Missouri Golfer Resigns After Faking Hole-in-One

An amateur golfer in Missouri has resigned from his country club and publicly apologized after security footage revealed he staged a fake hole-in-one during a members-only tournament. Zach Holland, a former collegiate player with a 2-handicap, admitted to planting a ball in the cup on the par-3 fourth hole at WingHaven Country Club in O'Fallon, Missouri, before his playing partners arrived.

The incident occurred during a club event that included a hole-in-one prize pot. According to Holland's account, he arrived early and placed his ball in the hole before the round began. During the tournament, after completing the first three holes with his group, Holland told his partners he needed to take a personal phone call regarding his ill grandmother. He then teed off on the fourth hole alone to maintain the pace of play. When he rejoined the group, he claimed to have thinned his shot and not seen where it landed. His partners later found the ball in the cup and celebrated what they believed was a genuine ace.

Questions about the authenticity of the shot led WingHaven staff to review security footage. The video reportedly showed Holland driving near the fourth green before his...