Halifax, Massachusetts, United States: Teenage Amata Spring Country Club champion Conor Kelly has made global headlines with what is believed to be a unique golfing feat.
Playing in the final round of an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournament, 16-year-old Kelly made a hole-in-one and an albatross on consecutive holes.
“Is this the greatest feat in golf history?” asked the AJGA, while Golf World reported that: “A junior golfer just pulled off something that’s probably never been done in a tournament before.”
Kelly’s remarkable efforts upstaged the performances of compatriots Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Jazz Janewattanawond and Danthai Boonma who were battling to make the cut in the Open Championship at Carnoustie.
Using a five-iron, Bangkok-based Kelly aced the 198-yard, par-three eighth hole at the Country Club of Halifax. “I didn’t see it go in, but when I walked up and saw it in the hole, it was a good feeling,” Kelly told Golfweek of the first ‘ace’ of his life.
Choosing to stick with the same ball, with his next shot Kelly struck a 260-yard drive at the par-five ninth hole. With 220 yards to the flag, Kelly pulled out his four-iron and sent the ball into the cup for an albatross-two, although he didn’t realise it at the time.
“I didn’t hit it too well, so I thought it might come up short in the bunker,” admitted Kelly. “But then I got up there and it wasn’t in the bunker. When I saw it in the hole, it was pretty crazy.”
Not content with that, Kelly added a birdie at the par-four 10th for a 1-2-3 scorecard run, putting him at six-under-par for that remarkable three-hole stretch.
He eventually signed for a five-under 67 to tie for 17th at eight-over in the AJGA Junior Golf Hub Championship.
In his native Thailand, Kelly is a member at Amata Spring, Thai Country Club and Laguna Phuket Golf Club, all Golf Course Facility Members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.