Brewer third-grader scores hole-in-one

An 8-year-old from Brewer recently accomplished a golfing feat that many who play never obtain when he made a hole-in-one at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

Chris Hillier, a third-grader at Washington Street School in Brewer, made the hole-in-one at the Father-Son Golf Tournament at PVCC on Aug. 23.

“I was pretty happy,” Hillier said about the 80-yard hole-in-one on PVCC’s fourth hole, which was shortened for the children competing.

The odds of making a hole-in-one are 13,000 to 1 for amateurs (like Chris) and 2,600 to one for professional golfers, according to usholeinone.com.

Todd Hillier, Chris Hillier’s father, said the shot surprised his son.

“Chris looked at his grandfather and said ‘How’d I do that?'” Todd Hillier said.

Chris used a 5-iron and said he aimed to the right of the hole. It was the first time he recorded a hole-in-one.

He added that he didn’t see the ball go in the hole, but was very happy when it did.

“I couldn’t believe he got it in, I was watching from the side and saying, ‘get in the hole! get in the hole!'” said Todd Hillier, explaining his surprise when he saw the ball roll in the hole.

“[The ball] bounced on the fringe, trickled down to the hole and went in,” Todd Hillier added.

Chris plays golf at least once a week when he takes lessons every Friday. Hitting the ball far is what he enjoys most.

“I started playing golf four years ago,” he said.

Chris enjoys playing at PVCC. His younger brother, Andy, who is 6, also golfs and was in the tourney. Andy won the competition for straightest drive.

Matthew McLaughlin, 13, is interested in youth sports news. Send items to bdnsports@bangordailynews.net.