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Gerry gets TWO holes-in-one in same round 12.06.12

One-in-67 million chance

by Linda McGrory

WINNING the Lotto would have been eight times more likely, but a golfer in Inishowen is celebrating hitting an astonishing TWO holes-in-one in the SAME round.
Gerry Guckian was playing at Greencastle Golf Club on Sunday afternoon when he achieved the amazing feat.
The 49 year old father-of-three was playing a competition on the last day of the club's open week when he hit his first hole-in-one at the 9th hole of the links course. He had barely recovered from the shock when just two holes later, from the eleventh tee, he sank his second hole-in-one. An elated Gerry, a solicitor in Derry, says he can’t believe what happened. And he wished he had had a bet on himself as one of his playing partners on the day is a bookie.
"There was some excitement on the golf course and the adrenalin was pumping. I’m over the moon.
“I wish I had had a bet on myself. I didn't have insurance which meant I lost out on €500 and had to buy drinks for everyone in the clubhouse out of my own pocket," he quipped.
The odds of hitting two holes-in-one in a single game is said to be about 67 million to one. Winning the Irish Lotto is only about eight million to one.
Gerry Guckian holds up his lucky ball after his second hole-in-one. Pictured from left, Hugh Casey, Gerry Guckian, Tommy McBride and Neil Guckian.
His playing partners in the competition - sponsored by Faulkner's garage - included Derry bookie Tommy McBride, local man Hugh Casey and his younger brother Neil Guckian, the current captain of the club.
"We believe it is the first time this has happened in the club's 120 year history. We will be contacting the Golfing Union of Ireland in due course to find out if it is the first time it has happened in Ireland," said Neil Guckian. "It was the perfect end to a brilliant open week which saw a record turn-out of about a thousand players because the weather was good. It was a very special day and it is great for my captain's year as well. I'm very proud," he added.
Gerry, who is also chairman of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, has been playing golf in Greencastle since he was a child. He has enjoyed a phenomenal three holes-in-one over the years - in 1978, 2000 and 2006 - but two in the one round was beyond his wildest dreams. He was delighted to tell his wife Jackie and their children, Jonathan, David and Dervla, the great news.
Gerry plays off a 14 handicap. His lucky ball on Sunday was a Titleist 4. He was using a 5 iron when he had his first lucky shot and a 7 iron for the second. Both were Par 3 holes with a length of 180 yards and 190 yards, respectively. He carded a respectable 39 points overall in the competition.
"My brother Neil persuaded me to keep my lucky ball after the second hole-in-one which was just as well because I sliced the next two balls into the water from the 12th tee.
"I nearly had a hole-in-one at the 18th as well. I was about six feet from the pin and got a birdie on that. I'm a bit embarrassed though because even after getting two holes in one I still didn't win the competition,” he beamed. The lifelong player has been joking with friends: "There's a professional somewhere inside me trying to get out."
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