08.11.2009 | Lucas Bjerregaard

This Spirit 2009 International Wraps Up

Posted by my caddie Taylor McClain

The 2009 Spirit International is in the books. The Americans were able to hold on against a tremendously strong charge from the Koreans. My Danes held on to finish 3rd and win the bronze medal. Saturday was the Lucas Bjerregaard show. Lucas carded 6 birdies to boost his total to 17 for the tournament. Lucas won silver in the Men's Individual. I have to tell you, 17 birdies on this course over 4 days is phenomenal. The course is full of 580 yard par 5s, 470 yard par 4s and 210 yard par 3s. The format, best ball team and total birdies and eagles for individual lends itself to very aggressive play, but what made Lucas' tournament so remarkable was that he only put a few bogies on top of all of his birdies. To essentially shoot 13 under on this course is amazing.



Coming into the final few holes was exciting. We needed to par in from 17 to finish 3rd. The 17th is a 605 yard par 5 dog leg left with water all down the left side. We found out that the girls had bogied the extremely tough 18th hole in front of us so we knew we needed to convert birdie on 17. Andreas did just that. Hoe holed a tricky little 6 footer to put us 1 clear of Taipei for 3rd. As mentioned, the 18th is a real monster of a finishing hole. It is a 465 yard par 4, dog leg left along the shore of Lake Livingston. Water protects the entire left side and front of the green. Saturday's final day pin placement assured that any approach shot below the hole would roll back into the water and a drop back behind the lake. Andreas hit a terrific drive but left his approach in the bunker. Lucas was in the left rough about 159 yards from the pin. I was thinking 9, but Lucas felt sure he could get a pitching wedge there. Yes, you heard that right, a 159 pitching wedge that if left below the hole would roll back into the water. On top of that, we were the last group on the golf course and all the other teams and spectators were watching. Lucas absolutely nuked the wedge and left it about 30 feet PAST the hole. To add that up for you, that was basically a 170 yard pitching wedge. The bad thing was that we were left with a 30 foot downhill putt that if it leaked past the hole would, yet again, roll into the lake. Needing a two putt, Lucas deftly and ever so gently rolled the putt pin high about 3 feet right of the cup. The last shot of the 2009 Spirit was Lucas sinking the tough little knee knocker to secure 3rd place for Denmark.



Surprisingly, this was one of the best weeks of golf I have ever experienced and I didn't hit a single golf ball. Granted, by day two I was getting the shakes out there watching Lucas and Andreas play, but I definitely learned a lot about my own game watching these two fantastic players work their way around the course. Aurora and I are playing a pro/pro best ball up there in a few weeks and to say this week helped would be a vast understatement. But so much more than the golf, I made new friends that I will never forget. The Spirit helped re-invigorate me and remind me of the reasons that I love this game. Thank you Lucas and Andreas and the other international players who played with a passion and zest that is contagious. Thank you to the volunteers and employees at Camp Olympia and the staff at Whispering Pines who dedicated their time and energy to a cause that is above themselves. And to Corby Robertson, the spirit behind The Spirit, thank you, sir for giving back so much. You have created something special and I already look forward to the 2011 Spirit.