Concord, NH

New Hampshire is such a beautiful state. The one way covered bridge that I crossed to and from the golf course made the whole week worthwhile. It was sooo gorgeous, and I should have taken a picture. I did take a picture of this amazing rainbow that we were blessed with during one on the many rain storms of the week.

Tournament went well. I was consistent with 74,73,74. Could have been much better. Still 4 events left before the top 5 and top 15 players are determined. I have to finish real strong, but I feel real good about it. Stay tuned for exciting things.

SLEEP in Syracuse

Syracuse was a good week for everybody. I finally played good on Sunday, shooting one under, a 71. I think the nap I had during the rain delay helped me birdie two of the last three holes. Lucky for me the Duramed Futures Tour rules officials noticed I was not in position to play. One walkie talkie call and a good friend Libby Smith swiftly and loudly screamed my name throughout the clubhouse until I woke up. I was shocked that the sun was out and the clubhouse empty. Libby said "Nicole your supposed to be in position to restart play." OOps....I calmly but quickly made my way outside and was then chauffeured to my hole just in time to begin play. Whew.. that was a close one!! That little nap helped me play my best three holes of the entire tournament. "Sleep Well. Live Better"

Also this week in Syracuse was a terrific piece for the awareness of Narcolepsy. Click here to check it out.

3 weeks - oops

Have not blogged in 3 weeks, I must have been practicing a lot. Oh yes, I was practicing endlessly and I did not have full access to a computer the entire time.

Lets see. Bloomfield, Ct was not bad. My pro-am team partners ended up caddying for me in the tournament. This was a big help since I tend to get the worst spot on the cart for my clubs. On the Futures Tour we have a volunteer cart driver that keeps score for the group, as well as drive our clubs around. It great because we don't have to carry our clubs or hire a caddy every week. We walk and play while our clubs get a ride. Unfortunately, many days we have three sets of bags on the cart, which makes a difficult job for the volunteer and difficult for the golfer who puts their set of clubs on the cart LAST. Yep, that would be me, because I tend to get to the course later than most. Let me tell you how annoying and difficult it is to get your clubs in and out of the bag laying on the seat of the cart. PAIN in the ___!!! Needless to say... it nice to have some real cool, supportive people offer to caddy. Thanks Mitzie and Tim!! You did an outstanding job. Finished T60th.

Pro-am galore!!!

I have three pro-ams to play in this week. Yikes, that is a lot. I better pace myself so I will have enough energy for the tournament. Flew to Chicago to pick up my car and then drove to Toledo for two pro-ams.  Pro-am appearances are a great way to make a fast buck.  Too bad they are few and far between when you are playing the Duramed Futures Tour.  This week I was lucky to be asked to play in two outings in Toledo, one on Monday and another on Tuesday at the infamous Inverness Golf Cub. That is a treat in itself.   On Wednesday I had an all day drive to Bloomfield, CT, where my tournament is this week starting on Friday.   As a narcoleptic, you would think this would be quite difficult and dangerous for me.  Well, I am doing great.  My medicine is really helping me sleep the right way at night, so my batteries are getting recharged.  I am alert and awake all day and my cataplexy is almost non-existent. Check out my web site for more info on narcolepsy/cataplexy,  www.nicolejeray.net 

Played another pro-am for the tournament on Thursday and we finished in 2nd place. Hopefully this will be the start of a good week of golf.  Check out the scores at www.duramedfuturestour.com to see the outcome in CT.

LPGA monday qualifier in Arkansas

This week I will spend in Arkansas, either playing in the LPGA tournament or not. We all know my status on the LPGA stinks so I probably wont get in any more events this year unless I try to Monday qualify.

I picked Arkansas to try for lots of reasons: 1. love the course 2. no Duramed Futures Tour event 3. have not seen Jody (my boyfriend) in 5 weeks

So after my wonderful showing in Hammond, I flew to Arkansas to Monday qualify. No practice round, small warm up, and off we go. Jody is caddying for me. In the first fairway I walk up to my ball and suddenly realize that I don't have to get the yardage and think about the course and what I have to do. My brain can actually relax. What a relief, all I have to do it hit the shot. Soo much easier to play golf this way. Jody says, 95 yards, aim right at it. I pick my club, whack, 5 feet. I read my putt, and it went it in. Love it. Next hole, Jody gives me a good target, I hit it there. Walk up to the ball, Jody does all the figuring, hit it 200 yards at that pine tree. Easy game. A good caddy makes all the difference in the world. It lets the player just hit shots. Any way, I shot even par, 72. 70, 71 qualified.

Ill spend the week here in Arkansas with Jody. While he caddies for Kim Hall Ill be practicing, playing another course, testing equipment, re grip clubs, check lies and lofts. We are so spoiled out here on the LPGA. Really makes me want to get my status back. There are still a bunch of Duramed Futures Tour events left. I will finish strong!!

Havoc in Hammond

This week started out great and ended in chaos. The good news is that I am still rolling that ball like I should. Tuesday was just play and pro-am party. During registration I found out about a Par 3 tournament with a purse of $5000. Since I would stay for this Par 3 qualifying, I helped with the Junior Clinic which is always rewarding, especially since they had only one other pro. The qualifier went well, great Par 3 course at Lost Marsh. I shot -1 to get into a field of 12 and ties. Very exciting. Wednesday was my pro-am time. My group did not show up but the Head Pro found some other people for me to play with for the day. They were delightful! Thursday is practice and the Par 3 tournament. 12 players for a purse of $5000. Thank you Hammond Port Authority and Horseshoe Casino for making this possible. Oops 16 players are playing, Head Pro forgot about ties. Good thing so my friend Jenny Gleason (my putting guru) was able to get in the field - Yeah!! First place shot -2 and then four of us Tied for second place with even par. That should be a decent pay out with only 8 people getting paid.

Friday, first round of the tournament, I shot 73. Pretty good round. Still putting good. I am now in 22nd. Second round was a bit different. WINDY and my ball striking was a bit suspect. "Lost Marsh" did not get its name because of wide fairways. I shot a whopping 82. Good thing I putted decent in that wind, who knows what I could have shot. Anyway, I missed the cut by one. Oh, and to top off my day, it turns out I came in 4th in the Par 3. Sure I tied for 2nd, but am listed and will be paid for 4th. Who knows!?!?!

Needless to say, I felt like I was having a good week and then WHAMO, disaster on Sat. That is golf. Live and learn... I still love it!!!!!!!