Russell wins car for hole-in-one at tournament
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
PRESQUE ISLE — Bobby Russell of Fort Fairfield had one career hole-in-one entering the weekend. His second proved to be a much more lucrative one.
Contributed photo
HOLE-IN-ONE PRIZE — Bobby Russell of Fort Fairfield was the winner of a new car Saturday when he aced hole No. 8 at Presque Isle Country Club during the Presque Isle Rotary Club Tournament. Congratulating Russell is Jennifer Flynn of the tournament committee.
Russell aced hole No. 8 at Presque Isle Country Club Saturday during the Presque Isle Rotary Club Tournament. The shot resulted in winning a 2013 Chrysler 200 sponsored by Percy’s Auto Sales valued at approximately $23,000.
“My first hole-in-one was last year at Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield and I was playing a regular round with some buddies,” Russell recalled. “That one was exciting and unexpected, but this one was quite a bit different with a big prize on the line.”
Russell is a member at AVCC, but played in the C-A-N-C-E-R tournament at PICC two weeks earlier and the pin placement on the 155-yard hole was similar in both tourneys.
“You never think that you are going to knock it in the hole when you tee it up, but I just tried to put a good swing on it,” he said, noting he used a seven-iron for his tee shot.
“It landed on the middle of the green and started rolling toward the flag. We saw the ball disappear, but the green kind of drops off in the back so I wasn’t sure it went in. But the tourney official [Chris Locke] down by the hole came running out with his arms up in the air like I had kicked a field goal and then we started high-fiving and whooping and hollering.”
His playing partners, Himie Towle and Tom Towle, witnessed the shot along with the group playing alongside them, made up of Larry Shaw, Steve Gallant and Paul Towle.
Russell was also the winner of the longest drive and closest to pin competitions and was part of the three-person team that took low net honors.
“We were kind of struggling as a team, and that shot got us going,” Russell said. “We went on a run of birdies after that.”
Division winners were: men’s first gross, Matt Talbot, Steve Carmichael and Tyler St. Pierre, 60; first net, Russell, Himie Towle and Tom Towle, 57; second gross, Jon Humphrey, Dan Hotham and Rick Collins, 63; second net, Colby Doody, Chris Lambert and Jordan Hill, 58; third gross, James Pearson, John Gee and Ron McLaughlin, 64; and third net, Domenic Bua, Jesse Harris and Greg Whitaker, 58.
Ladies’ first gross, Angela Welch, Margo McLeod and Jocelyn Kierstead, 65; and low net, Alexis Madore, Betty Deveau and Sandra Beaupre, 60.
Closest to pin: No. 4, Joe Clukey, 4 feet, 2-1/2 inches; No. 8, Russell, hole-in-one; No. 16, St. Pierre, 5 feet, 5 inches; and No. 17, Paul Desjardins, 6 feet, 9 inches.
Longest drive: ladies, McLeod; and men, Russell.
A total of 23 teams participated in the event, with proceeds going to the Aroostook County chapter of Junior Achievement of Maine, Inc.
