Gavin Bourne had a very special weekend, as he won his Club Championship Match Play Final at Droitwich Golf Club in Worcestershire…
But not only that, the 47-year-old remarkably hit TWO holes-in-one during his first 18 holes of the final!
But not only that, the 47-year-old remarkably hit TWO holes-in-one during his first 18 holes of the final!
The 0.4-handicapper started golf when he was 13, and revealed he had only had one hole-in-one while playing alongside others prior to Sunday, which was when he was a junior – although he had made two aces during evening rounds on his own, the last of which was over a decade ago.
Sunday saw Gavin take on Tom Ainge to see who would be crowned Droitwich Golf Club Champion in a 36-hole final, and after the pair exchanged wins on the first two holes, Gavin went ahead in style on the 3rd.
From 175 yards, he hit a 6-iron and explained: “We saw it land but you can’t really see the green. Walking up, there was a pitch mark about three foot in front of the hole, but also Tom’s ball five feet away from it.
“I said ‘Am I going to look a bit daft if I walk up to the green without my putter?!’ And we got up to the hole and there it was!
“I then proceeded to top it all the way down the 4th - I think I was in shock so I changed balls then!”
So, Gavin had waited almost a decade for a hole-in-one. But the next one arrived just 12 holes later, in the same round!
On the 15th hole from 187 yards, he struck his 5-iron which hit the bank and rolled down towards the pin. Gavin revealed: “The Club Captain who was refereeing went straight up to the green to watch us tee off. He saw my ball go in, but he kept calm until Tom had hit his tee shot.
“All of a sudden he then appeared with his arms in the air and took a picture of the hole! I thought he was having me on!
“I couldn’t believe it. As soon as I got that ball out the hole, I changed over and kept it. I think I’ll get some sort of box for them and stick them on the mantelpiece – although the kids will probably nick them and hit them round the garden!”
Gavin’s second hole-in-one of the round paved the way for an 8&6 victory to win the Club Championship, and asked about how he celebrated, the plumbing and heating engineer added: “I put a bottle of whiskey behind the bar and got some of the lads a beer after, so I’m not sure how much it’s cost me yet!
“Droitwich has a reciprocal deal with Welwyn Garden City (Hertfordshire), Nick Faldo’s old course. They do a Champion of Champions for the Faldo Commemorative Jug so I’ve qualified for that meaning next year’s Captain will caddy for me. I’m really looking forward to it!”
England Golf Championships Director James Crampton added: "The odds of two aces in a round are estimated to be 67 million to 1, so Gavin's achievements are astonishing - especially considering it was in a Club Championship Final!"
Sunday saw Gavin take on Tom Ainge to see who would be crowned Droitwich Golf Club Champion in a 36-hole final, and after the pair exchanged wins on the first two holes, Gavin went ahead in style on the 3rd.
From 175 yards, he hit a 6-iron and explained: “We saw it land but you can’t really see the green. Walking up, there was a pitch mark about three foot in front of the hole, but also Tom’s ball five feet away from it.
“I said ‘Am I going to look a bit daft if I walk up to the green without my putter?!’ And we got up to the hole and there it was!
“I then proceeded to top it all the way down the 4th - I think I was in shock so I changed balls then!”
So, Gavin had waited almost a decade for a hole-in-one. But the next one arrived just 12 holes later, in the same round!
On the 15th hole from 187 yards, he struck his 5-iron which hit the bank and rolled down towards the pin. Gavin revealed: “The Club Captain who was refereeing went straight up to the green to watch us tee off. He saw my ball go in, but he kept calm until Tom had hit his tee shot.
“All of a sudden he then appeared with his arms in the air and took a picture of the hole! I thought he was having me on!
“I couldn’t believe it. As soon as I got that ball out the hole, I changed over and kept it. I think I’ll get some sort of box for them and stick them on the mantelpiece – although the kids will probably nick them and hit them round the garden!”
Gavin’s second hole-in-one of the round paved the way for an 8&6 victory to win the Club Championship, and asked about how he celebrated, the plumbing and heating engineer added: “I put a bottle of whiskey behind the bar and got some of the lads a beer after, so I’m not sure how much it’s cost me yet!
“Droitwich has a reciprocal deal with Welwyn Garden City (Hertfordshire), Nick Faldo’s old course. They do a Champion of Champions for the Faldo Commemorative Jug so I’ve qualified for that meaning next year’s Captain will caddy for me. I’m really looking forward to it!”
England Golf Championships Director James Crampton added: "The odds of two aces in a round are estimated to be 67 million to 1, so Gavin's achievements are astonishing - especially considering it was in a Club Championship Final!"
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org