Yana Wilson, bored a 4-iron through the wind to make a hole-in-one at the par-3 third hole at the Atlantic Beach Country Club on Thursday and led by one shot in the first round of the Epson Tour Atlantic Beach Classic, at 2-under par through 15 holes when darkness halted play.
Wilson, 18, who bypassed college golf after a successful junior career, made the ace from 163 yards out but estimated the hole played more like 190 through wind gusts estimated at 35 mph.
“I hit the shot and was like, ‘Okay. It’s not in the water, it’s not left of the green,’ club twirled, picked up the tee and walked off the tee box,” Wilson told epsontour.com. “I hear everyone kind of celebrating, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I guess it went in. That’s so cool.’”
Wilson has to return with either other players to complete their first round at 7:30 a.m.
The clubhouse leaders are former University of Virginia player Riley Smith, last week’s winner in the opening Epson Tour event, the Central Florida Championship, and Bi Shin of Korea, who posted 1-under 70 scores. Laetitia Beck, a 33-year-old native of Israel who has seven career top-25 finishes on the LPGA Tour, and Yurika Tanida of Japan are tied at even-par 71.
“It was playing so tough out there today, so just really trying to stay patient in the wind,” said Smith. “Just put together a good solid round. I knew anything under par or around par was going to be a really good score to start this week, so it feels good to get that in.”
Defending champion Briana Chacon and San Jose Country Club teaching pro Stephanie Connelley Eiswerth are tied for 29th after shooting 75. Former Jacksonville University player Jessica Welch is 6-over through 16 holes.
In addition to the five players who finished or are at par or better, 36 players failed to break 80.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ace helps Epson Tour rookie Yana Wilson take lead at Atlantic Beach
