George has a day to remember on golf course
Kent George had a round of golf earlier this week most will never experience.
And it's one he'll never forget.
The Linton-Stockton High School senior recorded his first hole-in-one Tuesday against Terre Haute South at the Phil Harris Golf Course.
Two holes earlier, he had an eagle.
George used a 51-degree gap wedge to record his hole-in-one from 106 yards out. It went two or three feet past the hole, and then spun back into the bottom of the cup.
"I saw it drop in ... my mouth dropped and I started giving everyone high-fives," George recalled. "I couldn't believe it."
It was his first hole-in-one.
Two holes earlier, George eagled the par 5, No. 12 hole. He hit over the trees, which gave him just 130 yards to the green. He struck an 8 iron to within five feet.
"(The eagle putt) was right to left, but not much," George said. "I hit it dead on."
George finished his round on the back nine with a 3-under 33. It tied his best round on that side.
"He's a quiet, polite, nice young gentleman, and it couldn't happen to a more deserving kid than him," Beard said of George's hole-in-one and entire round.
"People don't realize how special that is. I went 31 years, and it wasn't until two years ago that I had my first one," Beard, the pro at Phil Harris and former Bloomfield High School and college golfer, said. "Especially that match ... with Terre Haute South, which is an outstanding golf team."
George -- a lefty who has been playing golf for seven years -- had to gather himself and tee off on the par 5, No. 15 hole after his hole-in-one. There's out of bounds on the right, and water to the left.
"I got caught up in the moment," George said. "I had to try and calm myself down because I was shaking so much.
"I'd hit my driver pretty straight on 12 and 13, so I just aimed down the middle and it went straight. I was still kind of excited. After 15, I settled down."
George's round had the potential to be lower, but he couldn't get some birdie putts to fall. If he had, he would have threatened Caleb Dunkerly's school record 31.
He had birdie putts on the final four holes, and lipped out on 16 and 18.
George said he's been told by a lot of golfers -- young and old -- that they've never had a hole-in-one. That includes his older brother, Josh Hall.
"My brother hasn't had one," George said. "He just got there (to see the hole-in-one), so that made it special."
Beard said George made his ace in some tough conditions.
"It was still wet out there. People playing golf in that, they very easily can hit it a little heavy," Beard said. "It was a great shot and a great round."
Chris is the general manager/editor of the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487 or by e-mail at cpruett79@hotmail.com
- -- Posted by Cubscowboys1 on Sun, May 25, 2008, at 5:59 AM
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