79 year-old Brian shoots ace at Spa

79 year-old Brian shoots ace at Spa

16 May 2018

SKILL and ability are obviously not defined by age as senior Spa member Brian Collins proved last week when he shot a hole-in-one during the May Bank Holiday open competition at the club.

Seventy-nine year old Brian, who is still recovering after a knee replacement operation, carded his ace at the par three, 140-yard eighth hole.

It was the sixth hole-in-one during his long golfing career, but even Brian had to admit this was probably the sweetest.

A former captain and president at Spa, he stood on the tee box thinking of using a wedge to the green which is protected by bunkers both left at right.

“But then I thought if the ball drifted even slightly right or left it could end up in one of the bunker so I decided on a nine iron and hit it as straight as I could,” he said.

“I saw it land on the green and it just ran right into the cup. That was quite an experience.”

His playing partners, Jimmy Kelly, Brian Murphy and Pat Savage, were unanimous the ball was “going nowhere” but straight into the cup.

Brian’s impressive golfing CV includes holding the course record at Kilkeel for a number of years after scoring a superb 65 there in 1973.

He is a co-founder of the Cider Cup Challenge played every two years by a team from Spa and a squad from Minnesota. Later this year the USA golfers will be at Spa in a bid to win back the trophy.

Spa’s head professional, Gary Wardlow, was one of many who congratulated Brian on his achievement.

“Scoring a hole in one at any time is quite an achievement. But to do so just short of your 80th birthday and after a major operation is phenomenal and indeed inspirational,” Gary said.

Gaelic football fans will recall that it was Brian’s son, Neil, who saved a penalty in the closing minutes of the 1994 All-Ireland final against Dublin at Croke Park which brought the Sam Maguire Cup back across the border.