14-year-old wins $10k hole in one challenge

Kevin Bang was taking part in the sport for the primary time “for fun”, however already had a bonus over many gamers; he’s a golfer visiting Taupō for the North Island Age Group Championships, the place he’s competing within the under-16 class.

“I used to be having a follow spherical with my mates, then we went to the water park after.

“We determined to go to the Gap in One for enjoyable, however I didn’t suppose I’d win.”

The Lake Taupō Gap in One Problem entails hitting a golf ball off the lakeshore in direction of one among three holes on pontoons set at various distances on the water.

Golfers can win the $10,000 grand prize in the event that they hit the furthest gap 102m from the driving platforms.

Bang estimated the profitable shot was his ninth or tenth try off the tee.

Earlier than his profitable shot, he joked along with his mates that he’d bounce within the lake if he gained the grand prize.

As soon as he hit it, he thought the ball had landed on the island, which might have earned him one other free strive however no prize.

The employees couldn’t initially inform whether or not he’d made the hole-in-one, so there was a delay whereas they checked Bang’s shot.

“I assumed it had simply hit the island and I used to be anticipating to simply get one other ball from the man there.”

“The man received the binocs out and realised it had gone in.”

Kevin Bang, 14, from Rotorua, exhibits {the golfing} prowess that earned him $10,000 on the Gap in One Problem in Taupō. Photograph / Dan Hutchinson

Zane Kitchen, enterprise supervisor for the Lake Taupō Gap in One Problem, stated it was the primary huge winner both of the employees working that day had seen.

However employees member Stevie Ngaheu had a superb feeling in regards to the shot, stated Kitchen, as a result of when it landed “he thought he’d heard a sound that he hadn’t heard earlier than”.

Ngaheu used binoculars to verify Bang’s win, as balls that land within the gap roll down a gutter right into a field on the entrance of the pontoon to make them simpler to see.

As soon as it had dawned on Bang that he had taken the prize, although, pleasure kicked in.

“I used to be simply freaking out. I known as my dad, known as my mum and advised them.

“I used to be laughing, yelling.”

The decision was so surprising that his mum didn’t consider him initially, pondering he was taking part in a prank.

He was true to his phrase although, and jumped into the lake for a fast victory lap.

His plans for {the golfing} prize are appropriately on-theme; first, he desires to pay his mother and father again for the funding they’ve made in him as a golfer since he began taking part in five-and-a-half years in the past.

He’d additionally like to purchase some new tools and fund a few of the tournaments he’s heading to this 12 months.

Kitchen stated Bang was the youngest winner of the grand prize because the attraction opened in 1993, and one among solely 12 winners in whole.

Nevertheless, with enterprise busier than ever they’ve seen a current uptick in winners, with 100 individuals taking a prize throughout the three holes inside the previous 12 months, together with Bang and one different $10,000 winner final August.