
Jake Martinez, Photo: U.S. Kids Golf
Playing the Player Course at the Westin Mission Hills, Martinez had started his day with double bogeys on two of his first four holes, and approached the 95-yard fifth hole at four-over par. Hitting a pitching wedge, “aimed a little left” and “wanting to draw it in” at the advice of Martinez’s caddy, his father, the ball took one bounce, and landed in the hole.
“We were all shocked!” Martinez recounted in a post-round interview.
Continuing his round, Martinez came to the par 3 12th hole, playing at 100 yards. Choosing to hit pitching wedge again, his father gave him the same advice: “Aim a little left, and draw it in.” The result was the same. It hit the green, and found the bottom of the cup for his second career hole-in-one.
“We were both shocked,” Martinez said. “They both felt like I was dreaming or something, it was just unreal.”
Martinez would go on to finish the Palm Springs Open with a 74-76—150 (+6), good enough to finish in 14th place in the Boys 11 age group.
No word if a double dose of post-round sodas were on Jake.

