Holed shots came in batches on the First Coast this past week.
And it got especially crazy on Tuesday and Wednesday at Hyde Park when three players needed only three swings to post their scores at “Hogan’s Alley,” the par-3 sixth hole.
The attack on the short par-3 began on Tuesday when Jesse Babich made a hole-in-one from 125 yards out, using a pitching wedge.
The next day saw two players ace the hole. Roger Corse used an 8-iron from 132 yards away and Chandler Gruenemeier, who played college golf at Newberry after graduating from Paxon, used a pitching wedge from 151 yards.
The hole got its nickname from the day Ben Hogan made an 8-over-par 11 during the 1947 Jacksonville Open.
A few days before that, Jacob Godwin of Orange Park hole out on back-to-back shots during the North Florida Junior Foundation’s Sole Open, at the Golf Club of Fleming Island.
Godwin, who plays out of Eagle Harbor, was making a mess of the par-4 seventh hole and after hooking his drive into a hazard, had 110 yards to the hole for his fifth shot. He used a pitching wedge to hit a low punch shot that landed on the front of the green and rolled another 30 feet into the hole.
Godwin’s next shot was on the tee of the par-3 eighth hole. He hit a 7-iron from 152 yards, with the ball landing in the hole on the fly for the ace. He went on to shoot 81 and tie for third in the boys 16-18 age group.
FSGA cuts entry fee
The Florida State Golf Association has cut the entry fee for the state Women’s Mid-Amateur in half, from $160 to $80, to attract more women in the event for ages 25-39.
The fee will include two competitive rounds at the West Bay Golf Club in Naples on May 4-5, and awards luncheon, tee gifts and prizes.
The FSGA acknowledged on its web site that it was cutting the fee to attract more female players in an age group that has shown steep drops in golf.
“Women’s mid-amateur golf faces a crisis and declining levels of participation,” the FSGA said in a news release. “The FSGA is dedicated to making every possible effort to provide competitive golf that is accessible to women of all ages, including the early mid-amateurs, who often face the most obstacles related to time and finances.”
There will be three handicap flights, scratch to 10, 11-18 and 19-34. All handicaps must be verified.
For information, visit fsga.org.
HEAL Gala and Gig set
The HEAL Foundation (Helping Enrich Autistic Lives) will hold its annual Gala and Bobby Weed’s Golf Gig at the TPC Sawgrass Feb. 21-22.
The Heal Gala begins at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. Tickets are $150 each and can be purchased by visiting HealAutismNow.org.
The Golf Gif has an 9:30 a.m. shotgun start at Dye’s Valley on Feb. 22. Foursomes and invidual players can reserve spots by visit the HEAL web site.
The HEAL Foundation was started in 2004 by Weed, a First Coast golf course architect and his wife Leslie. Weed designed the Slammer & Squire, Dye’s Valley and the TPC River Highlands, among dozens of other courses. Since 2007 the foundation has raised more than $2 million.
Firefighters helped by Players
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation will present a grant of $31,395 for lifesaving equipment to the Jacksonville Beach Fire Department during Monday’s 17th Hole Charity Challenge at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
The grant comes from a $50,000 donation made by The Players to the Firehouse Subs Foundation last year.
The money will fund the JBFD’s purchase of new “Jaws of Life” extrication equipment.
Players tickets benefit juniors
The North Florida Junior Foundation has 11 days remaining to sell Players Championship tickets through the Chip in for Youth Program.
Area clubs and junior players will be selling tickets good for any day at The Players for $55, which can be a savings of up to $20. Proceeds from the sales will go to the NFJGF programs, including the middle school golf program in three counties. The program ends at 4 p.m. on Feb. 22.
Visit nfjg.org, call (904) 868-9535 or inquire at your local club to purchase tickets.
Kennedy leads area players
Campbell Kennedy of Green Cove Springs shot 74-72–146 to finish third in the boys 13-15 division of a Florida Junior Tour event at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar.
Kennedy finished three shots behind winner Shawn Lalmoni of Orlando. Andrew Riley of St. Johns and Carson Brewer of Jacksonville both shot 149 to tie for sixth and Lucas Slayden of Ponte Vedra Beach (150) tied for eighth.
Kaitlyn Schroeder of Jacksonville (154) tied for fifth in the girls 13-15 division, five shots behind winner Mi Li of Orlando.
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