THE 2014 Australian Senior PGA Championship is underway with one of the highlights of the opening rounds an ace by Larry Canning on the eighth hole at Richmond Golf Club.
Ever modest, Canning claimed it as his eighth hole-in-one in professional tournaments.
“It was a nicely struck 5-iron, slightly into the wind, 172 metres … with a little draw,” Canning explained.
“And it came after the most missed short putts Richmond Golf Club has ever seen. Probably a world record of missed short putts. So I worked out the only way I could get the ball in the hole was if I actually struck it into the hole… which I did.”
Unfortunately for Canning he was two holes off earning a nice little bonus, with an Augusta golf buggy up for grabs for any ace on the 10th hole. But that too continued a trend.
“I’ve had all eight as a pro and I’ve won a total of $500 in all eight,” Canning lamented.
‘The first one I had the TAB had a $500 hole in one prize at Singleton, which was a nine hole golf course. We played it twice in a pro am and I aced it the second time around and they said the prize was actually on the 2nd not the 11th, so you don’t get the prize.”
After a protest, the authorities relented – it was the same hole after all – and Canning had the rare experience of the TAB handing him money.
The action at Richmond Golf Club continues Friday and Saturday with free entry for spectators.
2014 Australian Senior PGA Championship Photo Gallery
