Austin, congrats on following your goals! Half the battle is putting in the hard work on the range and the course to get your game to the level that you are comfortable with. The other 1/2 is mental and that affects both pros and amateurs alike. I too had a similar experience getting to the tee and forgetting how to play golf. I try to win the mental game by playing 1 shot at a time. It is so easy to get caught up in a bad thought or play a bad hole and let it destroy a good game. Sounds like you have the game locked down, just play more relaxed and accept that everyone will have a bad hole once in a while. Keep following your dreams and keep it in the fairway!

Hello Austin. When I was younger and had some game,I did compete in few MGA (Massachusetts Golf Association) qualifiers.Mostly the MGA Amateur and Public Links Championship qualifiers. The number of times I missed the cut by a couple of shots,I can't exactly recall, but it was more than once or twice. I remember a couple of those qualifiers where I was within the cut line with a couple holes to play, but just couldn't close the deal.

Funny thing about aging, you gain perspective.When I thought about those near misses at the time, afterwards I'd analyze the round shot by shot; focusing more of what went wrong than of how well I played most of the round.

When I look back now, years later, the recurring thought is this: I simply couldn't get out of my own way. Instead of focusing on the shot at hand and playing one shot at a time, I'd start thinking about what the cut line would be, what my playing partners were doing etc. I was overthinking instead of simply focusing on what I could control.I had a hard time "blocking the noise and learning to quiet the mind" in those days.

If you'll allow an old guy to impart a little wisdom, it's this; learn to quiet you mind, focus on things that are within your control and don't over think it.

Hope this helps and best of luck.