11-year-old sinks hole-in-one
CABOT — Less than three years into his golf career, Cabot resident Hunter Cihonski has his first hole-in-one — at age 11.
An incoming fifth-grader at South Butler Intermediate School, Cihonski scored an ace on the 146-yard, No. 3 par-3 hole at Saxon Golf Course during youth league play Aug. 11.
"They teach the kids to play at a brisk pace, so one group tees off as the previous group is leaving the green," said Howard Coller, Hunter's grandfather.
"The kids leaving that green saw Hunter's ball hit the green and roll into the cup. They all started cheering for him."
Hunter has been playing golf only since age 9.
"My uncle bought me a golf set and I started playing around in the backyard," Hunter said. "My dad thought about getting me golf lessons and I've been playing ever since."
He and his father play about a round a week, primarily at Saxon, Mount Chestnut or Serene Valley.
"I hit it and saw the ball land on the green," said Hunter, who used a 3-wood to score his ace. "I've hit the green on par-3 drives before. I didn't know if this shot would hold the green or not.
"The ball started rolling, rolling. ... We saw it fall into the cup. Everyone was high-fiving me by the tee. It was pretty cool," he added.
A Saxon employee said no other member of the Wednesday youth league has scored a hole-in-one. Treesdale Golf and Country Club member Anthony Muscato, 14, scored an ace on the No. 3, 190-yard hole at Greenbriar Aug. 14, using a 4-iron.
Saxon presented Hunter with a trophy the following day.
Last year, Hunter received an award for the longest drive in the youth league.
"It was 150 yards or so. No big deal," he said.
But this was.
"I told him to cherish it," Hunter's father, Shawn Cihonski, said of the hole-in-one. "I know people who have played golf for 50 years and never had a hole-in-one.
"I've been playing for 20 years and never got one. My uncle, brother — we all golf and haven't gotten one," he added.
Until this year, Hunter has been playing baseball along with golf. He plans to drop baseball next year.
"I just like golf more," he said. "I need more time to concentrate on that."
But he doesn't expect to get another hole-in-one anytime soon.
"If I do, Dad said I'm grounded," Hunter said, laughing.
