Asain Tour School update

Hi all.

Thanks again for coming in and reading my blog!
I've been playing in Asia for the past three weeks, more specifically in a town called Hau Hin, situated in Thailand.
I decided to give the Asian Tour school a go since it's winter here in the States and more importantly because my game is at it's best its been!

Quick review of what it's all about: There are two stages and after 600 golfers from all around the world compete in a eliminations process the final 40 golfers receive Asian Tour cards for the 2012 golfing season.
I was assigned to a course called Imperial Lake View and finished in a tie for 18th after the first stage with the top 28 advancing. It was a good week looking back and I had to fight pretty hard to come back from a major setback in the first round to play some good consistent golf and in the end, qualify for final stage quite comfortably.

The final stage was the following week, there were 240 golfers competing for 40 cards and played at Springfield Golf Club which is a tricky Jack Nicklaus design. The fact that the final stage was the following week left little room for any rest but luckily I'm in a great shape thanks to Chris Kendrick from Diverge Fitness Gym and was able to pace myself nicely throughout the two grueling week process.

I was able to get off to a good start the first day shooting a pretty comfortable 68 (-4) which put me in the top 10 after the first day. I was happy with this start because I was scheduled to play in the afternoon on the first day and to say we had windy conditions was an understatement. It's always nice to get off to a good start, since I was fighting from the back of the field during the first stage so giving myself the opportunity to build on a solid foundation was nice.

The second day was a early start and I got off to a quick start, made a couple birdies through the first four holes and was cruising at -6, controlling the golf ball and making good decisions.
It was on the fifth hole that I had a unlucky bounce and found my ball nestled in a tiny shrub on the right of the fairway- I took my punishment and chipped it out... from then onwards my wrist which got injured after the club got stuck in the shrub was unable to control the club and I proceeded to have a roller coaster round making a 12 foot putt on the seventeenth and a 10 foot slider on eighteenth to make the cut.

The next two rounds were preceded with physio-therapy, pain killers etc. Sadly I was not able to control my golf ball for the last two days and saw my hopes of earning a Asian Tour card slip.
Why did it happen? No idea.
There are times that you wish these unfortunate circumstance would rather happen during a regular season instead of a pretty important q school.

I did learn that it was not meant to be my time to earn an Asian Tour card for the 2012 season. Gods Will!

The most important thing that I learned from this trip was that for a week and a half I competed with some pretty good golfers and was close to the lead and my game held up! I'm good enough to play with anyone!

My time will come and when it does I'll be able to draw on all my experiences that I've been blessed with and play my best!

Last thing. Don't loose your passport when you are traveling abroad- it's never a good idea.

I'll be updating my blog at the end of next week to let you know my finalized plans and schedule for the 2012 season.

Thanks for all your support and God Bless.

Christian

Christmas update

Hi all.

It's been a month since I've updated my blog.

I unfortunately didn't advance through to final stage of PGA Tour Q school in late November, although I felt like I played well I wasn't able to find any momentum during the second stage and deliver the goods.. be-it-as-it-may. I'm excited about 2012!

Where to next?

Asian Tour school in the second week of January.

I feel like my game has developed enough that I can actually go and compete out in Asia, there is ample opportunity to play some good events and find success as we get on tour and climb that ladder!!

I'll be leaving on the 4th of January and competing in Thailand- There are two stages as apposed to the three that you find here in the States, there's obviously tough competition but I feel like my game has grown in consistency over the last year and I should be more than ready to compete at that level.

Anyways.. I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas with all your family and friends! I'm planning on spending some quality time with some good friends and I'm confident that it will be bringing ample laughs to the table:)

I'll be sure to update you all more frequently throughout my travels as I've got a feeling that woman caddies and cheap taxis will bring about a few laughs.

Enjoy the holidays!

God Bless.

Christian

Through First Stage and on we go!

Hey all.

I write with some great news- I successfully qualified through the first stage of PGA tour Q School.

Two more to go!!

I shot 3 under for the week and finished in a tie for eighth, with the top eighteen and ties advancing through to the second stage.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the process of q school, there are three stages and golfers are eliminated at each stage until you reach the final stage of 165 golfers. After the six competitive rounds the top 25 gain their playing privileges on the PGA Tour for the 2012 season and the remaining 50 gain full privileges on the Nationwide Tour for the 2012 season.

In a nut shell: "It's the most nerve wracking three weeks of a golfers life."

Now the beauty of me is that I'm playing well at the moment and feel extremely confident in my ability. I'm also taking the second stage on with an attitude of what ever happens happens.

I read yesterday in my bible study that when you realize that God loves you for who you are and your family loves you for who you are then it doesn't matter what you shoot, cause their love is unconditional. What a revelation.

Thanks again for all the support from all around the world!

I'll be playing a Peach State Tour event the week before 2Nd stage in Valrico Fl as a tune up- anything to keep my game sharp.

I'll keep you guys posted.

God Bless.

Christian Ries

PGA Tour Q School 1st stage.

Hi all.

It's been a while since I last blogged.

Tomorrow is just another day in my mind but to those of you who follow golf enthusiastically it is also the first day of the PGA Tour Q school.
My game has been solid leading into this event and I'm feeling positive about my game and mental state.

The last few months has seem a drastic change in my game for the better and its been great to see some of the hard work pay off.

This is a rather short post but I'll be writing a full report on Sunday after the tournament.

Thanks for all your support and prayers.

God Bless.

Christian

Happy 4th!

Hi all.

It's been a while since I've last posted- life as I know it has been pretty busy with golf, golf and some more golf.
There are no complaints and I'm happy to report that my game is getting better and that my scoring has come down nicely over the past few months.

I've been playing on the Peach State Tour and have started seeing some solid rounds being put together. My last two outings have been 12th(-4) and 17th(-6).
I'll be playing this tour all the way to Q school and will also be adding some Nationwide Monday qualifiers to the mix once the tour returns a bit closer to the South East.
My coach Mark Immelman and I have been putting in a lot of work and my ball striking is getting better and I'm also feeling more comfortable over the ball. The other addition that I've added to the "Ries" team is Dr. Morris Pickens out of Sea Island Ga. He is a sports psychologist that is currently working with several PGA Tour players and Majoy champs. I spent Saturday afternoon working with him and am excited to report that there is ample room for growth in that department and that only means that there is room for lower scores and better golf!! Exciting stuff!

I've got this week and the 4th off and then I'm back for four weeks in a row. I'll be keeping you all posted on my results as they happen.

Have a fantastic 4th of July and be safe while you celebrate the independence of one great country!

Thanks again for all the support.

God Bless.

Christian Ries

Masters Champ!

What a Sunday finish to this years MASTERS!!!

I don't know about y'all but with the final group standing on the 12th tee, it was still anybodies tournament to win or loose. What an exciting finish!
We had a little bit of everything mixed in the bowl for the final nine.... two past Masters Champs in Cabrera and Woods, US Open Champ Ogilvy making five straight birdies to come from nowhere, add the jinxed Luke Donald striking the pin on 18 twice, Bo van Pelts two eagles on 13 and 15... wow!
But it has to be said that this was all outdone by the majestic ball striking and putting of a very under the radar Charl Schwartzel! He showed us that he is mature beyond his years and that he could control his nerves right to the end, fitting that all so mighty-full green jacket on with ease:)
I just can't believe that two of my team mates that I won the World Junior Team Champs with are now Major Champions!! That is truly a remarkable feat.

I don't think any 'normal' golfer outside the professional realms can grasp how difficult it really is to win out there... Rory had it in the bag but as we know, there is more to winning Major Championships that just hitting the golf ball. You need to be able to manage your game, emotions, focus, mind and have a few lucky breaks.
That's the exact recipe that Charl used and now he's going to bed wearing his Green Jacket!!

I've got allot of work ahead of me if I want to challenge the likes of Oosthuizen and Schwartzel.. but as we all know, everyone runs their own race and God has timing like none other! So I'll keep on working, focusing and getting better and with a bit of luck get my mind and game to the level where I can contend week in and week out.

I'm leaving South Africa for good come April 24th. I'll be competing on the Peach State Tour in Georgia and am planning on doing a few Monday qualifiers on the Nationwide Tour. The goal is to get my game ready so that I can be firing on all cylinders come October and the PGA Tour Q school.
South Africa has been great and I feel like my game has got allot better but I know that I am a lot more comfortable on the fairways in America and I'll be narrowing my focus on one geographical area:)

I'll also be blogging more often so keep your eyes on this space because I know 2011 is the year for continued hard work and great golf!

God Bless!

Christian

Comeback!

Good day on a Masters Sunday!

What a Sunday this is shaping up to be... as long as we don't see a horrific downfall by our leader, Mcllroy should be our newest Major Champion and a well deserved one!! He is a rare and amazing talent with a head of maturity beyond his years. 2011 has seen some amazing golf thus far and it seems to be the "young guns" that are coming through in leaps and bounds- I'm happy to switch on the sports channel and see the names of Kirk, Woodland, Simpson and Vegas doing well! I played allot of amateur and professional golf with these guys and know they have the talent to keep doing well and stay out there. Having mentioned that I must mention that it has also made me even more dedicated to my own personal goals of being on the PGA TOUR.
It has been a slow start for me to the 2011 season here on the Sunshine Tour, my game has been in somewhat of a dismal form with not much being put together at once.. I did start to see some flashes of greatness at the Telkom PGA as my name appeared on the leader board for a day or so... but the weekend and the constant missed shots took its toll and I slipped a little down that leader board ending at -7.
Hindsight is always the best educator and looking back I should have made my comeback after my shoulder surgery a good few months later instead of the 18weeks that I gave it to heal...
I'm only now (6months later) starting to get my feel back and my distance... add those two together and my good short game and I'm excited for a good season ahead in America.

I wanted to give you all a quick update and I'll post again after tonight's Sunday Masters Golf with some comments and a full schedule up of my own golf for the next few months.

Take care and don't forget the popcorn!!!

God Bless.

Christian