Claiming Prize More Difficult Than Sinking Hole-In-One
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It was the first hole-in-one of his life, and was supposed to help him pay for college. But the former Coon Rapids High School golfer is still struggling to claim his prize.
Andrew Vold unknowingly sacrificed the end of his senior golf season when he participated in a charity golf contest at Majestic Oaks in Ham Lake this spring. But he was OK with the tradeoff when the 150-yard ace earned him a nice chunk of college tuition money.
Yet several months later, Vold has yet to receive his prize.
"They said it would take four to six weeks for the insurance company to get the affidavits and send out the money. After like two months, we started to wonder," Vold said.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Samantha Smith Reports
Podcast
Vold and his aunt, Crystal Bennek -- secretary of the booster club who put together the fundraiser -- have tried several times to contact John W. Schierman of Chaska, owner of Par 3 Fun Stop, a company that sponsored the hole-in-one contest.
"I have never spoke to John Schierman one time," Vold said. "They have not contacted me once."
Schierman told the Pioneer Press he sent Vold an email outlining the rules of the contest and explaining there would be no pay out.
"They're trying to say the hole officials didn't see it happen but she was right there. I'm guessing this guy (Schierman) never actually talked to the hole official," Vold said.
Vold said the official was an 18- to 20-year-old woman who saw the divot and saw the ball go into the cup. He has since identified the woman as Amanda Herman and said he has been trying to contact her, as well.
"People on the next hole saw us get the hole-in-one and all the people in my party," Vold said. "Everyone in the Majestic Oaks clubhouse was talking about it afterwards, too."
The college freshmen says he needed the money to help pay for tuition at Gustavus Adolphus.
"I like really counted on that money to pay for college," he said. "I'm just really frustrated and I'm still hopeful that some kind of resolution will happen."
For now, Vold said he and has family are trying to get the story out.
"I want to see if someone can help me contact him or, I don't know, maybe be can find his heart or something and help me pay for college," he said.
