ALDRICH POTGIETER MAKES AN ALBATROSS AT THE JOHN DEERE CLASSIC QUALIFIER

18-year-old Aldrich Potgieter hit a hole-in-one on a 345-yard Par 4 at the John Deere Classic Monday Qualifier. It happened at Pinnacle CC in Milan, Illinois.. Unfortunately, Potgieter missed qualifying by 1 stroke.

There has been just one par-4 hole-in-one recorded in PGA Tour-sanctioned competition, Andrew Magee on the 17th hole at the 2001 WM Phoenix Open. Potgieter’s won’t count in the record books, but for an intriguing young talent who won last year’s The Amateur Championship at age 17, it’s another tale for the lore.

The albatross moved Potgieter to 6-under through eight holes, after making four birdies against a bogey in his first seven. He played his last 10 in even-par to card 6-under 66 and keep a puncher’s chance at a tee time at TPC Deere Run, ultimately finishing one shot away.

Potgieter’s standing is quickly rising in the golf world. Last year, he became the second-youngest winner of The Amateur, an event that dates back to 1885. He made the cut at last month’s U.S. Open, averaging more than 190 mph ball speed. The following week, he competed in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Compliance Solutions Championship, finishing T35.

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