Hole In One Earns Cash Prize But Ends Senior Season
COON RAPIDS, Minn. (WCCO) -- A Coon Rapids High School senior won a nice chunk of change after acing the eighth hole at Majestic Oaks in Ham Lake but as a result his high school golf career is over.
One of Andrew Vold's uncles put down $10 for a chance to win $5,000 for a hole in one at the recent golfing fundraiser. Vold picked up a 9-iron and sunk the 150-yard shot.
Vold then collected his winnings and shared news of his accomplishment with his teammates and coach Larry Overski the following Monday. Overski wondered if there would be any sort of penalty since Vold was awarded money and went to Activities Director Kelley Scott for clarification.
Scott then checked with a few other ADs and the Minnesota State High School League and found that Vold's ace made him ineligible for the remainder of his senior golf season.
The MSHSL bylaws state that during a season, athletes "may not participate as an individual competitor or as a member of a non-school team in the same sport during the high school season."
Scott said there was a lot of elation that Vold got a hole in one and was able to get a head start on his college tuition with the prize money.
"There wasn't a ton of disappoint as far as life was over. Obviously he was disappointed that he didn't have his eligibility anymore but I think he understood, and the coach understood and I think everybody in the whole situation understands," Scott said.
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While Vold not being able to finish up the rest of the season is unfortunate, Scott said he's in favor of the MSHSL rules.
"I do think they're fair because everybody is adherent to them," he said. "Maybe not everybody goes through it with a fine tooth comb but we do go through eligibility requirements."
He said this will now be a prime example of the importance of reviewing the eligibility guidelines prior to the start of the season.
Overall, Scott said he feels things were handled the right way.
"I'm proud of everybody that's been involved in this thing because I think that everybody has a clear understanding now of what's going on," he said.
Vold filled the Cardinal's sixth and final varsity spot and will never know how his season would have ended.
