TROT $1,000,000 HOLE-IN-ONE SHOOTOUT A SUCCESS!
Record crowds attended Golfest Presented by Tampa Bay Championship, Tampa Bay's largest two-day demo and golf expo at The Downs Golf Practice Facility, and Dunedin resident Roger Mulligan earned the opportunity to hit a shot potentially worth $1 million in the TROT Hole-In-One Shootout. Mulligan, a 65-year-old starter and ranger at Dunedin Country Club, was closest to the pin in the semifinals, hitting a 6-iron from 145 yards to 11 feet, 7 inches. The distance was lengthened to 167 yards for the final shot, and Mulligan selected a 3-iron to combat a strong headwind. Inexplicably, the wind died as he hit his shot and it flew about 30 feet past the flagstick. Despite his surname, he was not allowed a second try. As a consolation prize, Mulligan won a round of golf for four people at Countryside Country Club. "I'm happy, because I've never played there," Mulligan said. "I was more nervous for the last shot, because I knew a lot more was riding on it." All told, 33 of the 97 participants in the TROT Hole-In-One Challenge advanced to the semifinals by hitting a qualifying shot within a 20-foot diameter circle. Proceeds from the event benefit TROT, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the safe retirement, rehabilitation and adoption of Tampa's racing Thoroughbreds. A big THANK YOU to everyone who made this shootout possible. We are looking forward to doing this in 2014!
Roger Mulligan of Dunedin accepts congratulations from Dana Saad of Talon Golf Management after attempting the $1-million shot.