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12-year-old makes hole-in-one, shares medalist honors with two pros in mini-tour event
Max McKenzie is a 12-year-old golfer with plenty of ability. And thanks to one shot on Wednesday, he might not need to get a summer job now.
McKenzie made a hole-in-one during the Vancover Golf Tour's Pro-Junior event to win a $2,500 prize. That's a lot of money for someone who is still years away from having to pay for gas.
But that was just part of Max's incredible day. In addition to the ace, McKenzie carded a four-under-par 52 on the Cheam Mountain Golf Course (A par-3 course with two par 4s) to tie for medalist honors. Not just in the junior division, but including all the pros playing in the mini-tour event. In fact, McKenzie, playing from the same set of tees, tied with former Korn Ferry Tour player Bryn Parry as well as Mackenzie Tour pro Michael Belle.
The Vancouver Golf Tour bills itself as "Western Canada's Premier Golf Tour and counts PGA Tour winners Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor as alumni.
Of course, as an amateur, Max wasn't playing for any prize money. But thanks to the USGA's new relaxed rules regarding amateurs accepting hole-in-one prizes, he did get to keep the $2,500. Prior to this year, amateur golfers could only accept prizes with a maximum value of $750.
So good gooing, Max. And more importantly, good timing.