July 19, 2004

SELLARSBURG, IN — Tom McCauley faded on the front nine of Covered Bridge and shot himself in the foot with a 9 on Hole No. 5. McCauley did get something going between Hole 11 and 14 when he shot even par through that stretch.

Tom shot a disappointing 48 on the front and only 10 points. "It was a difficult front nine for me," Tom said. "I did not play the way I would have liked, obviously. I didn't have the same feeling that I did for the first round of the 2004 Carl Spackler Open, where I really felt I could get to my home golf course (and) make some birdies." He did find only 43 strokes on the back nine and carded 19 points.  His 36-point effort on Saturday put him in 15th place for the On Tour Championship.  "I really turned things around on the back nine," says McCauley.  "I just wish things worked like they did when Slick came to town."

Instead, McCauley made just four pars and four double-bogeys. "I'm not going to beat myself up over today's round," Tom said. "It's not the finish I would have liked, but I have not played since Tanglewood Park."

I am looking forward to this fall and maybe a charge up the leaderboard.  If I can hit my worst round of the season and find 15th on the board, that means better things are coming.  Patience is a virtue.