Heather Bowie Young (Fort Worth, Texas) made an ace on the par-3 fourth hole in the pro-am on Wednesday. It was the hole that had a hole-in-one prize of a new car for any amateur that made an ace.
On Saturday after her round, Bowie Young was completely surprised with a $10,000 check courtesy of John Ritenour and the IOA Foundation, Craig Johnson and FCCI Insurance Group and Joe Rossi from Orlando Kia.
“This is a big deal because playing on the Tour is financially challenging,” said Bowie Young, who was so overwhelmed that she began to tear up. “This will pay for Q-School and that is what I was trying to do in these seven events on the Epson Tour, really just get ready for that. Paying for Q-School is one less thing I have to worry about now.”
Bowie Young’s 14th career hole-in-one is going to be most memorable now.
“I actually made one during the Evian Championship one year where there was a car, but it was worth less than $10,000,” said Bowie Young. “This is just incredibly special.”
The whole thing is almost fate. Four is her favorite number and she made the ace on hole four. Her favorite race car driver is Tony Stewart, who drives number fourteen.
“I am completely blown away,” said Bowie Young. “This has been an emotional week, I didn’t play as well as I would have liked. I’ll just fight again next week.”
Bowie Young is a longtime LPGA Tour veteran. She has made 334 starts on the big Tour and has 27 career top 10 finishes with a victory at the 2005 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.