It was a fantastic first day for many golfers on the opening day of the 2023 English Amateur Championship held at Ferndown Golf Club and Broadstone Golf Club, but one that will sit long in the memory for Kieran Hogarth and Michael Hay.
At Ferndown, Hay (Hunley Hall) landed a hole-in-one on the 179-yard second hole which was the 22-year-old’s first ace in nine years, while Hogarth (Royal Lytham & St Annes, pictured above) celebrated an amazing albatross on the par-five 10th hole.
From 189 yards out, 20-year-old Hogarth struck his eight-iron and admitted: “After the initial shock of it going in, I threw the club slightly in the air and celebrated with my playing partners. I couldn’t believe it.
“It’s a hole you’re looking to get at and I didn’t hit the best tee shot which finished in the rough slightly. I was aiming to land it on the front edge of the green and it took a couple of hops straight in!”
It was a first albatross for Hogarth, who’s never had a hole-in-one, and after learning about the 6million-to-one odds, he said: “Over time you see so many shots go close and nestle next to the pin but to see one actually drop was a shock. I might put money on a lottery ticket tonight!”
Hay, talking of his ace, added: “I pulled a seven-iron out and was aiming at the middle of the green and it made its way in. When I was younger I had two in about six months and I thought golf was really easy. It definitely wasn’t!”
In the men’s competition, just three shots separate the top-20 players which includes Hay and Hogarth who are tied-11th at three-under.
The competition, sees 208 men and 84 women playing both golf courses at Ferndown and Broadstone on each of the first two days, who will be vying to make the top 64 and 32 respectively before heading into the matchplay stages on Thursday.
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From 189 yards out, 20-year-old Hogarth struck his eight-iron and admitted: “After the initial shock of it going in, I threw the club slightly in the air and celebrated with my playing partners. I couldn’t believe it.
“It’s a hole you’re looking to get at and I didn’t hit the best tee shot which finished in the rough slightly. I was aiming to land it on the front edge of the green and it took a couple of hops straight in!”
It was a first albatross for Hogarth, who’s never had a hole-in-one, and after learning about the 6million-to-one odds, he said: “Over time you see so many shots go close and nestle next to the pin but to see one actually drop was a shock. I might put money on a lottery ticket tonight!”
Hay, talking of his ace, added: “I pulled a seven-iron out and was aiming at the middle of the green and it made its way in. When I was younger I had two in about six months and I thought golf was really easy. It definitely wasn’t!”
In the men’s competition, just three shots separate the top-20 players which includes Hay and Hogarth who are tied-11th at three-under.
The competition, sees 208 men and 84 women playing both golf courses at Ferndown and Broadstone on each of the first two days, who will be vying to make the top 64 and 32 respectively before heading into the matchplay stages on Thursday.
Live leaderboard
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Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: pr@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org