The 17-year-old from Calgary drained a hole-in-one during a Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop last week at Olds Central Highlands, sinking his 163-yard tee-shot on No. 13 — he found the target on the fly with a nine-iron — and scoring the keys to a Ford EcoSport. “It’s unreal, the greatest feeling ever,” Verjee said afterward.
This family must have incredible aim, because Trae’s father, Zul, has recorded two aces of his own this summer — one on the third hole at Valley Ridge and the other on No. 4 on the Mount Lorette Course in Kananaskis Country. When Trae’s mom, June, reported this run of sweet shots, she promised that she’ll be loading up on lottery tickets. Good thinking.
At Silver Springs, both Louanne Jackson and Sandy Volponi are on hot streaks, each with a pair of aces so far this season. Jackson’s second of the summer was a splendid seven-wood on the 134-yard seventh hole at the private course, while Volponi’s latest — and fourth overall — was an outstanding eight-iron from 132 yards away on No. 2, a dandy downhiller.
Here’s a six-cess story for you … Doug Currie celebrated his sixth career hole-in-one, the most recent coming on No. 6 at Pinebrook. He’d already aced that assignment prior to a major renovation/redesign at his home club, and now he’s mastered the new-look version, too. Currie’s latest memory-maker was a nifty nine-iron that covered 138 yards.
Greg Claggett, a longtime member at Valley Ridge, will have to count any future aces on his opposite hand. He carded the fifth of his career at his usual hangout, powering a pitching wedge from 157 yards away on the third hole.
Also at Valley Ridge, Zack Dennis completed his career hole-in-one hat-trick with a gorgeous gap-wedge from 138 yards out on No. 11.
Hole 13 at Douglasdale proved lucky for Laurie Clay, who dunked an awesome eight-iron from 101 yards back.
Davon Budd, 16, made the fifth hole on Highwood’s Mountainview loop seem easy. The sharpshooting junior completed that 142-yard challenge with one pop of a pitching wedge.
George Starkewski will be saying only good things about his eight-iron, his weapon of choice for a 135-yard laser on the eighth hole at Springbank Links.
Mary Bennett capped a spin of Shaganappi’s Valley Nine with an exclamation point, acing the 109-yard finishing hole with one thump of a four-hybrid.
Dominic Arthurs was perfect with a pitching wedge on No. 15 at Inglewood, which measures 155 yards.
Calgary’s Gerry Lang returned from a road game at Magrath with a heck of a story to tell. Lang aced the fifth at that small-town setup, watching from 151 yards away as his tee-ball — a soaring seven-iron — landed several feet past the flag and zipped back to the pin.
Paul Dann was one-and-done on No. 11 on Serenity’s Dancing Bull layout, starting the toughest part of that course — a three-hole stretch known as Monty’s Rut — with a sensational six-iron that spanned 184 yards.
Mark Gloeckler picked a precise line on No. 15 on the Raven at Priddis Greens, hoisting a pitching wedge over the pond and making a splash of another sort from 127 yards away.
Scott Connelly was flawless with a five-iron on No. 14 at Pinebrook, which was playing 177 yards.
Russ Jackson made short work of the fifth hole at Shaganappi Point. Sand-wedge was the right call for a 126-yard shot.
Bob Tutt skipped the putting portion on No. 15 at Willow Park, finding the flag-stick with one crack of an eight-iron from 163 yards.
The ninth hole at Canal at Delacour proved to be no problem for Doug Taylor, who made the turn in supreme style by smoking a six-iron into the wind from the 150-yard blocks.
Ian Jamieson’s scribbled a ‘1’ on his scorecard thanks to a pure pitching wedge from 158 yards away on No. 12 at Hamptons.
Anne Boswell and Ginny Hughes can swap stories after both aced the fourth hole on the Lakes loop at Glencoe. Boswell buried a 129-yard beauty with a seven-iron, while Hughes was swinging the same club from the 98-yard decks.
Also at Glencoe, Dave Bell breezed through the fifth hole on Slopes thanks to an accurate eight-iron that travelled 146 yards.
Report the details of your ace to wgilbertson@postmedia.com