PGA Junior Screaming Eagles North Sectional State Match - Grand Cypress, Orlando

AA's Eagle Harbor team is in the PGA Jr. State match, Sunday, August 26th. After the Drive, Chip and Putt on Saturday, Ford and AA drove to Orlando. After a late practice, and a late dinner, all was well on Sunday morning at the start of the match.
AA is paired with Orlando's Shawn Coultoff. We spoke to Eric at the DCP and he told all of us to "Bring our A Game!". Challenge on! Practice photo:

AA's group tied with Orlando - 1.5 flags each. Overall, Orlando won and then went on to win the Sectional Championship. First match:

Award ceremony:

No one on the Eagle Harbor Team was happy - the consolation round, Ford said the kids all acted unenthusiastic and gave up, so last place it is!! (4th). No one was happy!

Lesson learned about making a regional/city All-Stars Team in order to compete on the State level. Eagle Harbor was the only team made up of kids from only ONE golf club. They did well, several matches were tied or close. Try again next year!

Drive Chip and Putt 2018 (for April 2019)

AA made the top three at the Drive Chip Putt Local Qualifying and played in the Sub-regional, Saturday, August 25th. She did fairly well with her drives being the most improved. She missed a chip and made two hole in one on the putting. Next year, she will be in this same group 12-13 year old. In order to move up to the Regional, she needed to be in the top two spots. She placed 5th.
Putting practice:

Walking with her Daddy from the "Drive" to the "Chip" area:

Ms. Penny watching as AA chips:

AA with her 2nd place medal for the "Drive"!!

All 12-13 year old Girls who received an award.

Scores:

Will keep entering each year until she is 14 (that will make her the oldest eligible 15 in April of the following year) - only three more tries to make it to Augusta!

Miscellaneous Fun Stuff! New Windows Too!

Since we bought this house, there are about a dozen projects that need to be done to maintain the wood house. From needing new upstairs windows, fixing the fireplace chimney, to repairing outside rotten wood then painting entire exterior, need to replace wood back deck, taming the wild common landscaping surrounding our home, and the list goes on...
New Pella windows for upstairs - custom size of course $$$$$. It took 8 weeks for delivery and we are now into three days and two of the three windows are installed. AA's room is to be done on Monday, 08/27/18. Then we will need buy new blinds! It never ends!

Upstairs Master bedroom - two windows:

AA carrying her golf bag after a PGA Jr. Team practice at EH:

Occasionally I take photos of Ginger to send AA. I was off work on Tuesday, 08/21st, so walked Ginger:

Some pool fun with the new corn hole bean bag toss (bags filled with water) - purchased by Nancy Harrison:

Thursday, August 23rd, Ford picked up Noah after school for playtime. AA couldn't go to Noah's birthday party last Saturday (it was EH Elite Golf Team tryouts), so we gave him a gift and ice cream treat, then back to his Dad's (Mark) work place by 4:15 p.m. (AA had to go to Math tutor).

Mom sent a packed goody box to us; contained three Little Sebago Lake shirts, a journal for AA, a DVD for Ford, Happy Birthday streamers for AA, garden gloves and lots more! Thank you!

Another good week!!

Sunday Shoe Shopping and More! Sunday 08/19/18

We took Alivia and Dylan shoe shopping with our AA, to the St. Augustine Outlet Stores - Vans and Nike. Everyone found a pair they liked, all within 45 minutes - fast shoppers!
Then to CaddyShack for lunch (Chicken Tenders, Fiesta Salad, Chicken Salad-Salad, Quesadillas; Ford had the Fish and Chips). All very good and too much food! Then we saw the movie America's Musical Journey narrated by Morgan Freeman and featuring singer/writer Aloe Blacc (and more food - Ice Cream Dots and Popcorn!). It was fast moving, a bit disjointed until you got the feel of the movie style. Lots of good music and weaving in the huge African influence through the history of America. Since it is only 50 minutes long, fast moving with fast music!

Success buying sneakers!

Then back to their St. Augustine home, quick visit with Leaa and Dylan singing a song, playing her ukulele! Nice outing with the Grands!

River Bend Golf Links is Closing - Closed!

We have known for several years that the widening of CR/Highway 16 towards St. Augustine would be widened with a new bridge built/added. The golf course sent out an email stating that this is the last weekend it will be open.
We posted on Facebook about AA's history at this golf course.
AA doesn't remember much from that time frame, she was 4.5 years old, and he died when she was 8.5 years old. He taught her all the basic golf rules, techniques and most importantly golf etiquette.

The only public golf course in Green Cove Springs is closing its doors tomorrow. Progress must take the land for a wider highway. AA began her golf "career" at #RiverBendGolf with Coach Doug Cody. We were blessed with our daughter AA and double blessed when Coach Doug arrived into our lives. He was kind and bonded with AA. He left us too soon, leaving a hole in our soul and AA's life. Here are a few pictures showing what a proud coach he was as AA won his first kids tournament/clinic at age 5 and then her first US Kids Local Championship age 6. #AlyzabethMorganGolf 
If you have time, go visit River Bend this weekend, say hi to Rhonda. The golf course was a community treasure. https://riverbendgolflinks.org/

So many good memories of AA's early years of golfing!

I loved this one best as AA is actually talking to Coach Doug!

And this is a perfect Daddy-Daughter moment; yes, AA is trying to carry the bag too!

fm - His work with Alyzabeth was and in many ways continues to be immeasurable to this day. What he gave me is still a progress in work. After each lesson Coach Doug would coach me on how to be a supportive parent with a kid in sports. He could be blunt. I wasn't her coach. He was. He liked to say with any luck I might be a half decent caddie but it was more important to be a top rate Dad. He would handle the coaching. :) Every day I see Doug in Alyzabeth... Miss you Doug..

We stopped by on Sunday, August 19th and briefly visited with Rhonda. She is the U.S. Kids Golf Local Director and is moving over to be an independent pro at Magnolia Point Golf Club.

5th Grade State Testing Results! Top Score 5!

We were told that AA scored a 5 on the Florida test at the end of 5th grade school year, the highest she could receive. She received "5's" for 3rd and 4th grade. We received her actual test score papers on her first day of 6th grade. In the past the school called us during the summer when they were available - we must have missed the instructions! What is impressive is that she missed only two questions on the entire test!
Overall 380/385. Math 385/388. Science 258/260. Overall:

Math:

Science:

Past years - all 5's!!

We are so happy that AA likes school, does her homework, focused during class time, and uses her brain by reading daily and asking lots of questions at home!

First Day of 6th Grade! August 14th

AA began her first day of 6th Grade, her last year at Orange Park Elementary School. It is a wonderful school, due to the teachers, Principal and parent volunteers. Sixth grade seemed so far away, so grown up. Well, AA has grown up, we are surviving puberty and growth spurts, to finally having to do REAL clothes shopping to get clothes that fit her. She is beginning to pick out her own clothes, never really been interested, she has strong opinion about shoes and sneakers (only likes "covered toes"). She continues with Mr. Story as a math tutor, staying ahead of her grade and mastering algebra over the summer. We are proud and happy that she is growing into a lovely young lady!

Daddy found a new parking space near the 6th Grade buildings. New routine!

And Daddy Ford made home made chicken and dumplings for dinner. Slowly getting back into a routine!

Meet the Teacher - 6th Grade!!!

Last year at OPE!! 6th grade teacher is Ms. Bucci.
AA with Jane and Connor. Looking forward to this exciting year as she grows into Junior High next year!

All 6th Graders at OPE:

SCREAMING EAGLES Win!

The Eagle Harbor Golf Screaming Eagles PGA Junior All-Star Golf team advance to the Section Championship!! They played the LPGA Jones Course. Next up is Orlando on August 26th!

The Orlando All-Stars 1 Team:

Tyler and teammate, Alyzabeth, were 4 under Par for their match:

From Facebook: The Eagle Harbor Screaming Eagles All-Star Golf team placed first of four competing teams today. Daddy Caddie said it was a pleasure watching AA and Tyler compete! Congrats to all players and Coach Bryan M. Kipnis! Next up is the Section Championship in Orlando!

Scores:

Go Eagle Harbor!!

NFJG Awards - POY!

The NFJG Season came to an end with the Annual Awards Banquet. We love having the ceremony at the TPC Sawgrass Club house, but this was fun at Top Golf too.

Alyzabeth Morgan

Eagle Harbor Golf Club

Rising Tour Girls 13-18 Division

Plenty of Top Golf playing after the awards and dinner. We played with the Victoria Green family.

Susan Waite with AA:

Player of the Year for Rising Girls:

Jack's Newsletter:
Sixty-two trophies in all were presented to deserving junior players for their year-long efforts. Division Winners for the “Fall, Spring and Summer Tournament Series” were first, followed by the “Jack Nicklaus Award” for sportsmanship, the “Harry Vardon Award” for scoring average, the “Birdie Leader Award” for most birdies, and the new “TOP HONOR AWARD” for two day Web.com  Junior Player TOUR events.
Finally the evening awards presentation ended with the coveted “PLAYER OF THE YEAR” Award. This year’s POY Awards went to Hayden Zitzewitz, Marisa Cardenas, Campbell Kennedy, Alyzabeth Morgan, Thomas Cush, Phillip Dunham, Emma Wells and Tavi Sport. For full display of award recipients see the attached list.
NFJG Foundation Executive Director Jack Aschenbach kicked off the show with brief opening remarks and then introduced, staff board members and the evening’s guest speaker PGA Professional Duke Butler. Duke wowed the crowd with his life-long stories from his amazing golfing career, both on the PGA TOUR and working for the PGA TOUR. In particular and in great honor, Duke honored Jack Nicklaus with outstanding stories of sportsmanship, etiquette and obeying the rules in golf. Duke told the kids “Be like Jack Nicklaus” and honor your character.
At the beginning of his remarks, Duke who grew up in Texas, raised a trophy he had won in the Houston Junior Open back in 1962. Accompanied with the trophy Duke told the junior players to “Treasure your trophies, they get better with fond memories they provide you. But it is the Friends you make playing junior golf that stay with you for life” and “I hope you become as good as you dream, but make certain you become a better person than player.” An impressive man Duke Butler is and we are so blessed he is part of our team. Many thanks and great job!