Even though no one was able to score an ace during the finals and semi-finals of the 13th annual Million Dollar Hole-in-One competition, participant David Platford came the closest out of anybody.
Following three days of qualifying rounds at Centennial Park, the event was eventually moved to the Thompson Golf Club on Saturday, July 14, where a small group of competitors battled bugs and heavy rain for a shot at the big money jackpot.
While these conditions proved to be a nuisance for some golfers, others were able to make good use of the wet green, since some of their balls hardly moved after landing.
Platford definitely took advantage of these unique circumstances, since his closest shot during the semi-final round came within one foot, two inches of the hole.
While his single shot in the final round−11 feet, two-and-a-half inches away from the hole−wasn’t nearly as accurate, it was still enough to beat fellow finalists Kenton Fayant and Scott Marcinyshyn by at least 17 feet.
However, this isn’t the first time that Platford completely outshot his competition. Once Saturday’s festivities wrapped-up, the local golf enthusiast told the Thompson Citizen that he clinched the top spot during the inaugural Million Dollar Hole-in-One event back in 2006, when he was only 12 years old.
“I was hitting with a three iron then and now I’m hitting with a pitching wedge,” he said.
Despite not walking away with a million dollars, Platford still won a round trip from Calm Air for his efforts.
And even though nobody pulled off a hole-in-one during this year’s finals and semi-finals, participants Mike Fayant and Joyce Mymko were able to score an ace during the qualifying rounds, which ran July 11−13 at Centennial Park.
All the money raised from this year’s competition will go towards a variety of local recipients, including the Thompson Crisis Centre, the Thompson Northern Torpedoes Swim Club and the Thompson Figure Skating Club.
