Hole-in-one? Ulidia College pupil Ryan’s had two ...

It’s the holy grail for any golfer. The coveted hole-in-one.
Ryan McNamarra on tees off at Carrickfergus GC.Ryan McNamarra on tees off at Carrickfergus GC.
Ryan McNamarra on tees off at Carrickfergus GC.

But Ulidia Integrated College pupil Ryan McNamara (pictured, below) has done it twice.

The 17-year-old was enjoying a round at Carrickfergus Golf Club earlier this month when his ball was “nowhere to be found” after his tee shot on the par-three seventh.

“Once I hit my shot I knew that it would have been close. I decided to take out my pitching wedge and fly it straight at the pin,” he said. “But there was a group ahead of me celebrating but I wasn’t sure why.

“I walked up towards the green to find my ball nowhere to be seen.

“I quickly dashed over to check the hole and there was my ball. I was ecstatic and overwhelmed!”

Ryan’s first ace came on the same course at the age of nine.

“I feel very grateful to have my second-ever hole-in-one at 17, as I know many professionals go their whole career without having one.”

Expert opinion varies on the chances of a low handicapper making an ace; the odds are stacked against the player. But to make two by the age of 17, well, that’s virtually unheard of.