Thursday 19th August 2010

Hello everyone and welcome back to my journal page.

It has been a few weeks since I posted on my blog because I've literally had back to back tournaments on the Futures Tour and it has been soooooooo hectic. I hope that you have been able to follow my progress via the Futures Tour website in the meantime. At present I am back home in Bradenton as my Mum and little brother have come out here to visit me - I've been working out and training at the IMG Academy in preparation for my final tournament the Price Chopper Tour Championship which will be held in Albany, New York.

During this last week I have had an opportunity to discuss my future plans with Coach Gary and I will be posting these following the final tournament in Albany. Do I stay and play the Futures Tour in 2011 or do I play the European Tour? That is the question!

Thanks for following x Chill x

Thursday 24th June 2010

BY MIKE HUTTON MHUTTON@POST-TRIB.COM, BLOGS.POST-TRIB.COM/HUTTON

I could imagine being as good as Rachel Connor or Leanne Bowditch or Carling Coffing.

Sure, it's a dream. But it's possible for me to get there. If I quit my job, left my wife and family and devoted myself full time to golf for the next couple of years, maybe I could do it.

This is what makes playing with Futures players so real, and even fun.

I can't ever imagine being Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els. They play a different game in a different stratosphere -- one that I can only marvel at and try to understand in a wistful way.

The difference for me between the men and women professional golfers is about length. I have an inferiority complex about my lack of it. Mickelson averages around 300 yards per drive. Connor hits it 260.

I'm obsessed with distance. I can drive the ball 250 yards if I hit it in the center of my Ping G5 driver with every moving part in harmonious rhythm. This is not long by today's standards -- even in my normal weekend game.

On No. 12 at Lost Marsh, a 475-yard par 5, I had 200 left after absolutely crushing a drive. It was a wind-aided blow. Connor, with a swing that was molded in England at the IMG Golf Academy (think David Leadbetter and think Woods' marketing agency), makes hitting it farther than me look so effortless, so easy, that it makes me queasy to think about it. Her ball soars through the air like a bird drifting gracefully forward to its next destination. Me? I'm tripping all over myself to stay upright after I have hurled the club through the ball.

The difference between Connor and myself, aside from the 10 yards off the tee, is everything that comes after the tee shot. She knocks her baby hybrid on the top shelf of the elevated green for a chance at eagle. I block a 5-wood left, chunk a chip and then three-putt for bogey.

I can say this, though. I'm almost, but not quite, as long as her. She is a club, maybe two longer than me. For some strange reason, this makes me feel good. I can definitely relate to that.

One time, when the group in front of us is dawdling a bit, Bowditch whistles a drive that lands just close enough for them to notice. "Good, get on their butt," Coffing said.

I like this, too. Makes me feel like I'm playing on my course with guys I know, where slow play is a cardinal sin.

The other big difference between Connor and me is that she shot a course-record 61 last week in Decatur, Ill. I've shot 61 plenty of times -- over nine holes. Connor slid backward in the final three rounds, failing to make birdie for the next 47 holes before settling for an 18th-place finish and a check for $1,118. The setup for her turned out to be mundane. She ranks 86th on the money list.

"It was boring," she said. "Fairways and greens and then try to make a putt."

Sounds like a confidence booster to me. She is only 19, three years removed from graduating from high school in England and nine serious years into her chosen profession. When I was 19, I was just hoping to get out of bed in time to make my 8 a.m. Western Civilization class.

Connor moved over here from Manchester, England, to give it a go. Her brother and her father are both teaching professionals back in the U.K. She is trying to break that mold by becoming a playing professional on the LPGA Tour.

Both her and Bowditch qualified for the Futures Tour in the November qualifying school.

Neither has seen Lost Marsh, meaning they spend plenty of time marking yardages and surveying angles to the green and checking the breaks on various putts. Practice gets more serious each successive day. This is just a warm-up for them for what will be a long week.

On the last hole, a brutal 425-yard par 4 into the wind, Connor smokes a drive that gives her 180 yards in. If she's leading by a shot on Sunday, it's a money drive. I catch one thin and have more than 200 in. No chance for me to get to the green with my 3-wood, which just balloons when I try to hit it hard. I contemplate a driver off the deck but I decide against it. I pull my shot 30 yards right of the green and about 60 yards short. Connor is on the front after a perfect hybrid. She makes par easily if this were a real round.

The back nine has been a complete struggle for me after pulling off some reasonably good shots on the front nine. Drives are going left and right. I can't get the speed of the greens down. I misclub myself several times in the blustery wind.

They don't succumb to the heat and the wind and the mental fatigue that just make me want to go home and curl up in bed.

This is where I lose -- and they win -- every time.

Posted Monday 21st June 2010 - On my way to Chicago en route to Indiana

Following a great first round of nine under par 61 in the Tate & Lyle Player's Championship was always going to be difficult! I had 10 birdies in that opening round but round 2, 3 and 4 were totally different when I actually had a drought of 45 holes without a birdie which was very frustrating! The difference was that my putts just didn't want to drop.

Setting a record 61 which matched Lorena Ochoa's record breaking round on this same course a few years ago gave me a real boost and the media attention was incredible.

I finished the tournament at 4 under par and with a tie for 18th position which was again very frustrating! Nevertheless I have to take some huge positives from this tournament - I now share a record with Lorena Ochoa which is awesome, I know that I can shoot very low which is great and I know now that I just have to keep reaching up to that next level and I know that I have it in me to do this!

Thanks to everyone back at home for the messages of congratulations on my 61 it's good to know that you are all watching my progress with interest!

I've posted this interview that was taken after my first round 61 - you know it is so difficult to hang onto my Manchester accent over here! Click on the video to play it. If you don't have the facility to play directly from here Click Here to go to the link.

My next event is the City of Hammond Classic from June 25 - 27, 2010

Posted Saturday 18th June 2010 - Direct from the Duramed Futures Tour website

Connor Blisters Course With Opening 61 To Take Lead at Tate & Lyle

Friday 17th June 2010

DECATUR, Ill., June 17, 2010 - One day after a flash flood soaked Hickory Point Golf Club, a storm of a different sort tore through the course for a 9-under-par opening round of 61 at the $125,000 Tate & Lyle Players Championship.

That storm was rookie Rachel Connor, who recorded nine-hole scores of 29-32 to tie the tournament's nine-hole record of 29, set by former LPGA superstar Lorena Ochoa (in 2002) and retired LPGA and Duramed FUTURES Tour veteran Marilyn Lovander (in 1990). The nine-hole records all were recorded when the course was played as a par 70, due to flooding.

Connor's 18-hole total also shattered the previous record of 7-under 65, shared by four players, including current LPGA Tour members Lindsey Wright (2004) and Jean Reynolds (2009).

"I really wanted to break 60," said Connor, 19, better known as "Chill" to her friends and family. "If my family is still awake [back home in England], they're going to think the Tour's real-time scoring is wrong when they look at my score."

But Connor's score was anything but wrong. The lively Manchester native posted 10 birdies, one bogey, hit 15 greens and needed only 24 putts for her career-low round today. Her previous low round was 67, which left the David Leadbetter Academy student nearly giddy with excitement.

"I've been having a tough time with my game, missing the cut in the last two tournaments, so my coach told me to go for everything," she said. "That's what I did today. I wanted to see what I could do if I went for every pin."

Interviews after Day 1 for TV and radio

Posted Sunday 16th May

As I write I am on my way back to America to Kentucky to play in the Backpacks for Kids charity event that is being held at Valhalla Golf Club (Ryder Cup venue) tomorrow. By the time I reach Kentucky I will have made three different flights, stayed in one, one star hotel in New York and then rather strangely be picked up in Kentucky by a limousine!

After this event I will fly back to Bradenton and the IMG Academy to prepare for the Ladies US Open.

Here I am pictured with my brother Scott at 5.00am last Friday. I'm really proud to say that my brother completed the 72 Hole Challenge for Link4Pink and in the process raised upwards of £650. He was exhausted, slightly tipsy but very happy! Well done Scott!

Posted Monday 2nd May

On my way home!

Texas Hill Country Classic
San Antonio, Texas

What a week! As I write I am just beginning my journey home from San Antonio Texas to Manchester UK. I'm heading back home for a week or so to catch up with my family and friends back home!

I played this week on the beautiful course at Texas Hill Country Club this really was a stunning location but unfortunately I was ravaged by mosquito bites during my practice round. The consequence was that I started to feel unwell during the event and I missed the cut by a shot. No excuses - this sort of thing can happen on Tour so it's onwards and upwards to my next tournament. A huge thank you to my host family this week having a doctor in the house made all the difference!

My next event will be back in the UK when I will be playing with my brother Scott in the 72 Hole Challenge in aid of Link 4 Pink. This is a charity which is raising funds towards a new extension to the fantastic facilities that are at Christies Hospital in South Manchester. This will be located in Oldham Hospital which incidentally is the hospital where I was born.

The event will be held at Crompton & Royton Golf Club on Friday 14th May and I will be teeing off at approximately 5.30am. It would be great to see some of my old friends, so if you're free come and see us at the turn.

If you would like to sponsor Scott for this event you can click here to email me and I will pass the details on to Scott.

I thought that you might like to see my funky new Titleist wedges engraved with my nickname - how cool are these babies?

I owe a big Thank You to Ann Cain of Titleist for sorting these out for me!

1 Sophie Jang (Seoul, South Korea) 70-68-71 - 209

T2 Pornanong Phatlum (Chaiyaphum, Thailand) 68-73-69 - 210
Angela Oh (Maple Shade, N.J.) 69-70-71 - 210

T4 Nontaya Srisawang (Chiang Mai, Thailand) 73-70-68 - 211
Sarah-Jane Smith (Queensland, Australia) 72-71-68 - 211
Miriam Nagl (Berlin, Germany) 72-69-70 - 211
Mo Martin (Altadena, Calif.) 68-69-74 - 211
Kitty Hwang (Guayaquil, Ecuador) 70-67-74 - 211

T9 Alison Walshe (Westford, Mass.) 73-71-68 - 212
Cindy LaCrosse (Tampa, Fla.) 72-72-68 - 212
Ashley Prange (Noblesville, Ind.) 70-73-69 - 212
Liz Janangelo (West Hartford, Conn.) 69-72-71 - 212
Christine Song (Fullerton, Calif.) 70-71-71 - 212
Ryann O'Toole (San Clemente, Calif.) 71-70-71 - 212

T15 Marlowe Boukis (Lutherville, Md.) 72-74-67 - 213
Chelsea Curtis (New Seabury, Mass.) 71-72-70 - 213
Briana Vega (Andover, Mass.) 68-74-71 - 213
Rachel Connor (Manchester, England) 73-69-71 - 213
Esther Choe (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 72-69-72 - 213
Hannah Yun (Bradenton, Fla.) 72-69-72 - 213

Posted Monday 26th April

Historic Brownsville Open
Rancho Viejo, Texas

The week began last Monday with a 20 hour journey from Tampa Airport to San Antonio Texas which included three separate internal flights. By the time I reached Texas with my travelling partner Leanne Bowditch (from Australia) we were exhausted but there was no time to think about tiredness as our first practice round was due on Tuesday.

My first round was a fairly steady 2 over par 73 which put me in contention to qualify out of the field of 144 players but not to challenge. Nevertheless, I was scoring plenty of birdies so I knew that if I could just minimise the number of bogies that I was having I would score much better.

In the second round I managed to do just that, and finished with a neat 2 under par to go into the final round at even par and with a tie for 14th place.

Once again my final round was a bit of a battle but I was determined not to run out of steam. Here I am pictured with the final round scoreboard and as you can see I finished on level par following a final round of 71 which gave me a tie for 15th place.

It felt great to be in contention this week and I'm really pleased that I am starting to show the sort of form that took me to the top of the amateur game back in the UK. The standard of golf over here is very high and everyone on the Futures Tour is capable of shooting very low scores but I feel as though I am learning something new every tournament that passes by.

By the way, I now have a clothing contract with a company called Tail Activewear who specialise in golf and tennis wear, it's a fantastic range of clothing that suits my style and personality to a tee! Take a look at their website by clicking on their link below.

My next event is April 30 - May 2 The Texas Hill Country Classic in
San Antonio, Texas.

Finally ..... I just want to say a big thank you to my host family this week THE COSTA FAMILY you made my first trip to Texas very special! THANK YOU xxx

Posted Monday 12th April

Daytona Beach Invitational
LPGA International, Daytona Beach, Fla.

I had a great week at the Daytona Beach Invitational. As a member of the Duramed Futures Tour Player Promo Team I have decided to commit myself to everything that the Tour asks me to do, so that may mean, one week giving coaching sessions to young golfers and the next taking part in a photo shoot to promote the Tour. No two weeks will be the same, it gives me the oppotunity to get to know more of the tour players and I have a chance to give something back to the game and the Tour too.

When I arrived in Daytona I was informed that I had been chosen along with a few other players to attend the Daytona Cubs Baseball Game but not only that, I was going to be making the first pitch of the game! Here I am at the game warming up - you will be pleased to hear that my aim was on target!

I also took part in a photo shoot which was great fun - I've posted a couple of the images below for you to see.

My first round of 2 over par 74 left me some work to do to make the cut but my second round of 2 under par 70, which included an eagle on the last hole secured my place to play on the final day.

I was beginning to feel that my game was coming into shape but my final round didn't quite go to plan and I posted a miserable 78 to finish the tournament at 6 over par.

Nevertheless, I do feel that my game is back on track - my putting was much better this week. Last night I drove back home to Bradenton and today I will be heading back to the IMG Academy and my coaches Gary and Larry to prepare for my next two events in Texas.

April 23 - 25 Historic Brownsville Open
Rancho Viejo, Texas

April 30 - May 2 Texas Hill Country Classic
San Antonio, Texas

On May 3rd I will then be flying back to the UK to spend a little time with my family and friends - I hope to catch up with everyone who follows my progress during that time. Whilst I'm at home I will be playing in the 72 Hole Charity Challenge on May 14th at Crompton & Royton Golf Club with my brother Scott in aid of Dr Kershaw's Hospice, Link 4 Pink and the Skin Deep Foundation - so watch this space for more information.

Posted Monday 29th March

The Riviera Nayarit Challenge Mexico

When I arrived in Mexico the weather was fantastic and forecast to be good throughout the week, so I was looking forward to getting out on the course and playing some great golf. Unfortunately things didn't quite go to plan.

During my first round once again my putting stroke escaped me and I carded 38 putts to bring in a poor opening round of 81. My second round was only one shot better and so I missed the cut.

My long game has been out of this world so it's really frustrating to be struggling with my putting, nevertheless, I'll be back at the IMG Academy on Tuesday and I know that one of the coaches there will be able to help put me back on track and I will come out fighting and ready for the next event.

April 9 - 11 The Daytona Beach Invitational
Daytona Beach, Fla.

Happy Easter to everyone back at home!

Chill

Posted Monday 22nd March

As I write, I am sat in the lounge at Tampa Airport awaiting my flight to Atlanta - it's 3.24 am!

I'm flying to Atlanta where I will pick up my connecting flight to Mexico and my next event on the Duramed Futures Tour, The Riviera Nayarit Challenge which runs from March 26 - 28
This event will be held at The Riviera Nayarit Country Club, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico.

Less than 24 hours ago I was playing at the rain drenched Lake Region Golf Club in Winter Haven trying to complete my final round and make some impression on the leaderboard in my first Duramed event The Florida's Natural Charity Classic.

This was a three day, 54 hole event. The first day was an absolute nightmare, I struck the ball well from tee to green but then I just couldn't make a putt - even missing 2 three footers for par! I came off the golf course with a dismal five over par 77 and went straight to the putting green to see if I could sort my putting stroke out. I finished Day 1 in position 97 on the scoreboard and things were not looking too good.

On Day 2 once again my long game was fantastic, I should have scored much better but for, you got it, my putting! Nevertheless, my score was a little better with a one over par 73 and I started to feel that just maybe I could scrape into the 36 hole cut. Four nail biting hours later when the last few players arrived in off the course, I finally learned that I had JUST made the cut at 69th place out of a possible 70 qualifying places - that was tight! Phew!

Day 3 brought with it absolutely horrendous weather conditions and after some play on the golf course in the morning the Futures Tour officials finally made the decision to abandon play and award placings based on the 36 holes already played.

My first experience of playing on the Duramed Futures Tour has been very positive. No I didn't score as well as I wanted to, my short game let me down - probably brought on by a few unharnessed nerves. Nevertheless, I played some really solid golf and I did make the cut which is always a good sign.

Now it's onwards and upwards to Mexico!

I would like to say a really big Thank You to Karen & Joe who took me into their home in Winterhaven last week and treated me like one of their own. Without the support of special people like this, life really would be so much harder on Tour. Thank you!

Thanks for taking the time to keep up with my exploits on Tour!

Chill

Posted Monday 22nd February

Future Stars Foundation Event Saturday 20th February

I've just had THE most amazing weekend - on Saturday I played in my first event as a professional in the Future Stars Foundation Pro-Am, I came in 4th position and earned my first cheque as a pro. Yippee! My team also did very well - we came in 2nd position helped in no small way by a fantastic eagle from Donna Bonn.

I also had my first photo shoot as a professional for Donna Bonn Designs, with Big Break winner Ashley Prange, Sara Brown and Donna who is a former LPGA player. The article is going to be posted in next months issue of Golfweek and it was great fun. The golfers who are going to be wearing Donna Bonn clothing in 2010 are going to be known as the '007 Bonn Girls' as opposed to the Bond Girls and so the pictures were taken bearing this in mind!

Here I am pictured with Donna doing a typical Bonn Girl pose!

Our team for the Pro-Am consisted of yours truly, Donna Bonn, Steph Medaugh who is a great supporter of women's golf in the States and Dave Clarke who is the professional at Mystic Dunes in Orlando.

It really was a fantastic day and I must say a big 'Thank You' to all at the Future Stars Foundation for organising the event.

My weekend was topped off by playing golf on Sunday with my great friends Roger Dougherty, Ernie Chandler and Keith at Deer Island.

I return to the IMG Academy in Bradenton today with a brand new set of Taylor Made golf clubs that have been taylor made especially for me! What more could a 007 Bonn Girl ask for as her favourite choice of weapon?

Future Star Foundation Pro Results

1st place (67)- Sue Ginter $1,000

2nd place (71)- Lori Atsedes $750

3rd place (72)- Kelly-Lagedrost $500

T4 (74)- Rachel Connor $350

T4- Kelly Froelich $350

T4- Jackie Barenborg $350

T4- Laura Bavaird $350

T7 (75)- Taryn Durham $110

T7- Stephanie Connelly $110

T7- Carling Coffing $110

T7- Emma Calderone $110

Posted Saturday 13th February

Fantastic News!

In 2010 I am very proud to announce that I will be using TaylorMade Golf Clubs, Driver, Fairways, Irons, Putter and also using Taylor Made Golf Bags.

Last week I made the trip of my life from Sarasota through to Greensborough, Georgia to visit The Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation. This was a 16 hour round trip of 900 miles by car - a journey that I had to undertake to be tested for my new Taylor Made Golf Equipment but boy was it worthwhile!

Basically the Taylor Made Kindom is 'Where the Pros Go'. It is a one-of-a-kind facility designed to create the best golf equipment to take players to the next level. TaylorMade Tour Staff Professionals, like Sergio Garcia and Natalie Gulbis, rely on the Kingdom to be custom-fitted for TaylorMade equipment with the utmost accuracy and precision so I knew that I was in very safe hands!

The whole experience was amazing and lasted for just over three and a half hours, being my father's daughter I thouroughly enjoyed the whole custom fitting procedure and I am confident that the clubs that I will be using in 2010 are just right for me.

This week I will be playing in my first events of the season The 2nd Annual Future Stars Foundation Pro-Am at Errol Estate C C in Apopka. This will give me a great warm up for the season and an opportunity to meet the people who support the Foundation.

The day after the event I will be playing golf with Donna Bonn from Donna Bonn designs and Ashley Prange who was the winner of the Big Break V Hawaii so I'm looking forward to hearing about some of their experiences on tour!

Posted Sunday 31st January 2010

The last three weeks have been busy and very exciting.

I got straight back into my training regime at the IMG Academy after the new year and it has been nice to meet some new faces on the Post Graduate Programme. Five of Scotland’s leading amateur golfers have spent a week at the world famous IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida preparing for the new season as part of a new partnership between the Scottish Golf Union and IMG Academies. There are also new players from Ireland and a number of players from Turkey many of them preparing for major events in Europe such as the Jones Cup and Spanish and Portuguese Amateur Championships.

PGA Tour player Casey Wittenburg also spent a couple of weeks training at the Academy which is like home from home for him as he trained here as a youngster - he is a really powerful golfer and it was great to watch him train and play.

I thouroughly enjoyed my time at The PGA Trade Show in Orlando last week. I was paired with LPGA player and Big Break Vl contestant Kristy McPherson and we had a great time meeting people and signing autographs. There were some great stands at the Show which totals some 10 miles walking distance!

The Show was also an opportunity for me to meet up with a number of companies to discuss potential sponsorship. Here I am pictured with Donna Bonn from Donna Bonn Designs.

Donna is an ex LPGA player who decided to put her knowledge of the game and passion for fashion to good use by designing a fabulous range of ladies golf clothing. I wore Donna's clothing all week at the Show and it is stunning, feminine and fashionable.

Rachel signs with P.A.R.

During Trade Show week I also signed to be represented in 2010 by P.A.R or Paskievitch Athlete Representation and I am looking forward to working with my new manager Bradley during the 2010 season.

So as you can see there has been a lot happening off the golf course. I have to admit I'm looking forward to this season and to my first event in February

Click here Oldham Chronicle News Online - 'Rachel looks to the future

'Posted Sunday 10th January 2010

Happy New Year everyone!

As I write I am in the middle of packing my things ready to return to America tomorrow morning. I was due to fly back on 3rd January but there were several delays in receiving my P1 Visa, largely brought about by the bad weather but it is now safely in my hands and I'm not letting it go!

I have to say a big 'Thank You' to Kim and Dave Roberts at DR Physiotherapy for helping me to maintain my fitness whilst I have been in the UK and also to the Esporta Lancashire Health & Racquets Club for allowing me to use the fantastic facilities there.

I've enjoyed being at home and catching up with my friends and family but I'm ready to get back to work. The temperature in Florida is pretty chilly at the moment but there is no snow on the ground, I can't wait to get back to the IMG Academy and recommence my Game Plan.

I had an email from Dave Andrews asking me to play in the 2nd Annual Future Stars Foundation Pro-Am at Errol Estate C C in Apopka on 20th February so that is something that I will be working towards. The Foundation raises money to help players on Tour who struggle financially with all the entry fees and traveling expenses so it's a great cause.You can learn more about the Foundation and the upcoming Pro-Am at the foundation's website...FutureStarsFoundation.com

Rachel signs with P.A.R.

Click Here to view Rachel Connor 2009