Two more aces? Peoria-area high school golfers continue rash of holes-in-one

High school sharpshooters turned in a pair of holes-in-one last week — continuing an amazing run of aces in Peoria-area high school golf.

Morton senior Bailey Strode notched a hole-in-one Friday on the par-3, 174-yard No. 4 at Lick Creek in Pekin on the opening day of the Dragon Classic.

Peoria Notre Dame junior Christian Joseph had a hole-in-one during an intra-squad match Sept. 13 at Madison Golf Course. He aced the 156-yard, par-3 No. 4.

These two join a hole-in-one list this fall that already includes Princeville's Audrey Bowermaster  and Richwoods' Jack Hammerton.

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This was the first hole-in-one for Strode, who has been a member of the Morton boys golf team for four years. He used a pitching wedge for his ace. 

"I was mad when I first hit the shot. I told the guys in my group that the ball was going way over the green," he said. "The ball actually landed close to the pin, but then it disappeared. I thought it rolled off the green."

What really happened, Strode learned later from spectators including his parents, is his fade shot landed about a foot to the left of the hole, spun to the right and behind the cup, then rolled in.

"When everyone up by the green started cheering, I knew the ball had gone into the hole," Strode said.

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Strode shot 84 for the round. 

"I was content with that," he said, "but I could have done better."

Odds of making a hole-in-one are 12,500 to 1, according to the PGA, which also says the average golfer plays for 24 years before their first ace. So far in the Peoria area, we have four teenagers with their firsts.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve. Steve Stein contributed to this story.