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The PGA Tour estimates the average golfer has a 1-in-12,5000 chance of hitting a hole-in-one on any given par-3, which means there’s a pretty solid chance you can play the sport your entire life and never get to experience the rush that comes with what is arguably the greatest achievement the game has to offer.
Of course, those odds increase a bit if you’re not the kind of golfer who has to consistently resist the urge to snap your putter across your knee or throw your bag into the nearest body of water over the course of a typical round, as they drop to 1-in-5,000 for people with a low handicap.
It’s safe to say 16-year-old Chloe Vereen falls into that category, as the amateur headed into this week’s Isuzu Southwest Open at Bunbury Golf Club sporting a handicap of a single stroke in a pro-am where participants had some extra incentive to hit a hole-in-one thanks to the D-MAX utility vehicle was up for grabs.
According to Golf Digest, Vereen capitalized on that opportunity on the 17th hole, as she hit a seven iron from 150 yards out to record the ace that was captured on camera along with the jubilant reaction where she was filmed sprinting toward the green to confirm the ball had indeed gone in the hole.
A shot of a LIFETIME 🤯
The unforgettable moment 16-year-old Chloe Veeran from Busselton WA had a hole-in-one during a local Pro-am to win a $60,000 car! Enjoy your new wheels 🚗 pic.twitter.com/DDA3sG75Ly
— Golf Australia ⛳️ (@GolfAust) June 6, 2023
While golfers who hit a hole-in-one are traditionally supposed to buy a round of drinks in the clubhouse after their round, I’m assuming Vereen got a pass because she’s a high schooler who isn’t legally allowed to consume alcohol.
With that said, she’ll be able to retain her amateur status while driving away in a car with an estimated sticker price of AU$60,000 (around $40,000 in American money) thanks to a rule that grants an exemption to the cash value cap if your winnings stem from a contest involving a hole-in-one.