Hole-In-One Nets Wake Forest Man New Car

NEW LONDON, N.C.,None — Ken Welsh's day didn't start off the way he envisioned on Monday when, on his way to the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County's annual charity golf tournament, his car broke down.

A piston rod shot through the engine block and forced his car to be towed. Welsh had to take a rental car to the tournament.

When he finally arrived, after getting lost for about 30 minutes, he and his partner had missed the first two holes of the tournament, he said.

On the 17th hole and only his third of the day, Welsh said he teed up a 5-iron and hit it 185 yards and watched it bounce and roll left toward the hole, and drop into the cup for the improbable ace.

It was a hole-in-one and a new Nissan Versa for Welsh.

"One of my playing partners, Todd Ross, started high-fiving me and jumping up and down. I was still not sure I was believing what I just saw so it took me a few seconds to realize what just happened, so I started jumping around as well, Welsh said. All I wanted to do at that point was to go to the green to make sure it was in."

"Did you know right away that you had won a new car?" Channel 9 asked.

"The car was not on the tee box like they normally are when you play one of these tournaments, but it was on the hill behind the green, Welsh said. Once I was on the green I asked the marshall that witnesed the shot, 'Oh by the way did I win that car over there?' he looked at me and said, 'Oh yes, you won the car.' That's when it really sunk in as to what I just did."

Channel 9 asked Welsh, "Is this your first hole-in-one?"

"Yes. I've been playing golf since 1983 and have been close to making a hole-in-one by less than 2 inches several times, but the ball would never go in. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever make one before I finished playing golf." Welsh said.

Next step -- PGA Tour Card?

"I'm a five handicap and play golf for business and recreational purposes. I'll be 48 years old in July. I couldn't even qualify for the Senior Tour much less the local mid amateur stuff with my game," Welsh said.

So, maybe a pro golf career is not in the cards, but on this day, for one hole, Ken Welsh was good enough to win a brand new ride.

"I waited for the right time to hit one. Unbelievable!" he said.

WSOC