When Grayson Murray made a hole-in-one at the par 13-17th at PGA National on Saturday, he followed it up with no less than five fist pumps, the final one complete with a cap toss. The 26-year-old had all the reason in the world to celebrate considering that precious few aces go down there. No. 17, playing 151 yards in the third round, marks the end of the infamous Bear Trap, one of the most daunting stretches in golf.
Interestingly, second-round leader Brendan Steele horse-shoed his tee shot around the hole at the 179-yard 15th hole on Friday. Murray’s shot at No. 17 on Saturday, however, took two hops and rolled right in.
Murray is the second young player to log a hole-in-one at the Honda Classic this week. Matthew NeSmith, also 26, holed out at the par-3 fifth on Thursday.
Murray’s ace marks the 25th on the PGA Tour so far this season. It is his fourth hole-in-one on the PGA Tour.
Murray finished the third round with an even-par 70. His round included two birdies in addition to the ace, but also a bogey and a triple-bogey at the par-4 fourth. At 1 over, Murray was tied for 27th by the time he finished his round mid-day.
Murray hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, and played college golf for Arizona State. His sole PGA Tour victory came at the 2017 Barbasol Championship.
