By DAVID NAGEL
WHAT was the first thing that you think Nicholas McQualter did after having his first hole-in-one on the 16th at the Pakenham Golf Club on Saturday?
He rang his father Jason of course.
The 15-year-old, with very big dreams in the game of golf, has been a regular fixture at the Pakenham Golf Club for the last five years. His dad Jason, general manager of the club, has played golf at Pakenham since he was a junior, but has never had a hole-in-one.
“It’s the first thing I wanted to do, to call him up, not to brag, but just to let him know that I’d just had my first hole-in-one,” the Year-10 Pakenham High School student said.
“I didn’t think I’d ever have one, and I’ve got one now, so if I never have another one, I’m Ok with that… I don’t want to get greedy.”
Nicholas can thank his playing partners, club captain Clint Walker, Matt Shores and Frankie Chiu for alerting him to one of the most unique feelings in sport.
“It was in a bit of a shock I think,” Nicholas said.
“I had 169-metres to the flag, so I hit a four-iron, I just hit a little cut up there, and looked away because I thought it was going over the back of the green. One of the boys yelled out ‘get in the hole’, so I looked back and saw it drop in the hole. It was pretty exciting.”
Nicholas, who eats and breathes golf, plays off a handicap of seven and would love to one day play golf in the United States. He recently played in a school’s challenge at Royal Melbourne, where he broke the average score, which saw him qualify for a program which he can take part in once he completes his schooling.
“After I finish school I get nine months off to work on my golf, then four years in the US doing a college degree if it gets that far, where you just play golf,” he said.
“If my golf gets good enough I’d love to pursue that dream of being a professional golfer.”
And what does Jason think of his son beating him to that elusive hole-in-one?
“I suppose it’s my nightmare, but it’s every fathers dream to be proud of his son playing sport and Nicholas has taken to golf like a duck to water.
“I couldn’t be happier for him.”
