Va. golfer shoots 57 with 3 aces, including 2 on par 4s
If someone told you they shot 57 for a round of golf, there are two natural reactions:
1. Facetiously ask, “Was that for nine holes?” and then laugh;
2. Slap them in the face and call them a liar.
However, Virginian Patrick Wills did just that, carding a 14-under 57 in a tournament round played at Laurel Hill Golf Course in Lorton, Va., host of the 2013 U.S. Amateur Public Links. Michael Keating, publisher of GolfStyles Media Group, claims the 59-year-old former Marine did it in the second round of a Summer Solstice tournament at the course. Even more amazing? Wills had three holes-in-one during the round, including two on par 4s.
Keating, who was tournament director for the event, set up the tournament, designed to maximize rounds in a single day because of the amount of sunlight, to get easier over the course of the day. In Round 2, players competed off the White tees at a length of 6,021 yards.
Wills went out in 29, making four birdies in the first six holes, along with his lone bogey of the day. On the 278-yard par-4 seventh, Wills made his first of three aces on the day with what he called a “baby-draw 3-wood.”
He then started the back nine with another par-4 ace, this time from 310 yards with a driver. He was incredulous.
“I literally said to myself, ‘Get real.’ I thought they were teasing me,” he said. “Never in my wildest imagination did I think I could get multiple ones in the same round.”
At the uphill par-3 14th, Wills used a 5-iron to make his third and final hole-in-one on the day. At that point, Wills was 13 under through 14 holes.
He slowed down from there, playing the final four holes in 1 under, including a Dustin Johnson-like three-putt par on the par-5 finishing hole.
Though the 57 is a lifetime best for Wills, he claims to have “numerous” rounds of 59, as well 22 career aces, including four on par 4s.
I know, I know. You’re thinking a word that rhymes with poolspit. However, Wills, who is a plus-4 handicap, has witnesses: sons Charlie and Christopher, also a member of the military, as well as Air Force major Matt Ghormley.
Wills understands the skepticism.
“People are allowed to believe what they want to believe – I fought for that freedom,” he said. “But I know what I shot, my playing partners know what I shot and the people at the tournament do as well.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
