Feat isn't a hole lot of trouble for trio of golfers; Veterans all record aces in same game.

Byline: Dan Warburton

FOR these hot shot golfers, three really is the magic number. The veteran players beat the odds to all sink a hole-in-one on the very same day, in the very same competition.

Now the trio have confirmed their place in Heworth Golf Club's hall of fame after becoming the first members in the club's history to achieve the feat.

Retired public sector worker Jimmy Gibson, 72, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, found the hole on the 161-yard sixth hole with a three-iron.

It is not the first time Mr Gibson has secured the impressive achievement - he has already sunk a hole-in-one on the course.

Last night the grandfather-of-three said: "I was pretty pleased when it went in - it was probably nicer the second time though because I had a better view of it this time. When I walked on to the green it was resting on the flag and it was just a case of pulling the flag out and letting it pop in the hole, which was pretty satisfying.

"I was pretty nervous, though, because I didn't want to knock the ball away." Playing against eight other members from the club's veterans' section, 63-year-old Geoff Bone, from Wardley, in Gateshead, then aced the 119-yard third hole using a pitching wedge.

The father-of-one said: "I've been playing golf since 1980 and this is the first time I've ever hit a hole-in-one. It's the shortest hole, but I'll take it nonetheless.

"I had to help look for one of the other balls and I wasn't certain if it had gone straight in or not. I was desperate to go look and when I went to the ball it was in the hole. I was pretty surprised. It was a wonderful feeling especially because it was a delayed reaction."

Retired area director for Inland Revenue Derek Maher, 67, completed the trio of aces when he holed out at the 151-yard 15th hole with a six-iron.

The father-of-three from Hebburn, in South Tyneside, said: "It was a wonderful shot - I've never hit one like that before in a competition. I once hit a hole-in-one when I was playing in Consett, but it wasn't in a competition. I've been playing with Heworth Golf Club since 1974 and this is an amazing thing for me."

As is customary for those finding the hole with one single stroke, the three veterans have splashed out on drinks for the entire club.

Gordon Peters, Heworth's honorary secretary, said: "This is very unique. I've been looking in the official guide to see if this has ever happened before and I couldn't find it.

"I've never seen anything like this and I've been a member here for 44 years. We get a lot of hole-in-ones, but never three on the same day in the same competition.

"Everyone was just over the moon, especially in the veterans' section. The three golfers were playing in an end-of-season winter competition when they all sunk hole-in-ones.

"They have to buy everyone a drink so they've had to splash out on a bottle of whiskey each. It's been a good week."

CAPTION(S):

ACE Heworth Golf club members who all got a hole-in-one on the same day. From left, Derek Maher, Geoff Bone and Jimmy Gibson.