Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
The golf shot in a million..
Golfing friends both land aces from same tee
TWO amateur golfers have beaten odds of 1,000,000/1 by hitting holes-in-one within minutes of each other.
Julie Mckee and Mandy Higgins achieved the remarkable feat at a Co Derry course on Friday evening. The friends landed their aces when playing the fourth hole together at the Moyola Park club near Castledawson. Julie, who lives in the village, was the first to strike it lucky and was still celebrating her achievement when Mandy’s ball followed suit and also went in. She said: “We were playing a mixed greensomes and were at the fourth hole where I was up first. “I hit the ball down and it went in. The other three – Mandy, her husband Oliver and my partner Robin – were telling me it was a hole-in-one but I didn’t believe them. When I went down and saw for myself the ball was in I was jumping up and down like someone not wise. I was so excited. “Then Mandy hit the ball and I thought, ‘Oh wow, it looks like it’s going in too.’ “I have to admit there was a bit of hysteria when it did. We just couldn’t believe what had happened. “The funny thing is we’d been out playing on the Wednesday before and were on the 17th pathway when Mandy asked me if I’d ever had a hole-in-one and I’d said no. She hadn’t either. Then two nights later we both do it. It’s fantastic.” Moyola Park spokesman Gareth Shaw said everyone associated with the club was excited about the pair of aces. He added: “To hit a hole-in-one is rare in itself and we hadn’t had one all year before Friday night. “To get two at the same hole from within the same group, within minutes of each other, is incredible. “These things just don’t happen. We’ll be contacting the Guinness Book of Records about it now for sure.” A spokeswoman for Boylesports said: “The odds on two amateur female golfers achieving a hole-in-one consecutively on the same hole would be an astronomical 1,000,000/1. It’s an incredible achievement.” As part of the sport’s etiquette golfers who hit a hole-in-one must buy drinks for everyone at the club after they’ve completed their game. Julie said: “Yes we bought the drinks that night and there was a lot of celebrating. “It was really nice to be able to share this amazing experience with Mandy.” But despite their historical feat the women didn’t go on to win the Friday night competition with Julie adding: “We ended up with 21 points but someone beat us to it with 22.” irish@mgn.co.uk