Southern California
My time in Australia has come and gone and I’m back in the US for the next few months. My most recent adventure was a nice road trip to Southern California for the Kore Pro Am and IOA Championship. After being away for so long it was really great to be able to spend some time in California. I love competing here, and seeing friends and family is always a huge plus! Coming down south ususally means beautiful weather, nice golf, quality time with loved ones, and lots of food and coffee, and this trip was no different.
Kore Pro Am
The 12th Annual Kore Pro Am took place at the picturesque Journey at Pechenga. 29 professionals came together with amateurs from around the country for a scramble tournament, long drive and short game challenges, and a fun Hawaiian themed luau. I was paired up with a presenting Sponsor Axalta Dura Coat Products group and had an absolute blast. We shot a team 10 under par, but came up well short as the winning team shot 17 under. I had an incredible couple days at my first Kore Pro Am and I can't wait to be back again next year!
Thank you so much to Kore Asian Media, Axalta Dura Coat and the Journey at Pechanga for putting on an amazing event!
Me ad Sky united with our Moselem Gang!!!
IOA Championship Tournament REcap
Second stop on the Symetra tour was Beaumont, CA for the IOA championship. I’ve played this course once before for the California State Open and it was great to be back. Tukwet Canyon is a solid course with some nice reachable par 5s, a handful of tough tee shots and a couple quirks, but I felt that it suited me well! It was a pretty solid week of ball striking that led to 12 birdies and an eagle over three rounds, but a couple errand tee shots and a a few too many bogeys had me at a T22, +2 finish. It wasn't quite the finish I wanted after getting off to great starts each day, but I am continuing to learn how to minimize my mistakes and shoot low rounds! Click here for the full results.
Pops was on the bag for me this week
Beaumont is right next to Redlands, which is also where one of my best mates from college is from. Her family hosted Sky and I, and I am so grateful! Redlands is a really cute quaint little town and we spent an afternoon exploring. We had coffee at Augie's, a local coffee gem, and found a cool alley with fun murals and art pieces! I am traveling and playing in some more rural towns this year, and finding local gems such as this is always exciting and unexpected!
Sights and Scenes
San Clemente
Trips to South California for golf also serve as an excuse to see friends, so I detoured west on my way home to San Clemente to see the Czech fam! Jenny and I met at Davis my junior year and we've been friends ever since. I was welcomed home with a full spread of charcuterie and cheese, and we spent the afternoon catching up and cooking a lobster, calm, seafood stew feast! Kendall, Jenny's big bro, is an amazing cook and he simmered the broth all afternoon. I always love spending time with great friends and the amazing food was just a wonderful bonus!
With respect to my coffee obsession, I found Rapport in San Clemente, and it is now one of me favorite shops! The coffee is great, but the space is even cooler. They have a high wall of books to enjoy, small and community tables, and bar and bench seating around the coffee counter where they make the drinks. It makes for a cool experience because you can be up close to watch them make the drinks and easily talk to the staff as well!
Pictured right is the amazing coffee bar and bench seating
Los Angeles
Last stop on my drive bakc up north to San Francisco was LA for some family time with my cousin Preston. Preston is my oldest cousin, while I'm the youngest of the family, so he always takes good care for me when I visit! During my visit, we went to a fun bingo night, had an amazing working out at Intention Boxing in Silverlake, and of course did a lot of eating all over the city!
food
Chinatown eats, Highland Park Coffee, Hollywood Ramen, and Beverly Hills fine dining
Tatsu Ramen.
Dinner at Cal Mare thanks to Mr. Ted Kim was definitely one of the eating highlights! I met Ted at the Kore Pro Am and we bonded over our love for food so we reconnected in LA for a fun evening at Adam Sobel & Michael Mina’s upscale eatery that focused on Italian seafood & handmade pasta! The spicy uni and crab pizza and caviar were the standouts of the night! Head Chef Joe Sasto even came out to hang out with us over dessert.
Southern California never disappoints and I am so grateful to be able to see great friends and family while competing! Thanks for the amazing food and quality time with loved ones LA, until next time!
Lots of Love,
Dre
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