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CLEAR Temp: 60 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Sunday, September 1, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend August 28, 2002 Hohnstein drops in pair of aces By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — This two-for-one was special indeed. Gary Hohnstein, who previously had one hole-in-one to his credit, accomplished the feat twice Tuesday at Red Mountain Golf Course. In back-to-back rounds, Hohnstein, a part-time worker at the nine-hole, par-3 course, aced the second hole during a two-man scramble, then did so again on the fourth hole during an ensuing skins game. Both shots came from the black tees, technically making them the 11th and 13th holes on the scorecard. "Getting one is something," said Hohnstein, 61, who moved to Grants Pass two years ago upon retiring as general manager at Timberline Lodge. "Then getting two in one day it’s like, ‘Whoa!’ Still, it’s just luck." There was no doubt about the first one, a gap wedge from 105 yards. It bounced once, rolled to the hole, then disappeared, touching off a round of hooting and hollering by him and playing partners Paul Gandt, Bill Blumhart and Ken Hecht. "Every time you hit it, you try to hit it straight," said Hohnstein. "It was looking good all the way." On the second one, he hit an 8-iron 160 yards. This one didn’t even appear to go in the hole. Like his first ace, the ball took a bounce and rolled to the cup. "Then it just stopped," said Hohnstein. As the entourage — they played two sevensomes for the skins game — got within about 20 yards of the green, a funny thing happened. "The wind waved the flag a little bit and it just dropped," said Hohnstein. "It must have been a leaning flag. If the flag is perfectly straight, there’s no way it can’t fall in the hole." His immediate reaction to another ace? "Unbelievable," he said. And remember, this was the fourth hole of a skins game. A skin is awarded to anyone who wins a hole outright; the pot carries over to the next hole on ties. Skins also are awarded for each stroke under par. None had been won to that point, meaning three skins carried over and two more were bestowed for the eagle. Hohnstein made a haul of six skins — at a quarter apiece. The booty did not quite cover him as one of golf’s traditions was invoked: If you make a hole-in-one, you buy the house a round. "I had to buy two," exclaimed Hohnstein, who wasn’t let off easy by his peers. "Are you kidding me? Those guys weren’t going to let me get away with anything. Then they all bought the most expensive stuff. I told them I’d buy them all a glass of water with ice cubes in it, but they didn’t go for it." Hohnstein’s other hole-in-one came on Dec. 8, 2000, when he did it on No. 13 as well. Only once before at the course — during its grand opening June 24, 2000 — has someone made two holes-in-one on the same day. Eric Jones, visiting from Oklahoma, did it then during the same round. His shots came on the fourth and eighth holes. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S