THE odds of a golfer hitting a hole-in-one on a par four are slim, so what would be the odds for two members of the same group achieving the ace on the same day and on the same hole!

That is the remarkable achievement which has been recorded by two North-East golfers on one of the region’s courses – and it’s fair to assume they will never forget what could even be a world first.

Mark Dawson and playing partner Michael Thompson are both decent golfers and went out for a round together in a club stableford at Bamburgh Castle unprepared for what was about to happen.

Thompson, a single-handicapper like his playing partner, went first at the par four 257-yard 17th and his two iron aced the hole.

After celebrating he apparently said ‘well I’ve given you the line’ to Dawson, who promptly belted his own two iron shot into the hole for an ace as well.

It was not the first hole-in-ones recorded by the pair – it was Michael’s second and Dawson’s tenth – but the unusual nature of doing it in the same group and on a par four made it extra special.

What’s more Mark had the equivalent of a scorecard of 60 which would have been an amateur course record, but didn’t count because it was a stableford. He also had a putt on the last for a birdie which would have given him a 59, but the ball hit the hole and spun out.

To put in to context, the odds of two players holing in one at a par three in the same group at the same hole are reputed to be 67m to one. To do it on a par four ...

HARTLEPOOL golfer Brian Cartridge returned from the 25th annual Sunshine Challenge in Portugal reflecting on what might have been after an impressive start to the 72-hole tournament.

The 16-handicapper shared the lead after an impressive 40 stableford points on the opening day over the Morgado course but he was unable to recapture that form in the three subsequent rounds.

The annual event is based in the charming fishing village of Carvoeiro on the Algarve and is played over four rounds on four different courses with the best three stableford scores by each competitor counting towards their final total.

Left-hander Cartridge made an encouraging start to his challenge and finished Day 1 in a three-way tie for first place, earning an equal cut of the prize pot of €200.

But after suffering a two-stroke cut to his handicap, he could manage only 25 points next day at Alamos and although he improved with 29 on the picturesque Palmares layout, he finished with a disappointing 25 points on the final day at Pinta.

Thirty-eight players entered the tournament and champion, on 109 points, was Jack Foster, from Falkirk, who plays off 16 and was winning the trophy for the fourth time.