DEER PARK MASTERS QUALIFIER
I missed this event last year due to being away with the family, so it was good to get back to a course I enjoy playing. It’s one of the few qualifiers for an order of merit event left on the calendar but always well supported.
I was playing with two younger professionals I’d never met, so getting to know them over the day was nice.
Very early on as we played the 1st hole, I got to explain to both of them and the caddies exactly what I did with LGMS and also the basis of my faith.
This is unusual for it to happen in this way, having the full audience, but I got the chance to say everything required and gave them all a different view of Christianity.
My main goal now is to convey that we are simply looking at the truth and what that means for us all. Although none of them confessed to having faith they now have something to ponder.
It was starting to get warmer as the morning went on and got a little stickier than I’d liked when I double bogeyed the 6th hole to leave me a couple of shots outside the most likely qualifying score.
My Dad gives me a sense of calm when he is caddying and I used this to simply keep going, hoping for an opportunity to balance the score.
It’s amazing how all you need is a good run of pars to steady things and I was patient without trying to force anything.
Then something happened that was surprising but I took it my stride. At the 12th hole, a par 5, I holed my 70-yard 3rd shot.
From nowhere I was back on the mark and felt a huge confidence boost.
It reminded me that sometimes when we least expect it things can change in an instant. I’ve also found that God may wait till an appointed time to do such things in life that can change everything and that can give us real hope.
My playing partners had played well for most of the round and were comfortably in with a couple of shots to spare.
I did however drop a shot on 17 which did not help, but made a good par at the last to qualify on the mark. I knew that’s what I needed and was pleased I toughed it out for the finish.
One other thing that did come up over the day was the word “Religion”.
I was keen to emphasize that I don’t particularly like the word as It can be very misleading, and if I were asked, I would say I am not religious but simply accepting the truth from our Lord and Creator.
I’m hopeful that these views make others think a little differently and looking forward to coming back to Deer Park in August.
“A lifting of the heart to God, no matter the situation, can change everything in a single moment.” – Streams in the Desert
We keep going,
Vincent Brown PGA Professional, LGMS Ambassador to the Tartan Tour