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Gerry gets TWO holes-in-one in
same round
12.06.12
One-in-67 million
chance
by Linda McGrory
WINNING the Lotto would have been eight times more
likely, but a golfer in Inishowen is celebrating
hitting an astonishing TWO holes-in-one in the SAME
round.
Gerry Guckian was playing at Greencastle Golf Club
on Sunday afternoon when he achieved the amazing
feat.
The 49 year old father-of-three was playing a
competition on the last day of the club's open week
when he hit his first hole-in-one at the 9th hole of
the links course. He had barely recovered from the
shock when just two holes later, from the eleventh
tee, he sank his second hole-in-one. An elated
Gerry, a solicitor in Derry, says he can’t believe
what happened. And he wished he had had a bet on
himself as one of his playing partners on the day is
a bookie.
"There was some excitement on the golf course and
the adrenalin was pumping. I’m over the moon.
“I wish I had had a bet on myself. I didn't have
insurance which meant I lost out on €500 and had to
buy drinks for everyone in the clubhouse out of my
own pocket," he quipped.
The odds of hitting two holes-in-one in a single
game is said to be about 67 million to one. Winning
the Irish Lotto is only about eight million to one. |
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Gerry Guckian holds up his lucky ball
after his second hole-in-one.
Pictured from left, Hugh Casey, Gerry Guckian, Tommy
McBride and Neil Guckian. |
His playing partners in
the competition - sponsored by Faulkner's garage -
included Derry bookie Tommy McBride, local man Hugh
Casey and his younger brother Neil Guckian, the
current captain of the club.
"We believe it is the first time this has happened
in the club's 120 year history. We will be
contacting the Golfing Union of Ireland in due
course to find out if it is the first time it has
happened in Ireland," said Neil Guckian. "It was the
perfect end to a brilliant open week which saw a
record turn-out of about a thousand players because
the weather was good. It was a very special day and
it is great for my captain's year as well. I'm very
proud," he added.
Gerry, who is also chairman of the Western Health
and Social Care Trust, has been playing golf in
Greencastle since he was a child. He has enjoyed a
phenomenal three holes-in-one over the years - in
1978, 2000 and 2006 - but two in the one round was
beyond his wildest dreams. He was delighted to tell
his wife Jackie and their children, Jonathan, David
and Dervla, the great news.
Gerry plays off a 14 handicap. His lucky ball on
Sunday was a Titleist 4. He was using a 5 iron when
he had his first lucky shot and a 7 iron for the
second. Both were Par 3 holes with a length of 180
yards and 190 yards, respectively. He carded a
respectable 39 points overall in the competition.
"My brother Neil persuaded me to keep my lucky ball
after the second hole-in-one which was just as well
because I sliced the next two balls into the water
from the 12th tee.
"I nearly had a hole-in-one at the 18th as well. I
was about six feet from the pin and got a birdie on
that. I'm a bit embarrassed though because even
after getting two holes in one I still didn't win
the competition,” he beamed. The lifelong player has
been joking with friends: "There's a professional
somewhere inside me trying to get out." |
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