In the 41 years he’s played golf, Guyer head coach Roddy Adams was without the one feat hopeless hacks and idolizers of the iron always chase.
On Sunday afternoon at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Adams took his 7-iron to the par-3, 135-yard eighth hole and stroked a low, driving shot into the wind and the setting sun.
Adams’ ball traveled uphill, stayed beneath the wind and bounced about five feet from the hole before disappearing from sight.
One of his playing partners said, “Coach, there’s one in the hole. I haven’t touched it.”
Adams peered into the hole, saw the black stripe marking his ball and claimed the first hole in one of his career. Ryan Principal Vernon Reeves, Ryan Assistant Principal Fred Younkman and Denton school district annex supervisor Rod Reeves witnessed the shot.
“They were more excited than I was because I was thinking of how it affected my score, because I went from 1 over [par] to 1 under,” Adams said.
The last time Adams and Vernon Reeves had played together was in November when Reeves recorded his first hole in one at No. 14 at Robson Ranch.
After joking about somebody scoring another ace Sunday, Vernon Reeves stood and watched as Adams accomplished the feat.
“We were just shocked,” Vernon Reeves said. “I mean, what are the chances?”
Ryan football coach Joey Florence was in the group ahead of the foursome, and Vernon Reeves said Florence initially was in disbelief when hearing about the shot.
Adams, 52, said he and his playing partners usually hit the course after church — and during Cowboy games. Since they say they aren’t fans of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after “years of mediocrity,” they usually record the game, leaving the option to watch it later.
Adams, a head golf coach since 2000 and a 1979 Denton graduate, said he’s had two players shoot holes in one.
In 1999, Adams and Vernon Reeves played in a tournament in Nocona, where the duo won and Adams hit one of his tee shots to within two feet of the hole.
Thirteen years later, Reeves said Adams remained calm as he holed his shot. The Ryan principal said he was excited for his friend because Adams is such a great golfer.
“A hole in one doesn’t mean you’re a great golfer, but it’s always something that you shoot for,” Vernon Reeves said.
Adams finished the 18-hole course with a 4-over 76, eight strokes ahead of Younkman.
BEN BABY can be reached at 940-566-6869. His e-mail address is bbaby@dentonrc.com .
