It had been 40 years since he hit his first one, but it was nothing a little Friday the 13th couldn't cure for Rick "Smokey" Kirkgasler. The Aberdeen golfer notched his second career hole-in-one last Friday at Rolling Hills Golf Club. Kirkgasler used a 7-iron on the 145-yard first hole.
Kirkgasler was playing with five others in a 3-on-3 scramble. The group was just beginning the second round of the nine-hole course when he hit the hole-in-one.
"One of my playing partners said he thought it went in," said Kirkgasler. "I said, 'well, we'll see.' Then we got up there and it was in the hole. I'd like to say I used a wedge, but I didn't."
Kirkgasler said he hopes his next hole-in-one doesn't take 40 years. "I don't know if I'll be around then," he said.
Witnessing the feat were his brother Jim Kirkgasler, Jim Lutgen, Scott Hegge, Jason Hannigan and Stew Kelsey.
