Hermon golfer wins car for ace

NORTHEAST HARBOR – Chris Dunifer of Hermon won a new 2001 Buick Century when he recorded a hole-in-one on the 14th hole at Northeast Harbor Golf Course during the Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Open Saturday.

Dunifer’s 187-yard drive hit the green, took two short hops and dropped in the cup. The ace was witnessed by spotters Bruce Adams of Lamoine and Harold “Tex” Huston of Ellsworth.

It was the second career hole-in-one for the 50-year-old Dunifer, according to his wife, Linda Dunifer, who said her husband used a 5-iron on the shot and finished with an 86 for the round.

“I was shocked when he told me. I didn’t believe him. I thought he was pulling my leg,” she said.

Each year the Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Open offers two opportunities for golfers to win a new car for a hole-in-one. This year, Downeast Toyota Buick of Brewer was one of the dealerships supporting the annual fundraiser that benefits many medical programs at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth.

Downeast Toyota, owned by Ed Darling and family, offered up a vehicle valued at more than $22,000 for the first hole-in-one. It was the first time in nine years that a car has been won on either of the two courses played in the tourney. Another round is held at Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton.

Dunifer, who works at General Electric in Bangor, was playing in his sixth Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Open. His ace was also witnessed by playing partners Norm Simmons, Eric Jackson and Dunifer’s brother, Bruce Dunifer.