21 Days Left

 and the youngest Deaton in the household will be finished with high school.  He's opted to graduate in December but plans to walk in May with his classmates.  It's bittersweet thinking about the time we've had children in Warren County Public Schools all coming to a close.  

 

We celebrated both future graduates birthdays last month with chili, hotdogs, and brownie sundaes at our house while Karson was in town.  Miles is officially an adult - turning 18 while Karson celebrated her 22nd. 

Some other fun October celebrations: Cousin Louise 

and Uncle Mike!

 

Not only will Miles be finished with school in December, but Karson graduates from the University of Louisville next month.  She plans to stay in Louisville at this time and work as an RN in late January.  We're very proud of her and hopeful that this transition will be smooth.  

How is she almost a college graduate AND knocked it out of the park academically?!?!?  Her future plans include going to graduate school.  However, she is still considering those options and what will work best for her long term.

Golf season and our time with high school sports ended earlier this month with the season banquet.  Because of timing and conflicts, our event was held in the school library.  The girls team joined us since they have a rather small group.  

It was a nice evening recognizing both teams and this special group of golfers.  Our coach Big Jim officially retired.  Three of four booster members (including myself) signed off with our graduating seniors.  What a fun run we've had and lots of wonderful memories made!  Golf teams and players form special bonds, and we've been fortunate to have had many other (competitive) golf parents and coaches love and support our son like he was their own.  We are forever grateful to those folks!!!  

 

Great conversations and lots of laughs happened at this table!  (a few spills too, lol)

 

Oh how I will miss watching this golfer compete, but I am also excited for what his future holds and thankful for a sport he can play and (maybe) enjoy (Hah) for a lifetime.  

Halloween shenanigans at South!  I knew I was in charge of making Matt into "Andy" from Toy Story.  Since our Pixar days were years ago, I had to google pics of Andy and do my best to craft an outfit.  Love how much fun this faculty and staff have with their students and school!

The final Seniors with Seniors lunch at South!  Love all these people and thankful our kids have the best grandparents ever!

Speaking of seniors - both Karson and Miles will have pictures taken tomorrow to highlight their year!  Can't wait to see them!

New Beginnings and Emotional Endings

 Exactly one week ago today, Miles high school golf career ended.  Although he's played at Hopkinsville Country Club a handful of times, last Wednesday was not his day.  His dad was his coach, and we couldn't have ordered more perfect weather.  Karson was able to join us as well. Due to UofL's scheduled fall break and her preceptor's vacation schedule, she was able to be with us a FULL week which was awesome.  He knew the course would play tough, and it did!  He started off strong, but then had some terrible tee shots and couldn't see to put a game together.  HCC is one of those course where accuracy matters!  The greens were fast and you needed to get on them (or close) with your tee and approach shots.  

 

Towards the end, we were all emotional as we knew his season/career was coming to a permanent close.  

Coach Jim was tearful, and it made me tearful.  We were hugging and sobbing!  He's been with Miles for the last five years, and they are like father and son.  We are truly grateful he stuck with us and him 'til the end.  This will also be his last year coaching our team.  

We all went to O'Charley's for lunch which also happened to be free-pie Wednesday.  It was a bittersweet end to a bittersweet day!

I have cherished every moment watching my golfer the last 10 years in competition, especially his kindness and support of other competitors.  We have developed some very close friendships.  He received some of the kindest words from social media which I want to document: 

• Marissa Brown - Pretty special how this sport brings some of the best friendships.  Loved it brought us together.  And proud of your boy.
• Justin Harris -  Even if it was for a year, we are so thankful to have had Miles out there with Rowdy.  What a wonderful human and role model you guys have made.  Miles has many fans for good reason. 
• Robin Smith - So very proud of you Miles!  Awesome accomplishment!  He's a great golfer and even better person!  He had made a huge impact on Carson's life and we couldn't be more thankful for y'all!
• Tiffany Mayes - Heck of ride Miles!  Thankful we got to know y'all!
• Casey Stephens - So proud of him!  Love this sweet kid; such a great person!
• Joe Patterson - pretty grateful for the 18 hole walk that our families took together for so many years.  Fun conclusion to that journey today.  Blessings, Deaton friends.....

There's something special when parents you don't even know come up to your during the round and tell you how wonderful (and refreshing) it is to be paired with your son.  Miles is a wonderful human and known for his kind heart.  Very thankful that he will have this sport for the rest of his life -eh-hem and be VERY good at it.  Let's go win some scrambles!

Last Saturday, we ventured out to the Children's Entrepreneur Market and on-purpose stumbled upon Mae Kathryn's vendor booth at the Community Farmer's Market.  I purchased some key chains for her, some soap scrub, a personalized bracelet, and lemonade from a few other young talented entrepreneurs.  What a sweet event and some incredibly talented young people!

 

Our Cardinal has five rounds of clinicals left to complete her practicum.  Her cap, gown, stole and cords arrived this weekend.  She had a telephone interview last week and has an in person interview this week.  Everything seems to be coming together quickly.  She got to golf last week, catch up some homework, binge watch some TV, and worked three jigsaw puzzles.  We cherish our time with her and are looking forward to these next few exciting months!

Adventures in SENIOR Golf

July 2020:: What have we gotten ourselves into?  This was the question on my mind fours years ago when 8th grade Miles and I pulled up at the Falcon Invitational at Hidden Hills for his first golf match as a Spartan.  After a competitive 7-day stretch of try-outs, he secured the 5-spot on the team.  Little did I know that from that day forward, he would go on to compete in every single varsity match, hot or cold, rain or shine, blisters and sore muscles, through the Covid years, he's done it - every season, every round!  Lots and lots of golf on lots and lots of golf courses all over the state.  It's been an exciting journey for him.

The chapter will soon close, but it's not over yet!

Our team partnered up with the girls for some pictures at Olde Stone - they make our boys look much better - HAH!  

 

I have a feeling one of these individual photos will land on Miles's graduation announcement.  Such a handsome young man in his element!

Senior Golfers!

  

These two and the difficult game of golf!  No telling how many hours, conversations, and instruction have been put into this sport!  No one knows Miles's game and tendencies better than his old man!

MINERAL MOUND:  the beautiful and dreadful

At our regional meal with the girls team, each were partnered up for an interview with the boys.  One of the questions asked:  what is the most challenging course you've played this season?  Mineral Mound, always and forever is the answer. Surrounded by woods and Lake Barkley, this golf course is about as unforgiving as it gets!  You better throw darts and be accurate or else!

Our Labor Day weekend opened with golf in Eddyville.  We decided to sleep in at KY Dam Village and not arrive early for a golf cart. Mistake.  The day was hot and brutal.  For seven LONG hours, we covered a lot of ground.  I'm not sure how Miles or any of those golfers do it - hiking up and down hills, trapesing through woods, packing golf clubs, and competing.  No other word but LOVE for the game.  You are hopeful that it loves you back.  It generally doesn't at MM.

 

The final high school (regular season) round happened a week ago Saturday at Rolling Hills golf course.  With an afternoon tee time, we were able to sleep in a little for a change.  The weather looked scary most of the day but managed to hold off which made for a pleasant match.  It was Miles's day to shine and shine he did!

 

He has resorted to wearing his rain glove instead of his regular glove when conditions get sticky and sweaty.  Our coach Big Jim was airing his glove out for him during the round.  We laughed because he told Miles he also sprinkled some birdie dust in it.

Miles ended the round with five birdies (compliments of the glove dust).  Matt captured every shot on the last hole on video, including his final birdie.  It was an emotional day, and a complete downpour came as soon as we finished and awards were handed out.

 

He received a 3rd place individual finish plaque, tying with his BG friend Rowdy but winning in the scorecard playoff.  We celebrated at Russellville's Jalapeno Grill before heading home!

Our booster President, Joe Patterson, invited both the boys and girls team to Broadway Church for our regional meal last Thursday.  He made his famous home-made pizza which was incredible!

These Spartans are ready for battle!

Be still my heart!  My stomach was in knots all weekend anxiously waiting for Monday to arrive.  I had high hopes that our team could pull out a 1st or 2nd place finish and all advance.  We have so much talent but seem to continually come up short each time.

Miles had two full practice rounds at Indian Hills that week and went there daily to putt and chip.  He loves the course but knew it would be extra challenging for region.  We decided it was best to postpone his golf lesson that Friday since his hitting was going well.  Sometimes you can get too far in your head when you receive new instruction.

Monday arrived and the pairings were set.  Miles was in a group with some of his favorite golfing friends which would make for a fun day if nothing else.  The thing about golf is everyone is in it together.  It turns into family through the years as you advance, compete, and get to know each other.  You hear cheers erupt throughout the day on the course from great shots.  You're all grinding together, even though you're trying to beat your opponents.  It's awful and exciting all rolled into one!

 

Miles woke up that morning and felt awful.  Although he had a great attitude and started out with a birdie and par, the day went sideways quick.  You could tell he didn't have his strength.  His shots weren't long like usual, and he seemed very exhausted on the front nine.  I truly hated it for him and thought to myself....this is it...his final round of high school golf.

 

He barely missed the cut last year with a 78, and I knew it would take at least that to get by this round.  The back nine would have to be played flawless.  Impossible.  In true Miles fashion, he proved me wrong when I had given up. He found strength and powered through with only one bogey, finishing with a 77 and tying for a 12th place finish out of 83 competitors. 

 

 To move on at Semi-state you have to be a top ten individual finisher which is HARD to do because Region 3 is competitive.  My fear was that he might be in play off or even worse, a playoff with one of his own teammates. This wasn't the case for Miles but turned out to be for one Spartan, Brady Patterson, who would be in a 6-man playoff for one spot.  Because of a storm in the area, the playoff was delayed about 20 minutes.  I was a nervous wreck, and Miles wasn't even playing.  I wanted it SO bad for Brady.

 

 

He and the five competitors set out for hole 18 when the storm cleared.  Brady hit a perfect drive right down the middle.  His approach shot missed the green but an incredible chip landed him close for a par.  The hole took out four golfers immediately.  The next hole came down to him and Logan County's Hunter Holloway.  Hole 10 is par 3 and Brady landed it about 12 feet from the pin.  It was a perfect shot on a tough hole.  With the par, he secured the 10th and final spot for state!

 

My BG friend Marissa captured these special moments for us!  Like I said, we are all a big family!

Join me in wishing both Miles and Brady the best of luck in Hopkinsville next Monday as they compete!