Pair of Ontario golfers score back-to-back hole in ones
For the average golfer, a hole-in-one is the kind of accomplishment you talk about for years. But for two golfers to do it with back-to-back shots is the stuff of legend, and on Saturday afternoon in Milton, Ont., two men firmly entered legendary territory.
When Jack Williams, 18, scored an ace on the fourth hole of two man match play, it was cause for celebration at Wyldewood Golf and Country Club. What happened next caused an uproar so loud, many in attendance assumed there must be a medical emergency.
“I had just hit a nice, perfect shot. It bounced twice and disappeared,” Williams told CTV News Toronto. “We all lost it because we knew it went in. Everyone was going crazy and then Nick stepped up.”
Not one to be outdone, 72-year-old Nick Corriero, replicated the hole-in-one on the very next shot.
“I thought ‘this is going right at it’ but I didn’t see it hit,” explained Corriero of his follow-up feat. I heard Nick say ‘it’s in the hole’ and I’m stunned. It’s crazy.”
Statistics back him up. According to the PGA less than two per cent of golfers score a hole-in-one in any given year. The odds of two players from the same foursome acing the same hole is 17 million to one.
“I’ve tried to find odds on back-to-back shots going in and it’s 64 million to one,” said Chris Falbo, of Wyldewood Golf and Country Club, where the wild feat occurred. “We’ve only had one hole-in-one all season, and it’s already late July. This is truly remarkable.”
“It was a moment where we all just stopped and asked ‘did that just happen?’ I was getting a little misty,” said Craig Williams, Jack’s father and teammate for the day. “We aren’t a hugging family but he unabashedly ran over and embraced me. I couldn’t have been prouder.”
It was an emotional day for Corriero as well. His hole-in-one was a precursor to an evening with his wife of 45 years, Rita.
“It was a good day,” said Corriero. “We went out for a nice dinner and it was all about her.”
The good cheer was contagious. Golf etiquette dictates anyone who scores a hole-in-one buys a round of drinks for the clubhouse.
Wyldewood asks its members to pay an annual ten dollar premium, saving Corriero and Williams from a bittersweet day, one that saw the course packed following controversial closures earlier this year, part of the provincial government’s attempts to curb COVID-19 case counts.
Wyldewood toasted its members once on Saturday, a follow-up round of complimentary drinks will occur later in the week.
“It was a costly day for the course,” laughed Williams. “We’re talking $1,100.”
While those drinks didn’t go on the teen’s tab, he, along with 35 other club members did spend a few dollars in an effort to spread the wealth of good luck.
“When we finished my dad and I drove over to the gas station. He said we had to buy a lotto ticket. So we bought one and then Chris (Falbo) started a Lotto Max pool going. We got a bunch of members to go around to collect money and we’ll see what we can make out of this thing.,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.