Busselton teen Chloe Veeran hasn’t even got her ‘L’ plates yet, but that didn’t stop her claiming a $60,000 pick-up truck as a hole-in-one prize at the South West Open.
Sixteen-year-old Chloe was amongst several elite amateurs in the PGA Pro-Am Series event at Bunbury Golf Club, but her contribution was the main talking point as she holed out on the 137-metre, par-three 17th with her trusty 7-iron at the start of her second round.
With South West Isuzu the title sponsor of the tournament, a $60,000 Isuzu D-Max was on offer for any player who aced the 17th, and even though she’s an amateur Chloe is eligible to keep the car due to recent changes in the rules of amateur status.
Speaking to GolfWA, Chloe said: “It was one of those shots that just feel so good off the clubface, so I wasn’t surprised that it was tracking well towards the hole, but I never expected it to go in.
“My playing partners Ken Gao and Izaak Heales were very supportive and were telling me it had gone in, but until I ran up and saw it in the hole I wasn’t sure. Then I started screaming and jumping. It was such a shock!”
The stunning nature of her achievement notwithstanding, Chloe has plans for her new car – even if she’s not old enough to drive it herself yet. “My dad’s going to use it to take our dog, Bubbles, on trips to the beach,” she laughed.
South West Isuzu Managing Director Darren Sprigg was delighted to see the dealership’s car being won by such a deserving individual. “A hole-in-one is great, but what’s even better is that it went to someone as happy, gracious and humble as Chloe,” he said. “She’s an absolute ripper of a person and her family should be very proud of how she conducted herself.”
Ultimately, torrential rain would cause the second day’s play to be washed out granting first-round leader Jose De Sousa his first pro title after his six-under-par opening round of 66. This left him two clear of Rick Kulacz and Braden Becker, with Ryan Peake and 15-year-old amateur Ollie Marsh sharing 4th position on -3.
With her second round unable to be completed, Chloe finished in T46th place in the 118-player field after a five-over 77 in her first round. You can view the tournament’s final results here.
Thanks to Bunbury Golf Club for the hole-in-one footage
