CENTER TWP — The weather was hot. Dan Valent’s golf game was hotter.

Valent, 71, of West Sunbury scored an eagle on the No. 13, par-5 hole Thursday afternoon at Stoughton Acres. He then posted his first career hole-in-one on the No. 3, 157-yard hole in league play that evening.

“We were whipped by the end of the day,” Valenrt said. “Man, it was hot. I was tired when I got home, but it was worth it.

“That’s my golf highlight right there. My wife didn’t want me to go out in that heat, but I’m glad I did.”

Valent never took up golf until age 51. A number of people he worked with played the game.

“There was an opening for a scramble they were doing and they asked me to go,” Valent recalled. “I didn’t even have any clubs. A buddy said he had three sets, so he brought me one.

“That Christmas, my wife bought me golf clubs and a bag, so I began playing regularly.”

He had never had a day on the course like Thursday.

“Not even close,” he said. “I’ve had maybe four eagles in my lifetime.”

The ground was dry, so Valent’s tee shot on No. 13 — a downhill fairway with a body of water between it and the green — rolled to the bottom of the hill.

He used a 7-iron from there and lofted it to the top of the green, well to the right of the hole.

“From there, you have to putt down a hill while angling the shot so it curves toward the hole ... I just wanted to get in the neighborhood of the hole,” Valent said. “The ball curved perfectly. I was amazed it went in.”

Valent was playing the back-nine with Lou Bagdon, 68, of Sarver. They became friends through the Thursday night Sunset League at Stoughton Acres. Both have been league members for 15 years.

Valent said he had seen only one hole-in-one in his life before Thursday — when Bagdon aced the par-3 No. 5 hole at Stoughton nearly 10 years ago.

“Dan and I always come to the course early and play whatever nine holes the league isn’t playing,” Bagdon said. “I wasn’t part of his group Thursday night when he got his hole-in-one.

“That putt he made for eagle, though, was 30 feet or more.”

Valent’s shot on No. 3 headed directly at the pin, landing about six feet in front of the hole before rolling across the green.

The trio of players in Valent’s group were convinced the shot rolled into the cup.

Valent wasn’t.

“I said ‘no way’ to that,” he admitted. “I figured it had to roll off the green and we just didn’t see it. But they were right. There was a big divot on the green where the ball landed. It slowed the ball up just enough.”

It capped a memorable day on the links.

“An eagle and hole-in-one on the same day is pretty special for anybody,” Bagdon said. “If we shoot in the high 40’s for nine holes, we’re happy. We’re just not that good.

“I’m thrilled for Dan. What a day.”