The BirdieSisters participated in their third “Jekyll Island Cup” on Sunday and Monday of this week. The goal was to move up the ranks. Unfortunately, even though we attempted to arrive in time for 3 days of outdoor course practice, our delayed flight and terrible rain storms limited practice to one day outside prior to the tournament. While the temps reached the low 50s during the afternoon on tournament days, the practice round day and the mornings and late afternoon temps on tournament days were in the 30s and 40s with winds and some rain on day 2.
Erica Jackson showed everyone that she can really play this game. On day one, her first eight holes served as a warm-up to her 6 straight pars. Then, after a double boggie on 15, the horn blew to halt all play due to night fall (Erica had teed off at 2:15pm due to a frost delay). Erica resumed play at 7:40am the next day on hole number 16. Unfortunately, she had lost her par streak and ended up with 2 boggie’s and a double boggie to finish the first round. At 12:09pm the same day, Erica hit the course again for her second round of 18. She was on fire — a boggie on hole number one, followed by 8 straight pars to finish the front 9 at one over par. However, after a long day of golf, the rain and winds began to surface and Erica began to wear down on the back 9 with a few pars, several boggies and one double boggie. Nevertheless, she managed to drop her score by seven (7) shots. Although Erica played some of her best golf, she only ended up with an 8th place finish. As we mentioned previously, the field was small but tough! In fact, the winner shot one under par.
Myah Jackson had to switch golf courses because the scheduled course experienced rain damage and became unplayable. She competed on a 100 year old golf course that looked every bit of its age. Unfortunately, Myah’s first day was one of her worst in the last few years. She struggled with her chip shots and her putting. However, like Erica, on day 2 Myah dropped 7 shots giving her a 9th place finish. As anticipated, both BirdieSisters got into their groove on day 3. Unfortunately, day 3 was day 2 of the tournament instead of day 3 of practice as we had planned. If their day 3 play is an indicator of their future play — look out!!!
The teams for the ” World Youth Team Challenge” are set! Erica has a phenomenal partner in Ms. Brooke Dillon and she is looking forward to this great opportunity . The tournament will be held in Bolingbrook Illinois at the Golf Club. For all the info and pics see: http://www.ijgc.com/WYTC2010/TeamUSAMidwest.html .
Let us tell you about our newest project, The BirdieSisters Golf Show! The show will air weekly beginning this Friday, January 29th at 11 a.m. EST. Our first few shows are pre-recorded but once we get more comfortable, it will be live.
We are so excited about this opportunity. We’re going to start our show by interviewing our fabulous radio team. You’ll get a chance to hear all of the people behind the scenes who help us do what we do. We’re going to have several other renowned guests, teaching segments, and lots of surprises in store for our listeners. Please be sure to listen in at www.wstrradio.com at 11:00 a.m. EST this Friday so you can hear our first show.
After you hear the show, let us know what you think! Thanks for your support!!
For the second year in a row the BirdieSisters set their sights on a championship at the “Doral – Publix Junior Golf Classic.” And, for the second time they came up a little short. This is by far their most difficult tournament of the year because they loose a lot of ground on their competitors in the winter, not being able to practice outside. They do their best to keep up by working on mats and in golf domes; however, there is no substitute for the golf course.
When we arrived on Tuesday it was 88 degrees. We checked into the beautiful Doral Resort and Spa, changed into shorts and headed straight to the golf course to practice. It took all 9 holes for the BirdieSisters to get into a groove. In fact, it was dark when they finally made it to the 9th hole. They could barely see the ball. The next day turned out to be a better experience. The BirdieSisters played 18 holes and became a lot more comfortable on the course. Thursday was the official practice round and the BirdieSisters each played their 9-hole tournament course. However, Myah wasn’t able to finish her practice round due to rain storms.
The tournament began on Friday. Erica teed off from hole number 10 on the Red Course at 8:00 am. Immediately thereafter the rain came pouring down. Before Erica’s group could finish hole number 10, the siren sounded to suspend play until the rain stopped. After about 30 minutes play resumed, and so did the pouring rain. Nevertheless, the tournament continued. Finally, during the middle of play on the 15th hole, the siren sounded again to suspend play. Myah had begun playing at 9:30am and was on the 2nd hole when the siren sounded. This time, a decision was made to cancel the first day of the tournament and play a one day championship round the next day. We were all drenched, especially Erica who had played 6 holes with no umbrella.
Saturday presented sunshine and much cooler temperatures — high 60s. Erica teed off at 9:00 am and Myah teed off at 10:30 am. By 11:00 am temps were climbing into the mid to upper 70s. Both Erica and Myah had strong starts off the first tee, something they have struggled with in the past. Additionally, both Erica and Myah were successful at driving their balls right down the middle of the fairway throughout the tournament — another area where Erica has struggled in the past. While putting showed improvement over last year, both Erica and Myah struggled with their approach shots. Although their final scores weren’t great, we are pleased with the improvement observed in both their mental and physical game. If the BirdieSisters can maintain this level of play and couple it with more time playing outside, look out! For more information and scores visit: http://www.firstteemiami.org/tournaments/doral/scores2009/
We are very pleased to extend an official invitation to Erica Jackson to participate in the 4th World Youth
Team Challenge 2010 during June 12th -15th, 2010 at Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook, IL.
This official invitation is to confirm that you will be representing Team USA Midwest for Girls age 11-12
division during the World Youth Team Challenge 2010.
There are 6 age group divisions for boys –> 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. There are 3 age group divisions for
girls –> 11-12, 13-14 and 15-16. The total is 9 age group divisions. Each nation team will comprise of at
least 2 players per age group division, minimum total of 18 players per team. The participating teams,
playing formats, courses, event schedule, pool seating, past WYTC (2007, 2008 and 2009) and other up-todate tournament information can be found on the tournament website at www.ijgc.com. It also can be
found at the later part of this invitation.
We are very excited at the prospect of Erica Jackson joining the 4th World Youth Team Challenge in
2010. This will be a great opportunity for players to participate in a team format competition, represent
their country and establish special relationships nationally and internationally that will last a lifetime.
Dear Erica Jackson,
We are very pleased to extend an official invitation to Erica Jackson to participate in the 4th World Youth Team Challenge 2010 during June 12th -15th, 2010 at Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook, IL.
This official invitation is to confirm that you will be representing Team USA Midwest for Girls age 11-12 division during the World Youth Team Challenge 2010.
There are 6 age group divisions for boys –> 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. There are 3 age group divisions for girls –> 11-12, 13-14 and 15-16. The total is 9 age group divisions. Each nation team will comprise of at least 2 players per age group division, minimum total of 18 players per team. The participating teams, playing formats, courses, event schedule, pool seating, past WYTC (2007, 2008 and 2009) and other up-to date tournament information can be found on the tournament website at www.ijgc.com. It also can be found at the later part of this invitation.
We are very excited at the prospect of Erica Jackson joining the 4th World Youth Team Challenge in 2010. This will be a great opportunity for players to participate in a team format competition, represent their country and establish special relationships nationally and internationally that will last a lifetime.
The BirdieSisters are happy to inform everyone that they have been selected to participate in this year’s Doral-Publix Junior Golf Classic. The Doral-Publix Junior Golf Classic is the premiere tournament for junior golf. Over 680 junior golfers from around the world participate in this tournament every year. These golfers represent almost every country in the world. Contestants not only have to be great golfers but they must demonstrate academic excellence in the classroom. The tournament will be held December 16,17 and 18 in Doral, Fl. For a complete entry list see : http://www.firstteemiami.org/tournaments/doral/acceptancelist.php .
The MAJGT is designed for exceptionally talented junior golfers throughout the Midwest. All tournaments in the 2009 inaugural season are nationally recognized by the American Junior Golf Association and the Junior Golf Scoreboard.
The BirdieSisters Erica and Myah Jackson played last weekend in the MAJGT’s invitational three day tournament at Winnetka Golf Course. The weather was cold. In fact, each day there was a frost delay with temps in the high 30’s at the start. It rained all day the previous day so the course was very wet, as were their feet. The BirdieSisters had not experienced these types of conditions during a golf tournament before, so controlling their ball was even more difficult. The course was 28 miles ( 36 mintues ) from home.
Each day brought new lessons in mental toughness and course management. This was not a tournament where “pace of play rule” came into effect, everyone was moving quckly because of the cold. However, the key was not to rush your shot. Day 1 had high winds, day 2 had ice on the greens — the coldest day of the 3 – and day 3 had a chance of rain. For the last two years, Chicago experienced temperatures in the 80s on this weekend. In any event, the BirdieSisters survived!
For questions, comments and suggestions please contact us at birdiemom@gmail.com.
Contact the BirdieSisters at birdiesisters@gmail.com.
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Midway Arpt., IL