Two is better than one, although one is exceptional all on its own.
The first Stantec BFF (Best Friends Forever) Ladies Golf Tournament on Monday at River Bend Golf Course featured two holes in one.
Golfers Paulette Hanson of Rocky Mountain House and Kim Lee of Red Deer won $25,000 each to go towards a new vehicle at Ponoka Dodge Chrysler, pending insurance verification of their holes in one.
The aces occurred at the eighth and 16th holes (par threes).
“It was crazy. Gord Bambord’s annual golf classic has never even seen holes in one for the big prizes,” said Tera Lee Flaman, one of the main organizers behind the event.
“It’s very, very rare. Most golf tournaments never see a hole in one. ... We were very excited. At one of our early meetings, Lyn Radford said, ‘I’d sure love if someone won one of these hole in ones,’ and we had two!”
Radford, a longtime well-known volunteer in the community, was also one of the organizers.
Flaman added that hole in one winner Lee hadn’t played golf in over eight years.
The tournament was held in support of women’s athletics through Red Deer College and the Red Deer Games Foundation.
A number of well-known female athletes from Central Alberta participated, including Olympian Mellisa Hollingsworth.
The final fundraising total was not available at press time on Tuesday but organizers are calling it a success and already planning for next year.