Two 2nd's in a row!!

Hey folks.

I'm excited to announce my new website is up and running!!

Life has been rather busy since my last post; I'm back in Atlanta Ga, and playing every week.
My focus this year is simple: get better!! I'm spending my time on the Peach State Tour in Georgia and it's been a nice start. I've had two 2nd's in a row with some solid rounds under the belt and am steadily climbing the money list.
I'll also be playing a few Hooters Tour events along with a few Monday qualifiers for Nationwide Tour events all leading into PGA Tour school in September.

There are no funny stories yet but I did post my lowest round as a professional on Monday in Newnan with a 64.

I'll be playing in Monroe Ga, next week on the Peach State Tour.

Look out for my post next week after the event and have a great 4th of July weekend with your family and friends.

God Bless.

Christian

Getting there!

Hi all.


What a week its been! I'm home after a long three weeks on the road and am glad to have had allot of positive come from my travels in East London and Johannesburg. I managed to finish in a tie for 30th at -6 in the Joburg Open (the final European Tour event for January in SA) and can comfortably say that I have once again proved to myself that I really do belong on tour and can handle myself at that level.

The nerves were flying and I must admit that I was a little too up and down emotionally but with that I think I'm getting closer to being able to manage my nerves during these long competitive weeks!! Its has been especially long for me because I've had to Monday qualify into every event thus far but no complaints because even Ernie said that he had to do it and it's all part of paying your dues.....

There wasn't a funny story that stood out but allot of positive things did come out of the week....

A quick story was that through 27 holes I was only three shots off the lead and noticed this while walking to the tenth tee, during the next five holes I managed to think about it and drop four silly silly shots before I kicked myself mentally and birdied two of the last four to get the ship moving in the right direction... The brain is so powerful that I'm extremely upset looking back on the situation and having dropped all those shots but at the same time it's extremely reassuring to know I stepped my mental game up and birdie coming in; making it comfortable inside the cut line.

I have the next two and a half weeks off, in which I will be celebrating a 27th birthday on the 31st of January!!! along with that it's just working out and practicing to get ready for the next three summer Sunshine Tour events in February.
Please keep on following the action at http://www.sunshinetour.com/

I'll be blogging again before the Di Data being played in Fancourt early next month.

Thanks again for all the support and God Bless!


Christian

Joburg Open

Hi,

Once again it was good news- I qualified for the Joburg Open yesterday with a 68!
Had a early practice round this morning on the East course and was satisfied with what I saw.

I look forward to a good week and am excited about my game just the way it is!!!

I'll blog again after the event- just heard I'm off at 6:30 am tomorrow on the East course.
Follow the action at www.europeantour.com or www.sunshinetour.com

God Bless!

Christian

Africa Open

Hi all.

I must start by apologizing for the delay in my blog- I have since my last blog enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with my family and had a working "holiday" up the east coast of SA with my friend Mirko and the Ker Fox family. Played allot of golf in the two weeks off between the SA open and the Africa Open.
I had to qualify for the Africa Open in Fish River Sun and finished in a t3rd at even par. In our practice rounds, making birdies was easy on the defenseless course- I have played the course as a junior before and experience told me that she might appear easy at first but with a little wind the course could become a raging monster. The day of the qualifier was something else, I haven't played in wind like that in a long while and knew that pars were winners.... 16 pars, a bogey and a birdie later, I was through!!!

Having qualified for my second European Tour event in a row the nerves where allot less and I must admit that I started to believe that I do belong on this stage! I hit the ball extremely well but unfortunately didn't have all the cylinders working on the greens and missed the cut by two.

As always, something funny has to happen during such a week- I had four different caddies in four days!?!?! I can only feel for them because twice the weather was raining and overcast and with such weather the tour bag (big bag the caddie has to carry in order to get paid) does collect a few extra items which makes it too heavy for me to carry... so that was that...

I had my dad travel with me for the week and it was nice having him around for company but I think he has a new appreciation for what we do and the time and effort it takes... was a blessing to have him around!!!

It's the Joburg Open this week and unfortunately I have to qualify but feel really good about my game and am excited about the challenge of beating 135 golfers to get in!

I'll blog again by the end of the week to let y'all know how things progressed. (www.europeantour.com or www.sunshinetour.com)

Take care,

God Bless.

Christian

Good Christmas news all round!

Hi,



As the 2009 season is rapidly coming to and end with all the festivities of family and friends around we can all look back and reflect on a pretty good year! With 2010 on our doorstep we can set those lofty goals, down put them on paper and hope we achieve a few of the milestones.


I just received some good news from my dear friend Edward Toledano in Atlanta that I will still be a member at Druid Hills Golf Club next year! I took some pictures before I left a few weeks ago and will have them added to this blog. Feel free to visit their website at DHGC.org to have a better idea why I'm so thrilled about this!!!
Along with that good news there will also be 24 people at our annual Christmas party- this I think might be a record and I'm looking forward to the festive day.

I'm also starting out the year on the Sunshine Tour in category 13. # 62 therefore allot of goals will be reached this year as I work my way into a better category.

Other then that, please be safe on the roads during this busy period and enjoy your time with your family!
I'll blog again before the Africa Open!

God Bless

Christian

A short lived week.

Hi all.

Sadly this was not the best week for team Ries.
After a shaky start on day one things got out of hand yesterday with some
pretty errant tee shots on a course that requires accuracy all over.

There where flashes of brilliance but unfortunately they where only flashes...

It was a fun week and starting out on the first tee I couldn't really feel my legs
with a hundred or so people in the grand stands cheering me on. It was a valuable experience and one that I'm thankful for- I'm now 0-2 for cuts made in the SA Open but I'm confident the way my game has been progressing that the cuts will start coming more naturally out here!

There was one funny incident that happened in my group on day two: my playing partner Eugene, was attempting to go for the par five 3rd hole in two, after striking ball out of the sweet spot it proceeded to hit a huge and unlucky bird mid flight! I couldn't help but laugh!
It was awesome to have my family and friends in the crowd and my old grandmother who still thinks that golf isn't a real job...

My next event is the second week of January in East London. Its called the Africa Open (European Tour event), it will mark the start of our 2010 season. I will post my next blog then.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed new year!

God Bless.

Christian

South African Open

Hi all.

Welcome to my first blog!! Thanks for taking the time to follow me.

I successfully qualified for the South African Open in Paarl yesterday- European Tour event. I shot a bogey free 65 and won the qualifier by two shots! It was a all in all good day and can't decide who was happier that I made the thirty five footer on the last for eagle three to seal the deal- myself, dad or caddie?!!!

I played a practice round at the magnificent Pearl Valley and must say that I'm looking forward to teeing it up this week, the course can be a powerful monster if the wind picks up and will be requiring some accuracy all over. Luckily I'm hitting it straight and playing well, so I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge!

It was great seeing the big names of Thomas Bjorn and Ingancio Garrido practicing alongside me yesterday- I feel like I was born to be here!!!

I took some pictures of the course and the grandstands and will have them up here for you all to see. You can follow me live at Sunshinetour.com or Europeantour.com
I'm off at 8:30am tomorrow.

I'll blog again soon.

Cheers