John Smoltz takes a dive in the weather-hit first round of South Georgia Classic on the Nationwide Tour
The former Major League Baseball player, John Smoltz, who has now been an “on and off” golfer for the last 23 years, had a disappointing day on the Kinderlou Golf Course where he is participating in the South Georgia Classic.
The first round of the tournament was badly disrupted due to torrential downpour and a string of weather storms which have hit the country’s eastern seaboard for the last few days. First round proceedings were delayed for more than eight hours and none of
the 156 field was able to complete their 18 holes. Smoltz is able to qualify in the tournament on sponsor’s exemption and currently has a handicap of +2.
Smoltz started off from back nine and was only able to complete eight holes. His opening round of first three holes raised many eyebrows as he scored one-under even on a soaked turf.
But form there onwards, Smoltz’s came out as a completely different man. He went ahead to bogey Par 5, 13th and Par-4, 14th and than double bogeyed the Par-4, 15th. As if it wasn’t enough, Smoltz stumbled with another bogey
at Par-4, 16th before closing his day’s work with an even par on the 17th.
"I thought I was going to be fine out there today but I put myself in a couple of tough spots with it being so wet and mucky I fell victim to that, it can snowball," Smoltz said. "I had a rough four-hole stretch but there's plenty of golf left. Hopefully
I can turn it into a 2 or 3 over round. I look at [Friday] as a fresh start. And this whole thing is a learning experience so I can't forget that."
The 43-year-old is making his first start at any PGA Tour co-sanctioned event and is eager to perform well in his adopted sport. Smoltz is a self taught golfer and has performed well on the amateur circuit at Bob Hope Classic and the AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am.
His best on the course is 63 at the Floridian Golf Course which was lauded by the giants of the sport including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sorenstam, Arnold Palmer and many others.
Smoltz will have a lot of work on his hands on the second day in order to recover from his plunge as the first round will continue on the second day.
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