SUMMIT TWP — Playing as veterans in a golf event benefiting veterans, Sam Muto and Kurt Weaver certainly weren't looking for their own moment.

They found one anyway.

Muto, 84, and Weaver, 54 — both Butler residents — were teammates in the VFW Post 249 Par-3 Contest recently at Hiland Golf Course. Proceeds from the two-man best ball tournament benefit homeless veterans.

Muto served in the U.S. Navy while Weaver is an Air Force veteran.

“We golf in some tournaments together,” Weaver said. “This seemed like a natural one to enter.”

All 18 holes of the golf course were played from par-3 distance. The No. 4 hole played from 148 yards out.

Muto teed off first. His drive bounced a few times and rolled into the hole.

“I waited 45 years to get my first hole-in-one,” Muto said. “That was on the No. 17 hole here at Hiland in June.

“It was pretty amazing I only had to wait a few months to get my second one.”

But something even more amazing was about to follow.

Being a best ball event, Weaver had no reason to take his shot.

“I couldn't beat him. We were already in the hole,” Weaver said. “I told Sam I had no reason to hit, let's just move on.

“He told me to hit anyway, just for the heck of it.”

So Weaver teed up and connected. His ball bounced once on the fairway, once on the green and rolled into the hole.

Right on top of Muto's shot.

“I couldn't believe it,” Muto said. “His shot was perfect. We were thrilled, a day we'll never forget.”

The two were sharing the round with another two-person team.

“Everyone just threw their clubs up,” Weaver said, laughing. “No one could believe what just happened. I'm still trying to find the odds for something like that. They have to be astronomical.”

Muto used a 7-wood for his ace. Weaver used an 8-iron.

Weaver has been a golfer for 20 years. That was his first ace.

Muto and Weaver have been friends for 20 years. They met at the Italian Club in Butler and they've partnered up in past golf tournaments.

They rarely play together otherwise.

“I golf three times a week since I've been retired for a long time,” Muto said. “Kurt plays maybe one time a week.

“I never picked up a golf club until I was 40. I played baseball and fast-pitch softball for years. Those sports, you age out of. Golf, you can play forever.”

The golf event raised $1,715 for homeless veterans. Event director Steve Newcomb said 54 golfers participated.

“My goal is to get a full field, close to 150 golfers,” Newcomb said. “This is the fourth year we've done this and we had to scale back with the time of year and the COVID, but it's growing.”

The winning team shot 6-under-par. Muto and Weaver came in at 2-over.

“We blew it on the very next hole,” Weaver said with a chuckle. “We just couldn't calm down.

“I guess we should have quit after that fourth hole. I mean, how do you top that?”