Blog: Finster enjoys chance to play with pros, celebs

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Amateur Mike Finster won the Bright House Networks Challenge Golf Series at TPC Tampa Bay, sealing his spot in the 2010 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. Finster played in the second Bright House Networks qualifier at Bayou Club. He lives in St. Petersburg and plays golf at his home course, Mangrove Bay Golf Course. Finster, who attended Northwestern University, is the Regional Manager at GAF-EIK Corporation. In his spare time he entertains himself with a fun game of poker. He and his wife Marybeth keep very busy with their four children. PGATOUR.COM asked him a few questions after his second round on Saturday.

PGATOUR.COM: Great finish Mike! How was it today?

FINSTER: Well Tom Pernice could not have been nicer, you know he's such a calming influence. I'm just really pleased I didn't have a heart rate monitor on me -- there were a couple shots that would have been registering off the charts.

PGATOUR.COM: Tell me a little bit about playing in a tournament of this scale with galleries this large for the first time. How is different than normally coming out here and playing?

FINSTER: Well surprisingly I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. It was wonderful having the support of family and friends, I really had unbelievable amount of support. And then I had a really steady partner, I mean it was one of those things where he is so positive and such a gentleman to me and that made it all the world of difference. The part of playing in front of crowds, I think I had a lifelong memory on 18 you know I made a nice birdie and hopefully Gary Koch will talk about that.

PGATOUR.COM: What were some of your other highlights from the past two days, some things that will really stand out in your mind?

FINSTER: Well I'll tell ya, I knew I needed at least one or two more coming in and while we might not have gotten the birdies you execute the shot as well as you can. Obviously not having any strokes you know we had to do it all gross. Tom, as I said, was just the best example I can give you -- on 36 holes he seemed out of it and he hit it in the water, he was kind enough to come over and talk me through my shot. I mean isn't that incredible? It was truly amazing. It says a lot about the character of the man.

PGATOUR.COM: Mike you had two great rounds and it looks as though you're going to make the cut tomorrow.

FINSTER: Can I hold you to that?

PGATOUR.COM: Tell me about what you are expecting to do tomorrow, what you would like to do?

FINSTER: Well I'm expecting again to put some more memories in the life time vault, and that is what Tom Pernice said to me on 18. He said just make the memories and sure enough I was fortunate enough to put one in. But you're exactly right it is such a wonderful tournament and I can't thank enough Outback Steakhouse, Chris Sullivan and the folks at Brighthouse Networks for putting up the spot. For a guy like me with four kids in catholic school it was just an unbelievable treat, and the celebrities have been so kind.

PGATOUR.COM: Now is it something that went by really fast, are you able to take any of it in?

FINSTER: You know, I said what can I do to get the clock to slow down? I want this to last a little bit longer because I knew it was a three legged stool and it's not going to stand unless you have all three legs. Hopefully three legs are there tomorrow and hopefully we are there tomorrow but regardless I had a wonderful time.

PGATOUR.COM: Well thank you Mike and we all wish you the best of luck tomorrow.