RICHMOND, Va. — Making your first hole-in-one is special on its own, let alone during a PGA Tour Champions pro-am.
That was 16-year-old Meg Lavinder’s reality on Wednesday during the 2021 Tom Farrell Memorial Pro-Am at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic held at Country Club of Virginia. The sophomore at nearby Mechanicsville High School aced the par-3 17th hole at the James River course ahead of the first playoff event in the senior circuit’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs.
“This is my first hole-in-one. I hit it, it felt good, the face was square, it had a nice little draw on it. Then I heard it hit the green,” said Lavinder. “I kind of turned away from the ball afterwards – then people started shouting it went in. It still hasn’t set in for me.”
Meg Lavinder and her dad, Scott, at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic pro-am. (Photo: David Botkins, Dominion Energy)
After the round, Lavinder was greeted by a crowd that included two-time major champion John Daly. Joining Lavinder was Dominion Energy Vice President Katharine Bond, Brittany Woo and Kelly McAnally.
“I was 9 years old when I started getting interested in golf and my dad got me out on the range,” said Lavender, whose father was on the bag on Wednesday for the all-female group – aside from pro Scott Dunlap.
“Don’t give up on yourself,” she added. “It’s hard to be in a more male dominated sport. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t.”
Contributing: David Botkins, Dominion Energy
