Give it welly
Non-golfer Chris is just one shot away from earning a million bucks
A welly-wearing non-golfer from Dunblane is just a hole in one away from pocketing $1 million.
Chris Johns (31), originally from Dunblane but who now lives in Riverside, took a massive step towards landing the bumper payout after bagging an ace playing a popular hole-in-one competition – while wearing a pair of wellies.
The former Dunblane High pupil entered the Million Dollar Hole In One (MDHIO), a popular par-three, virtual reality hole-in-one-challenge at the American Golf show at the Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.
Now after sinking the incredible shot, Chris has qualified for the American Golf ’s Championship finals at the Belfry on Thursday September 7 and if he can repeat the feat he will pocket the bank-breaking prize pot – around £770,000.
The 10 competitors who get nearest the pin, or sink their shot at one of the American Golf stores across the UK and Ireland, using the Foresight GC2 simulator will qualify for the final shootout.
Chris, who does not even have an official handicap, became the first player to score a hole in one and qualify when he managed it at the Scottish Open.
And his feat was made even more incredible as the modest commercial property analyst admitted: “I don’t even play golf.
“I don’t have a membership. I don’t even own a set of clubs. I went to watch the Scottish Open with a mate and we spotted the competition.
“It was free to enter and you get three goes.
“I thought ‘Scottish weather and we’re outside, everyone is bound to be wearing wellies.
“We turned up and everyone waiting in line for a shot was standing with all the golf gear on and putting their glove on and there’s me, standing with my wellies on.
“It was a mad reaction when it went in. People laugh when I tell them it was a virtual hole in one.”
Chris will now head to The Belfry, near Sutton Coldfield, for a crack at the top prize.
He added: “I’m not very confident about it, but I’m not going to practice for it.
“I winged it the first time so I think I will just wing it again.
“I might even just go in my wellies again.”
More than 5,000 competitors tried their luck in the opening three weeks and the free-to-enter competition runs until August 20.
As well as the 10 closest to the pin or managing an ace, one entrant will qualify for the final, where winners will also be treated to a complimentary night’s stay and a gala dinner, courtesy of a lucky draw on August 21.
MDHIO director Martin Tyrrell said: “This shows you don’t have to even be brilliant at golf to be in with a chance of winning $1m.
“Chris is halfway to achieving this and we wish him all the best in the final.
“And to do it in wellies is even more incredible.
“Perhaps I will get rid of my golf shoes and try wellies next time I’m on the course.”
The qualifying competitions are being held all over the UK and Ireland, including at the American Golf stores in Stirling, Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh and Inverness.
Everyone had on their golf gear and there’s me in my wellies