HOLES IN ONE
First ace brings joy, new Nissan Sentra

Advertiser Staff

Mickey Leahey

Leahey

Every golfer's dream is taking one swing and having the ball find the cup.

But getting an ace and winning a car is a miracle. I was on the receiving end of that miracle Nov. 10 at the first Golf Tournament for St. Patrick's School.

Dave O'Conner invited me to join his threesome at The Hawai'i Prince golf course.

Since I used to play in the sugar cane fields where the fairways, greens and bunkers now host adult games, I knew I'd enjoy the day.

As I teed up on the C7 hole, I looked over at the hole-in-one prize — a green Nissan Sentra — and thought "no way."

I took out my No. 6 Ping iron, said a short prayer to St. Patrick, and aimed at the hole. The ball landed, took two bounces and the observer on the green started waving his hands.

O'Conner looked at me and said, "I think you got a hole-in-one!"

I raised my arms in question to the observer and he waved back affirming my dream.

I was still not a believer until I pulled my ball out of the cup. I was dazed then, and still am, until I look at the car in my driveway.

My 15-year-old son, Sean, asked me how I did it. I explained that it was prayer and obviously not practice since I hadn't played in months.

I asked my wife, Patty, if she would now encourage me to play more golf and she reminded me that for an amateur golfer, I had reached the pinnacle and there was hardly any way I could top this win. She suggested I start bowling.

Mickey Leahey, 58, has been golfing for 40 years. He is the brother of broadcaster Jim Leahey.