Boy, 7, one of youngest Brits to hit hole-in-one

A seven-year-old has become one of the youngest British golfers to hit a hole-in-one.

Freddie, from Colne in Lancashire, hit the shot during a Faldo Junior Tour event at Carus Green Golf Club in Kendal, Cumbria.

By a stroke of luck, the moment was captured in high-definition video by golfing tech firm Official Hole in One, which happened to be trialing new video technology on the hole.

Freddie's dad Wesley said he was so proud of his son's incredible achievement, adding that he was a touch jealous "as I've never had one".

Freddie, who had never played on the course before, made his 70yd (64m) shot using seven iron from the junior - or forward - tees on the hole, where younger players tee-off from during competitions.

The youngster, who has playing since the age of three, said he was "shocked because I didn't feel like it went in".

He said it was only when his dad "started screaming" that he realised he had made the shot.

He added that it was made "even more special" when he found out a week later it had been captured on camera.

Wesley said it was "brilliant" Freddie would be able to look back on the footage in years to come.

He added his son's coach, who has been giving him lessons since he was four, was also "really chuffed" for him.

Wesley said Freddie, whose favourite player is reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, managed to get out of the golfing tradition of buying a round of drinks in the clubhouse after sinking a hole-in-one, as they had to rush off to football training.

He added that his son's next goal was to qualify in the Faldo Junior Tour North West qualifying event after missing on qualifying by one shot - with his ultimate ambition to be a top professional and play in the Ryder Cup one day.

England Golf Championships director James Crampton said Freddie's achievement at such a young age was "sensational".

"Some people go their whole life without getting a hole-in-one, so it's something he should be very proud of," he said.

"I'm sure his achievement will inspire many others and start a lifelong love for the game – in which it might be the first of many holes-in-one."

An Official Hole-in-One spokeswoman said it was thought Freddie had become the youngest British player to achieve the feat.

The world record for the youngest player to hit a hole-in-one is held by American golfer Christian Carpenter, who holed out at the age of four years and 195 days in December 1999.

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