by Lou Copelan
Wendover Girl’s Golf phenom Sarah Isaacs, at her worst was still awesome Tuesday.
She took fourth place in Elko and not so incidentally scored a hole in one.
Sarah made her incredible feat at this Tuesday’s gold tournament in Elko on a par 3. Though records are badly kept, this marked the first hole in one in tournament conditions hit by a Nevada high school golfer in over twenty years. In non-tournament conditions, Golf Digest and the National Hole In One Association estimate that a tee shot hit by an amateur golfer on a par-3 goes into the hole one out of every 12,750 times.
Coming off back to back first place finishes, Sarah’s game was considered a little off before she scored her ace Tuesday.”It’s been a delight having Sarah on the golf team the last two years and a great athlete, a pleasure to be around,” Said coach Jennifer Lopez, “Motivational to her teammates, helping them throughout the season with their swings and focus. Out of my coaching years of golf I have never thought to have experience something like this happen to our school and team. I can’t wait to see how Sarah and the other girls improve this year and next year, because of the young team we have with no seniors. Thank you to Toana Vista Golf Course for all the help they have provided us, along with the parents, staff, and community. After five years, this is the largest girl’s golf team this school has had and I am proud to have more girls join. We hope to have new golfers coming up these next few years to continue helping drive our girl’s golf team and expand into our high school with a JV and Varsity team.”
Sarah’s father, who in his 45 years of playing golf never scored a hole in one, was astonished, “The 12th hole at Ruby View golf course in Elko, Nevada is an uphill, 119 yard par three measured from the tee used in the Northern Nevada Girls High School golf match. Sarah has always liked par three holes. She especially likes par three’s with a pitching wedge in her hand. The tee shot was high and straight at the flag-stick. One bounce, two bounces and the ball disappears. The girls looked at each other. ‘Did that go in’ someone whispered. The girls made their way up the hill. As her two competitors prepared to hit their short chip shots Sarah could contain herself no longer. She raced to the green and stopped, looking around for her ball. Slowly she walked to the hole and looked down. There, at the bottom of the hole, sat Sarah’s signature pink Wilson Hope golf ball. Sarah Isaacs had made a hole-in-one!”
“After my years of playing golf, having this experience happen to me was really special,” says Sarah Isaacs, “One of a hundred chances, mostly done by luck and it was luck that happened. Watching that ball take off into the air and landing close to the hole before it went in, it was just a big moment. On Hole 12 of Ruby View Golf Course, a par three, the two other girls and I go to red tees. After they finished hitting, it was my turn. I line up my ball, aiming toward the hole, my feet steady and my mind in focus. Lifting that club up before hitting the golf ball high into the air, I felt my excitement build up, but as soon as it fell right in front of the flag, none of us were unable to see it. A hill was in front of us so it was difficult to know, but when we went up to the green none of us saw my ball anywhere close to it. Until I saw small dents on the ground leading up to the hole, the first thing crossed my mind was, “oh my gosh.” Excited as I was, I checked the hole to find it in there. A great moment in my life, seeing my first hole in one, having witnesses and my dad see it all. As soon as I finished the tournament and told the coaches, they were ecstatic and supportive, the other girls also. It didn’t take long until my family and friends all heard what had just happened, they all were enthusiastic and happy as I was. I thank my Coach JLo (Jennifer Lopez) for having me and reminding me to focus on my basics along with my teammates that have made this game a lot more fun. Being around them has taught me that golf could also be a team sport when we do our best to get the lowest score and placed in the top scores. Everyone at Toana Vista has always been supportive of me and helped me throughout my years of golfing, Mike Propp has been a big help with teaching me new things most of the time I’m up there. Both he and Matt Nadeau has helped the girls and me in golf, along with letting us practice up there all the time. Thanks to everyone that has supported me and I can’t wait to play out in the greens.”
The team scored second place at this tournament and plays next Thursday in Battle Mountain.