Thursday Notebook: Randy Mitchell makes hole-in-one in first round

SEASIDE, Calif. – Randy Mitchell of Newark, Ohio, recorded the first competitive hole-in-one of his career Thursday, using a 5-iron on the 190-yard, par-3 sixth hole on the Bayonet Course in the 27th Senior PGA Professional National Championship. Mitchell, 52, the PGA Head Professional at Moundbuilders Country Club in Newark, made the sixth ace of his career. He finished with a 2-over-par 74.

 

"I needed it and maybe a couple more," said Mitchell. "The ball took a fortuitous bounce and we asked it to do something stupid as we saw it rolling back down the slope. It went right in."

 

The runner-up in the 2015 Senior Southern Ohio PGA Championship, Mitchell is competing in his second Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

 

BAYONET vs. BLACK HORSE: Conditions were near ideal this morning at Bayonet Black Horse, sunny and in the low-70s. In the early afternoon, however, clouds rolled in and the temperatures promptly dropped into the mid-50s.

 

Below are the scoring averages for both Bayonet and Black Horse, broken down by morning and afternoon play:

 

Overall (Complete Day)

Bayonet: 75.70

Black Horse: 74.70

 

Morning

Bayonet: 74.94 (4946 strokes, 66 players)

Black Horse: 74.62 (4925 strokes, 66 players)

 

Afternoon

Bayonet: 76.45 (5046 strokes, 66 players)

Black Horse: 74.79 (4936 strokes, 66 players)