September 4, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — The 2008 Virtual Tournament leader poured it on last weekend says several media reports out of southern Virginia. Rookie John Mello carded a first hole-in-one with his trustee KZG Pitching Wedge at the 5th hole of Heron's Ridge Golf Club.

Mello was playing in a small Labor Day blitz (12 golfers) that paid top 2 net and top 2 gross. He was struggling through 4 holes with 4 consecutive fives.

He arrived to the 128-yard par 3 with a solid opportunity to break five. The short hole has a bunker behind the green and creek just in front. The green is slightly elevated.

Mello hit his ball towards the pin with the perceived distance needed. "We heard it hit the stick," said Mello after his round. "The problem is we could not see the hole itself. The ranger happened to be watching and threw his hands up."

The group eventually drove up to the green and found that that 3/4 of the ball went through the turf at the edge of the cup on the fly. The hole was partially destroyed.

"It was fate," said Mello. "I was behind on my bets until today."

He ended up taking second place net with a net 68 on the day winning $20, $15 for the skin at the 5th hole, and another $18 for his eagle.

The course grounds crew did plug the existing hole and move it due to the existing unrepairable damage.

"It was weird writing down the 1 on the scorecard," said Mello. "Really weird. Those moments generally happen at Owl's Creek Family Fun Center putt putt course."

The eagle was worth a whopping 16 points and set the pace for a 83-point round. The round was the second highest score of his short 28-round career inside the Virtual Tournament.

The 83-point round increased John Mello's lead in the 2008 Virtual Tournament by 4.7 points per round. An inactive Don Creighton continues to hold onto 2nd position.