Aces are wild
In Quicken Loans National history, six different PGA TOUR players have notched holes-in-one on the Blue Course at Congressional Country Club and Aronimink Golf Club. The aces may have vaulted the players up the leaderboard, but at this year’s tournament, a “one” on the card will mean $1 million for one lucky winner.
Quicken Loans, in honor of its inaugural year as title sponsor of the Quicken Loans National, announced its Hole-in-One Sweepstakes at Media Day on Monday. The sweepstakes will reward one person $1 million if a PGA TOUR professional aces No. 10 at Congressional Country Club during tournament play from June 26-29. An additional $25,000 will be donated to the charity of the professional golfer’s choice.
Let’s take a look back at the Quicken Loans National holes-in-one, and maybe one of these players will receive more than a “one” tallied on their scorecard.
Kevin Stadler, 2007, No. 13, Congressional Country Club
Heading into the third round in the tournament’s inaugural year, Kevin Stadler was in a six-way tie for 12th and six shots back of tournament host Tiger Woods. Stepping up to the tee at the par-3, 187-yard No. 13, Stadler watched as his golf ball rolled into the cup for the ace. He would finish the third round tied for eighth and seven shots back, but couldn’t convert and took a tied-for-40th finish at even-par 284.
Corey Pavin, 2008, No. 10, Congressional Country Club
Corey Pavin carded a 2-over-par 73 in the first round of the 2008 edition and was eight strokes back of leader Steve Marino. The 15-time PGA TOUR champion came back in the second round with a 4-under-par 67, thanks to an ace on the 218-yard No. 10. Pavin finished the tournament at 1-over-par 285, tied for 68th. In 2014, Pavin’s hole-in-one would be worth $1 million.
Nathan Green, 2010, No. 5, Aronimink Golf Club
After a year without a hole-in-one in 2009, the tournament moved to Aronimink Golf Club in 2010, where par was 70. When Nathan Green reached the 178-yard No. 5, the Australian knocked in an ace en route to an even-par 71. Green recorded back-to-back 2-under-par 69s in the second and third rounds, and concluded the tournament at 4-over-par 284, tied for 46th.
Robert Allenby, 2011, No. 14, Aronimink Golf Club
The following year, the tournament remained at Aronimink Golf Club. Robert Allenby capped his third round six shots off the lead and in a seven-way tie with defending champion Justin Rose. In the final stretch during the last round, Allenby aced No. 14 from 218 yards. The “one” on his scorecard helped him climb the leaderboard and finish tied for sixth at 8-under-par 272.
Chez Reavie, 2012, No. 13, Congressional Country Club
The tournament returned to Congressional Country Club in 2012 after Rory McIlroy won the U.S. Open on the Blue Course in 2011. Chez Reavie started the tournament with consecutive 1-over-par 72s, but fought back in the third round to card a 4-under-par 67 and sit in a seven-way tie for 12th. On the 193-yard No. 13, Reavie made an ace in the final round, but it wasn’t enough to beat eventual winner and tournament host, Tiger Woods. Reavie posted a final-round 2-over-par 73 and tied for 15th at even-par 284.
John Merrick, 2013, No. 7, Congressional Country Club
After capturing his first PGA TOUR win at the Northern Trust Open, John Merrick competed in the 2013 Quicken Loans National that summer. Merrick struggled in the first round and recorded a 5-over-par 76 to sit in a tie for 108th. He returned the next day and was bogey free on his front nine, starting at No. 10. At the turn, he made three bogies on Nos. 3, 5 and 6, but at the par-3, 173-yard No. 7, he decreased his deficit with a hole-in-one. Merrick missed the cut at 5-over-par 147.
Will someone ace No. 10 at Congressional Country Club? We will have to stay tuned to find out!
For more information on the Quicken Loans Hole-in-One Sweepstakes and to purchase tickets for the 2014 Quicken Loans National, visit QLNational.com.
