Fraser lands fantastic pair of aces
Scarthingwell member Fraser Black has defied odds greater than a lottery win by having two holes-in-one during the same round.
Bizarrely, the first was for a par after he pulled his 8 iron to the short 9th into the bushes left of the green and was forced to play a provisional.
He said: "I pulled out the same club and hit it with a touch of draw and it landed on the front edge and ran up the green went straight in the hole. I felt just like Freddie Couples who did the same thing on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass after hitting his first shot in the water.”
Just three holes later he again relied on his trusty eight iron on the 12th, another par 3. “I hit a really sweet shot, again with a bit of draw but it was right on line and landed about 4’ short of the green, took a big hop and went in. I couldn’t believe it,” Black, 39, told Yorkshire Golfer.
The odds of achieving two holes-in-one in a single game of golf are estimated at a whopping 67 million to one in contrast to the National Lottery jackpot which has been put at a comparatively small 14 million to one.
His incredible feat helped him to a nett 68 off his 8 handicap which was good enough to win the competition he was playing in, the Pro’s Cup. His rich vein of form continued through to the following week when he won the club stableford with a nett 67.
Born in South Africa, he started caddieing for his father at Carletonville Golf Club in Johannesburg before taking up the game aged 14. He then moved to the UK with his brother and now lives in Morley.
Unfortunately for Fraser, he didn’t swerve what could have a been a costly bar tab. “I did actually have to leave early as my Mum and Dad were visiting from Scotland so I bought a bottle of whisky and left it behind the bar with a note.
“You can’t be skimpy if you have been lucky enough to have two holes-in-one on the same day, especially since I had never had one before in my 25 years of playing the game.
“I also went out and bought two lottery tickets that same day but unfortunately my good luck did not continue,” he added.
In 2015 PGA Tour player Brian Harman had two holes-in one during the last round of The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey. He used a 7 iron to ace the 183 yard third hole and the lefty then holed his 4 hybrid on the 14th which was playing 218 yards.
Now playing off 5.5 thanks to his back-to-back wins, Black’s ambition is to play on the PGA Senior Tour. “I have 11 years in which to make it and that’s my dream. I wouldn’t mind if I finished last in every tournament as just to play those fabulous courses every week would be worth it.
