Veteran's luck at 13th hole is all good

The 13th hole at Castlecliff Golf Club proved a lucky number for veteran Geoff Russell with yet another hole-in-one on that course on Sunday.

The 64-year-old had joined a group of mates for a round during the Medal event, although they stayed separate as "I'm too old to be playing competition".

Russell used his 5 iron out on the par 3 13th, about 155m, and put his shot about four-and-a-half metres short, only to watch it roll on. "Some guys on the next tee above the green saw it. For once, it was a good shot."

It is the first ace for Russell since the mid-1980s during a Glennie Cup round at the Belmont Links, when the Cup was played with rounds between the Wanganui and Castlecliff clubs.

Russell shouted his playing mates a drink at the clubhouse and then it was off home to share the good news.

"Mother bear was here and she was happy," he said.

"Keep it in perspective, though, that's what you've got to do.

"I've been playing for 55 years - occasionally you play a few good shots but they don't go in."

Even today, Russell plays off a three-handicap although it can take a bit of effort to keep it down to that level.

His magic shot was the fifth hole-in-one recorded in the wider Wanganui region this year and no less than the third at Castlecliff after Waitotara's Francis Hill in February and club captain Grant Clark at the start of this month.