VSGA Member Spotlight
VSGA Member Masters
Water-Logged Hole at Sawgrass
Mike Colb scores an ace at one of the most visually intimidating par 3s in golf
by VIC DORR JR
ALEX QUIJANO
M
athematicians say the odds of an
amateur making a hole in one
on a regulation par-3 hole are
roughly 12,500 to 1.
In VSGA member Mike Colb’s case, the
odds more closely resembled a million to one.
Colb did the memorable—no, the amazing;
no, the miraculous—while playing last fall
at TPC Sawgrass’ Players Stadium Course
in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The 53-year-old
from Colonial Heights made a hole in one,
the second of his career, on Sawgrass’ most
scenic and sinister hole: the 137-yard, par-3
17th with an island green. But wait. There’s
more. Not only did Colb ace one of the world’s
most photographed holes, he did so in front of
an audience that included 16-time PGA T
our
winner Jim Furyk.
“It was an unbelievable moment. It was
just a magical moment,” says Colb, an ardent
amateur golfer who works in the Tri-Cities
area as a MetLife financial representative.
He is a VSGA member at the Country Club
of Petersburg.
He described his shot simply: “The perfect
swing at the perfect time.” Colb says someone
asked the obvious question: “How do you
feel?” as he, his three fellow-competitors
and Furyk walked along the cart path
that leads from the 17th tee to the island
green’s causeway.
“I said, ‘I feel like I’m on tour. I just hit the
shot of my life and now here I am, walking
next to Jim Furyk. For one day, for one hole,
I’m a tour player.’ ”
Colb, whose career with MetLife has
spanned the past quarter century, played
Sawgrass on Oct. 28, 2014 at the conclusion
of a summer-long company golf competition.
He was one of 24 individuals to qualify.
Furyk played No. 17 with each of the six
groups of four.
The day began with no indication that an
excursion into fantasyland was imminent.
“As soon as I found out that I had qualified,
I started thinking about No. 17,” Colb says.
“It’s such an intimidating hole. I would have
been happy just to hit the green. Really, that’s
all I wanted to do—just hit the green. I had
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visions of hitting seve