On Tuesday, just another ho-hum round for Pat Curran at West Sayville golf course. A smooth 145-yard 7-iron found the bottom of the cup for an ace on the eighth hole.
How many are they now? Do it n. 32.
“I’m just as lucky [as can be]”Said the 62-year-old retired home builder from Oakdale.” What else can I say? “
In 2015, Newsday told Curran’s abilities of skill and magic after making his 24th ace. The first one came in 1978 and since then Curran’s ball has been a pin finder. This includes two aces on par 4 holes in Brentwood and The Ponds in Lake Grove. It also has three double eagles on par 5 holes.
And to think that Curran has gone through four back surgeries to do it.
“I have switched to senior shirts since I had four back surgeries, so I can’t swing like I used to,” said Curran. “I had to hit an iron 7 to go 145 meters [on Tuesday]. Before I could hit a launch wedge so far. I moved two years ago. “
Curran is a lifelong golfer, nowadays he plays three times a week especially on public courses in Suffolk County and maintains a handicap of 4, a number indicating that he has a good ability to deal with extraordinary luck.
He has played everywhere and has played everywhere, accumulating them in South Carolina, Florida, California, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
“I’ve played everywhere on the PGA Tour, I’ve traveled all the time and I’ve played in all the fields they’ve ever played for a lifetime,” said Curran. “I’ve been playing for almost 50 years.”
The most special of his aces may have been in 2007 at the Green Tree Golf Club in Victorville, California, when he had his 7 year old nephew Joseph with him.
“He went crazy, he made the whole hole screaming ‘Dad had a hole in one,” said Curran.
Curran has an ace’s legacy sanctuary at home, which occupies the best part of two walls with the balls he used, the certified scorecards and the certificates of authenticity.
Tuesday could have been an even more incredible round for Curran, a man who had his share of incredible experiences on a golf course.
“Believe it or not in the 17th hole I landed an inch in front of the pin and stopped two meters away,” said Curran.
Damn luck.
Bensel takes the elderly
Frank Bensel of the Century Country Club won the Met PGA Senior Professional Championship on Tuesday at the North Hills Country Club on Tuesday with a total of two rounds of 139 under-par 139. The host club’s Scott Wise finished tied for fifth place with Sean Farren from The Creek Club and Jim Farrell from Hamlet G&CC.
ACES
Pat Curran, West Sayville GC no. 8, 145 yards, 7-iron
Domenick DiGirolamo, Bethpage Red No. 7, 148 yards, 6-iron
Dave Gillmor, Northport GC No. 7, 120 yards, 9-iron
Michael Healy, Timber Point Blue No. 5, 207 yards, 4-iron
Michael Home, Island’s End no. 11, 170 meters, 3 hybrids
Neville Reece, Island’s End no. 11, 160 meters, 7 iron
Joe Savino, Cherry Creek Woods n. 13, 190 meters, hybrid
Steven Tornetta, Robert Moses n. 18, 100 meters, sand wedge
Aces and other golf news can be sent to [email protected]. Aces can also be sent to [email protected].
