf in Minnesota all over again. The first round had me scrambling once again as I struggled with consistent ball striking. A tough stretch in the middle of my round had me finishing with a 75. The conditions were tough for everyone, as I was only 1-2 shots off the cut line. Two early birdies in the second round had things going in the right direction. Unfortunately, I gave them back with a double bogey a few holes later to make the turn to the second nine at even par for the day. Some more errant shots to start the final nine were countered by some great putting and chipping to escape with a pars on the next three holes. My short game could only save me for so long, as my ball striking got me in trouble again on the next two holes. After a water ball and a triple bogey on #4 and a bogey on #5, I was quickly +7 for the tournament with only four holes to go. Knowing I needed to make a big run to make the cut, I figured I needed to close with 4 straight birdies to have a chance at playing the final round. Two good shots on the par-5 sixth put me green side. A great chip to within a foot got things started. A long drive next to the green on the par-4 seventh hole, followed by a nice flop shot to a couple inches made it back to back birdies. Gaining confidence with each shot, I made a nice swing with a 7-iron on the par-3 eighth that finished 10 feet below the hole. The birdie putt never left the intended line as it disappeared into the cup for a 2. As I stood on the tee box of the difficult par-4 last hole, I knew I had to be aggressive. A big tee shot to a narrow fairway left me only 92 yards to a front pin. A solid wedge shot to 15 feet gave me the chance I needed to make a run at playing the final round. I got a good read off of my playing partner, so I was confident about my chosen line. Clearing my thoughts and focusing only on the putt, I put a great stroke on the ball as it tracked the hole the entire way and ran right into the middle of the hole! I had done all I could, now I just had to wait for the scores to come in to see if it were good enough. Luckily it was, and it was time to refocus for the next day to try and move up the leader board. Extremely WINDY conditions in the final round, exposed my inconsistent ball striking again. A rough start had my trying to fight back the rest of the day. Birdies at holes 6 & 7 got things going in the right direction. Unfortunately, it wouldn't last long as a rough stretch on the back nine had me finishing with 78. This dropped me back a few places, finishing in a tie for 35th. Looking back on the week gave me some confidence though, knowing I have the ability to make a lot of birdies. Now, I just need to minimize my mistakes and bring down the margin of error for more all around consistency. If I can accomplish this, I truly believe I can compete week in and week out for my first professional win! I've been working very hard on my consistency the past few days, looking to decrease my margin of error. Finding a better consistency will allow me to get into, and stay in contention more often. The key for me is finding a way to come away with a solid score on the days where I don't have my best. This week I'll continue to take the "street fighter" attitude that came alive at the end of the second round last week to make the cut. That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time...."it's not how good your good shots are, it's how good your bad shots are!" Bryce

Back to work!

After a week break from competitive golf, it's back to work this week as the Gateway Tour event #4 tees off Tuesday at Anthem G&CC - Ironwood Course. Last week's Monday qualifier didn't go as well as hoped, but it was a great experience overall and a very enjoyable day. On a tough day with cool temperatures, gusty winds, and a little bit of rain thrown in the mix, scores were a little higher than usual. I hung around at even par for most of the day through 13 holes. Knowing I had to go low the last five holes to jump up into one of the three spots available, I started getting a little more aggressive trying to make some birdies. Consequently, I made some bogeys on the way in and posted 76. Six guys posted a 67 and would playoff for the 3 spots the following morning due to darkness. The past week has been a great opportunity to sharpen all facets of my game and prepare for the following weeks. A busy schedule ahead has me excited to compete again and test my game against some of the top players. Also mixed in between my practice schedule, was the chance to watch the best players in the world compete at the Waste Management Phoenix Open just a couple miles down the road. Taking away a few mental notes from watching them will hopefully help me in the coming weeks, and get into contention to win. I feel as though my game is headed in the right direction which is exciting. This week I'll look to be consistent and tenacious as I think my way around the golf course. In talking with Tom Lehman some this past week, he stressed the importance of "fighting for each and every shot during a round." You just never know when that one shot will have a big impact on the result of the week whether it was to make/miss the cut, or to win/lose a tournament. You can follow the progress of this week's tournament at: http://gatewaytour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gway11/event/gway115/contest/1/leaderboard.htm That's all for now from "the tips," but until next time remember....every shot counts! Bryce

Progress...Progress...Progress

A busy and exciting week has come to an end as I reflect on all that has happened. The week started out with the 3rd Gateway event of the season at Whirlwind Golf Club. Despite coming off the course with a score of 74 in the first round, the confidence I had been lacking in my ball striking had improved greatly. After working with my coach last week and beating balls to try and groove it, things seemed to have taken a turn for the best. My short game held me back some, but it wasn't for lack of good putts as the ball just didn't want to disappear into the hole. I knew if I just kept putting my self in good position to make birdies, they would eventually start falling. Round two produced much of the same without the couple mistakes that came the previous day. A bogey-free round of 67 that included 5 birdies was enough to put me inside the cut-line and eligible for the third round. Another great ball striking round followed by lip outs and burned edges kept my score from being even lower. I wasn't shaken however, as I knew I had to be patient and they would start to fall soon. Sure enough, when my ball striking wasn't quite up to the quality of the first two rounds, my putter seemed to pick up some of the slack. A final round 69 in some windy conditions vaulted me up the leader board into a 13th place finish. I got off to a hot start making 3 birdies and an eagle through 10 holes to get to 5 under on the day. Following some good pars, a couple bad swings on my 15th hole led to a triple bogey. I kept grinding to finish out the last three holes and post a good score, and did so making a birdie on my 17th hole. I was very pleased with my top 15 finish after a rocky start to the year. There are still things to fine tune as always, but it was a nice confidence boost to hang in there throughout the week. However, there was still one more competitive round to play on my schedule the very next day. That round was the pre-qualifier for the PGA Tour's Waste Management Phoenix Open. On another blustery day, the qualifier plotted 103 golfers for 9 spots into Monday's official qualifier for the Phoenix Open. Finishing with back to back birdies on 17 & 18, I grabbed one of the 9 qualifying spots shooting 67 for a fifth place finish. Yet again, my ball striking was very solid, allowing me the opportunity for many birdie chances. The putter again felt great all day, but the putts just wouldn't fall. Patience kept me going as I made the turn at 1 under. Finally, a few birdie chances fell when it really counted as I made 4 birdies on the last 7 holes to get inside the number and qualify. As I look back and reflect on the past week, I'm so thankful to be blessed with patience and a trust in God that things will always work out in the end. I trust and embrace his plan, along with the highs and lows that come along with it. If I take care of the little things and just keep getting better every day, great things will come along with them. I'm excited for the coming events, and can't wait to test my game against the best players in the world. Next up: the Waste Management Phoenix Open Monday Qualifier at McCormick Ranch GC! Current and former PGA Tour players, Nationwide players, and many others will compete for the final 3 spots in the event starting next Thursday at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. The results for the qualifier should be posted on the following website after its conclusion: http://southwest.pga.com/ (scroll down towards middle of page) That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember....."the harder you work, the luckier you get!" Bryce

Ace in the Hole!

If I were to have drawn up how the first two weeks on the Gateway Tour would have gone, they would have turned out much differently than they actually have. It's been a tough start to the year, but that's the course this game seems to take us on. Through the highs and lows you just need to keep plugging along, learning from mistakes, and putting the past behind you. I've tried to do this knowing the sun will rise again tomorrow, and there's always another tournament to perform better. Last week did however have a couple high points. One of these being my 3rd career hole-in-one during my first round (2nd in competition and 2nd in 11 months). An 8-iron from 187 yards hit on the right ridge of the green and funnelled back towards the pin. For a moment it disappeared on the backside of the mound, but reappeared for a split second before hitting the center of the pin and disappearing into the cup! This sparked a miniature rally towards the end of the round, but didn't carry over to the second round enough to make the cut. The second positive outtake from last week was the way I chipped both rounds, and putted the ball the 2nd round. When my ball striking went south, my chipping stepped up and saved me many strokes in both rounds. Chipping has always been one of my strengths and something I've enjoyed practicing my whole career. Also, after making the switch back to the standard length putter after round one, I rolled the ball very well the next day. Now that I've had time to practice with it the last few days, I have a new found confidence and enjoyment around the greens that will hopefully carry through the coming week. A very busy week lies ahead for me as we get into the last week of January. The Gateway Tournament #3 will play out Monday-Wednesday at the Whirlwind Cattail Course in Chandler, AZ. You can follow the progress of this event at: http://gatewaytour.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gway11/event/gway114/contest/1/leaderboard.htm Following the Gateway event, I will be trying to qualify for a PGA Tour event right here in Scottsdale. The Waste Management Phoenix Open pre-qualifier will take place for me at Lone Tree GC on Thursday where roughly 100 guys will compete for 9+ spots in the Monday qualifier to get into the main event. It'll be a great week to test my game against some of the best players in the country and I'm very much looking forward to it! That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember.....a smooth swing with good contact always goes further than a hard swing and poor contact! Bryce

New Week, Clean Slate...

After a disappointing week last time out at the opening tournament of the Gateway Pro Tour, the time came to put the nose to the grindstone. Most of my bag from mid-irons to the driver and putter just would not seem to cooperate last week. Finding the center of the club face was a major challenge, and the ball just couldn't find the bottom of the cup even when I seemed to hit good putts. With that, I'm hoping there are plenty of good shots to be had this coming week. A lesson with my swing coach and some long successful practice sessions has my game feeling closer to where I want it. Now, it's time to put it to the test at this week's Gateway event at the Raven GC in Buckeye, AZ. The first round kicks off tomorrow and runs through Thursday after a 36-hole cut. Putting last week behind me, and refocusing on the task at hand the next few days will prove critical. Playing one shot at a time, and getting lost in the process of getting better each day now become the focus when things aren't clicking on all cylinders. My 2011 stint on the Gateway Pro Tour will be one where I'll need to stay very patient. As a rookie on this tour, I will be seeing a new course each week for the very first time. Most of the guys on this tour have been playing these courses numerous times for many years and know all the ins and outs. I'll have to make sure I pay very close attention both in tournament rounds as well as practice rounds to get as comfortable as I can with the courses. Each piece of information is extremely valuable when often times tournaments come down to just one shot. Becoming acquainted and comfortable with a golf course is very important in easing the stress of the unfamiliar layouts and contours each one provides. You can follow the progress of this week's event on the Gateway Pro Tour website, as well as my Twitter feeds. My screen name is @bhanstadgolf. That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time remember....."straight is long"! Bryce

Starting Fresh in 2011

First and foremost, I'd like to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed lots of food, fun, family, and friends over the holidays just as I did.

As the new year begins, we are given the opportunity to look back and reflect as well as look forward and strive for new accomplishments. I've been so blessed throughout my career with support from those around me. I can truly say I wouldn't be at this place in my life today without their encouragement and guidance. To think that just 5 short years ago I was a Cardinal athlete in Alexandria, MN boggles my mind. Follow that with 4 amazing years as a Ram at Colorado State, and here I am a professional golfer in Scottsdale, AZ. Time sure does fly, and I've been fortunate to fulfill mine with great memories and milestones thanks to a great support system.

Now that 2011 is upon us, I look forward to and welcome the challenges and opportunities of a new season. After finding success in my early professional career the last 7 months, I look to build upon and expand off those learning experiences in the new year. Setting goals and high expectations for myself help me to continually strive and hunger for more success. As for a playing schedule, I plan on spending the the early part of the year playing the Gateway Pro Tour in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area in Arizona. The website where you can follow my round-by-round progress can be found at: http://www.gatewaytour.com/index.html. This competitive tour will help me to gain experience and put myself in position to contend for my first "W". The rest of 2011 could vary with events on the Canadian Tour, Dakotas Tour, and some Nationwide Tour qualifiers. I will be sure to keep you updated on my results and whereabouts.

That's all for now from "the tips", but until next time....keep it in the short grass!

-Bryce