It must have been surreal.
George Griffin struck his final shot of the 17th annual Hughson-Benson Associates Firemen's Invitational Golf Tournament on Saturday from the tee box of the ninth hole at Woodhaven Golf Course.
Next to the green sat a Chevy Cobalt that would be given to anyone who aced the 175-yard, uphill par-3.
Arkville resident Griffin, 59, said he hit his 6-iron pure, but he didn't see how it turned out because it was a blind shot. Griffin added he didn't think anything special had happened because an older gentleman serving as the spotter didn't react.
"As I got close to the green, I asked where the ball went and (the spotter) said the last guy to hit put it in the hole," Griffin said. "You really had to be there. I'm not Mr. Excitement or anything, but all the people around said the check the hole and there it was."
The shot marked Griffin's second hole-in-one; his first came about two years ago at Shepard Hills Golf Course in Roxbury.
"But there was no car with that one," Griffin said.
There might not be a car with this one, either.
Griffin said he recently purchased a GMC truck and his wife drives a Subaru that runs well. So if he has a choice, he may take money instead of the car.
"I don't know the particulars," Griffin said. "I'm not sure what I'll do. It depends if they offer the full amount, but you have to remember you're dealing with car dealers. Either way, it's a good problem to have."
Griffin said his son, who has a birthday coming up, had a suggestion.
"He thanked me for the car and I said, I don't think so,'" said Griffin, who said he competes in Tuesday and Thursday leagues at Shepard Hills and usually plays a round with friends on Sundays.
Griffin became the second member of his Saturday foursome to win a car with a hole-in-one in the tournament. In 2004, playing partner Bill Blish aced the same hole. Griffin said Blish took the money.
"It's kind of a freak thing to have two guys from the same foursome who have won it," said Griffin, adding he's played in this tournament for the past seven or eight years.
Griffin, Blish, Nelson Delameter and Ralph Ackerley represented the Margaretville Fire Department on Saturday in the captain-and-crew event. Griffin said the first time around the nine-hole course Saturday, he sent his tee ball long and left on the ninth and his team bogeyed the hole.
Griffin's foursome finished second in the four-team tournament with a 58, one shot behind a foursome from the Cooperstown FD.
As for buying drinks for his partners after the round, as is customary for one who hits a hole-in-one, Griffin said refreshments already were provided.
"I tried to buy dinner for my teammates," he said, "but they didn't want it."
Harris repeats as OCC champ
Unatego graduate Justin Harris won the Oneonta Country Club's club championship for the second straight year when he finished with a two-day total of 147 on Sunday.
Despite shooting a 78 in the final round, Harris earned a three-stroke victory over runner-up Mike Schulte. Harris opened with a 3-under-par 69 during the first round Saturday, when Schulte shot a 73.
Harris had the lowest and the highest single-round scores among the top six finishers.
After winning the OCC club title last summer, Harris went on to earn his first Atchinson Cup as the champion of the Otsego County Amateur Golf Tournament.
OCC pro Paul Jaycox said Tuesday that this year's Atchinson Cup has been moved from this weekend to Aug. 29-30. OCC will host the first round of the 32nd annual tournament, which shifts to Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown for the final round.
OCC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Results Saturday and Sunday from the Oneonta Country Club's club championship, a 36-hole, stroke-play event.
1, Justin Harris 69-78_147; 2, Mike Schulte 73-77_150; 3, Harry Schulte 77-74_151; 4, Steve Torrey 76-75_151; 5, Matt Burke 77-75_152; 6, Rich Myers 77-75_152.
OHS girl fifth at NENY event
East Meredith resident Vanessa Fassler placed fifth in the girls 16-18 division Monday during the North Eastern New York PGA Bob Mix Junior Tour Event 7 at the Albany Country Club.
Fassler shot a 92 (48-44) to finish seven strokes behind winner Stephanie Bednar of Hudson (41-44) in the eight-girl division. Fassler played golf for Oneonta High last year.
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Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.
