WASHINGTON — A Northern Virginia golfer has shot what many are calling the greatest round of golf ever.
Fifty-nine-year-old Patrick Wills, of Woodbridge, Virginia, carded a 14-under-par 57, including three holes-in-one in an amateur tournament round at Laurel Hill Golf Club in Lorton, Virginia.
The former Marine’s incredible round came on June 22, during the Summer Solstice tournament at the course, which measured 6,021 yards.
Two of Wills’ aces came on par fours.
Wills, who is a plus-4 handicap, was golfing with his sons Charlie and Christopher, and Air Force Maj. Matt Ghormley.
After his son told him his tee shot on the 289-yard par-four seventh dropped in the hole, “My heart jumped in a little bit of disbelief,” said Wills.
When he aced the 334-yard par-four 10th hole, Wills “was shocked, numb, in disbelief.”
And, when his five iron on the par-three, 187-yard 14th plunked-in, “It is one of those surreal experiences — everything was moving in slow motion and I was trying to take it all in.”
“I was shocked,” said Laurel Hill PGA Director Gene Orrico, who verified the score card.
“Patrick has been around a long time, he is an honorable man and well-respected,” Orrico told the BBC.
In 47 years of golfing, Wills had 22 holes-in-one to his credit before his three-ace round.
He tells Yahoo Sports he understands the skepticism.
“People are allowed to believe what they want to believe — I fought for that freedom,” Wills said. “But I know what I shot, my playing partners know what I shot and the people at the tournament do as well.”
