THE golfer who scored a hole in one in the Isle of Man Wooden Spoon charity golf day has taken delivery of the £20,000 Mini he won for his achievement.
Lee Worsfold, who watched his 7 iron shot drop into the 16th hole at Castletown last week, said today, “I still can’t believe it. It still feels a bit like a dream.”
He was officially congratulated this morning (Friday) at the showrooms for local BMW Mini dealers Buchanan who sponsored the hole in one prize for Wooden Spoon.
Bill Mummery, chief executive of Celton Manx, congratulated Lee, who works for Barclays Wealth. Celton Manx was this year’s generous overall sponsor of the Wooden Spoon charity golf day which brought to the Island celebrities from the worlds of TV, sport and showbusiness.
Ian Forrest and Jim Sharples were also present today to represent the Wooden Spoon charity.
“It wasn’t the most stylish shot, but it went in the hole and that’s what matters,” said Lee. “If you play the ball to the left on the 16th and let it run down towards the hole then you can sometimes get close. Today, it just kept going and eventually dropped into the hole.
"I wasn't looking when it dropped," he said. "When I hit it I thought that it was a pretty good shot and thought to myself - 'two putts and I'll get a par and three points'. Then I heard the players on the 17th tee shouting and saw them waving. I couldn't believe it.
"After that my game just went to pieces - I couldn't think about anything else except 'I've won a car, I've won a car.’ "
The timing of the hole-in-one couldn't have been better. Lee had a bizarre car accident with his Mondeo at Christmas when he reversed into a steel girder and caused considerable damage to the vehicle, to the point where it was written off.
"We live close to work, so my wife Karen and I decided not to get another car for a while and walk to work instead. We've been talking just recently about getting another car, so when this happened on the golf course I couldn't believe it. It's fantastic."
There is one drawback with winning the prize - the rules of golf state that an amateur player cannot win a prize of substantial value unless you are a professional. Lee will now have to turn “professional” for a few years before playing in any club competitions in the future. He is able to play on golf courses, but cannot officially compete.
Photo: Less Worsfold receives his Mini from Bill Mummery of Celton Manx, accompanied by Simon Skillan of Buchanan and Ian Forrest of Wooden Spoon (photo - Bill Dale).
