After a whirlwind success during last year\u2019s Hillcrest Invitational Pro-Am golf tournament, reigning champion Charlie Crockett returned to this year\u2019s tournament in hopes of another year at the top of the leaderboard.<\/p>\n
Though the competition remains as stiff as it was during last year\u2019s invitational, Crockett is mainly concerned with his own personal goings-on. The pressure of the previous year\u2019s success was practically non-existent as he practiced his stroke among his contemporaries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s any pressure at all,\u201d Crockett said. \u201cI think it\u2019s nice to come back to somewhere where you\u2019ve had some success already. It\u2019s really pleasant to see all the people I met last year and have all the fun we had last year again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Golf is a famously uncertain game, and Crockett was aware of the fleeting nature of a successful championship. Many pro players put an impressive amount of effort into the game and competitions like the annual Hillcrest Invitational are often a breeding ground for fierce competition. Crockett staves off these feelings of worry and distress with weekly practice rounds out on the golf course that provide a sturdy foundation for a three-day tournament like this one.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting used to the golf course, getting used to the green speeds and experiencing the weather and the feel of the course get you really prepared,\u201d Crockett said.<\/p>\n
Crockett can credit part of his success last year to the rigorous rounds of golf he played every single week. Consistent practice aside, Crockett\u2019s main priority this year is exercising patience.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main goal is patience,\u201d Crockett said. \u201cI think that if I can practice some patience and have some fun everything will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schaefer Returns To Area For Pro-Am<\/p>\n
Fordyce, Nebraska, resident and South Dakota State University alum Matthew Schaefer is back out on the golf course at Hillcrest Country Club to compete for a top spot on the leaderboard. Prior to his participation in this invitational, Schaefer most recently competed in the Hillcrest Ladies Pro-Am.<\/p>\n
Schaefer shot a 2-under 70 on the opening day, tying for 22nd through the first of four rounds.<\/p>\n
Despite the exhaustion of playing for hours on end, Schafer was just as excited as any other player to be back at Hillcrest for the annual romp.<\/p>\n
For most players, the routine after the tournament is often devoid of any golfing activity. For Schaefer, however, it involves more golf.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll hit balls, put and tune things up that I saw weren\u2019t so great throughout the round that day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As a member of Hillcrest, he admits that playing on familiar ground serves as an advantage.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a member here I play all the time,\u201d said Schaefer. \u201cFor a tournament like this, I don\u2019t really do anything different since I already know the course really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some may say that familiarity could hamper one\u2019s judgement, especially when it comes to a major golfing tournament. For Schafer this familiarity raises the stakes and brings out his competitive side.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of pressure,\u201d said Schaefer. \u201cThe course setup is harder, the greens are faster and the hole locations pretty difficult too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The added bonus of a monetary prize also adds to the mounting pressures the players face while out on the field. Even though it may sound like golf tournaments are a mentally challenging and physically taxing endeavor, Schaefer explained that the required mental fortitude is constantly built up through the different tournaments played throughout the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re playing for something, it always feels like there\u2019s more on the line,\u201d said Schaefer. \u201cI think that a different mentality is required especially when it comes to competing. It\u2019s not easy to get over but after a lot of games and practice the tensions just ease up.\u201d<\/p>\n
2023 Champ Returns To Hillcrest<\/p>\n
Zander Winston, the 2023 Hillcrest Invitational Pro-Am champion, made an appearance at this year\u2019s tournament with the hopes of making another appearance on the list of golfing champions.<\/p>\n
After competing at the annual Hillcrest Invitational for nearly half a decade, Winston has grown to appreciate competing in what has now become a familiar stomping ground. One thing that he asserts he enjoys about the tournament is the Pro-Am format.<\/p>\n
\u201cTypically, I\u2019m used to playing with all pros but this one\u2019s always different,\u201d said Winston. \u201cThis is my sixth or seventh year playing and there\u2019s really nothing to it when it comes to playing with ams, but I think that\u2019s what makes this tournament different and unique.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless of who he\u2019s playing against, Winston always has the same goal in mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, every time I tee it up I want to win,\u201d said Winston. \u201cAnything can happen out on the course, and things could change as the week progresses, but my main goal is to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
This spirited feeling of wanting to succeed pushes him through the day, even when he\u2019s having a particularly bad game of golfing.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaying motivated is really hard,\u201d said Winston. \u201cI try my best to be focused during the shot. In the time between shots, I try not to think about the shot. That way I\u2019m using way less energy out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though convoluted, his method of disassociating between shots has proved to be very valuable. Disassociation may sound extreme, but it usually comes in handy when the players are off the course and Winston is no exception. A healthy separation from one\u2019s hobbies and interests create a perfect environment for focus and determination when someone is actually on the course.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter I\u2019m done on the golf course I tend to go home and just stay away from golf,\u201d Winston said. \u201cEspecially during tournament weeks, I usually just relax and do nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although his tournament week regimen is lax and easy, Winston\u2019s practice sessions are vigorous and busy.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy usual routine is full of practice rounds and putting drills,\u201d said Winston.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt usually depends on the tournament schedule honestly. This week we played the Ladies Pro-Am and for me that counts towards my practice routine.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the first day of the tournament still going on, Winston promised exciting games in the next two days of games and a high finish at the end of the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just love competing,\u201d said Winston. \u201cI\u2019m pretty excited about tomorrow\u2019s games and I cannot wait to see how this tournament goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kluver Leads After First Round<\/p>\n
Luke Kluver of Norfolk, Nebraska, had an eagle and three birdies on the final four holes to shoot an opening round 62, leading the pro division after the first of four rounds.<\/p>\n
Jaxon Dowell of Edmond, Oklahoma, and George Kneiser of Dousman, Wisconsin are tied for second at 8-under 64. Four golfers sit in fourth at 6-under 66: Cody Banach of Houston, Texas; Blake Hathcoat of Fresno, Texas; Sean Mullan of Scottsdale, Arizona; and Drew Salyers of Howard, Ohio.<\/p>\n
In the amateur division, Marc Gubbels of Sioux Falls, formerly of Yankton, shot a 3-under 69 to lead after the first round. Reid Sawatzke of Yankton is one back at 70, with Yankton\u2019s Ryan Elwood third at 1-under 71. Three golfers are at even-par 72: Tyler Frick of Yankton, Casey Weverstad of Yankton and Steve Bowen of Muscatine, Iowa.<\/p>\n
Dan Megard of Yankton shot a 72 to lead the senior division. Steve Weiland of Yankton (75) is second, with Todd Bye of Yankton (76) third. Four golfers are at 79: Tracy King of Omaha, and Yankton\u2019s Scott Hiltunen, Denny Fokken and Dave Rothluebber.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After a whirlwind success during last year\u2019s Hillcrest Invitational Pro-Am golf tournament, reigning champion Charlie Crockett returned to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":795572,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[427,99],"class_list":["post-795571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=795571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795571\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/795572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=795571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=795571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=795571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}