Hickory, NC – February 12, 2024: History was made at the Putt-Putt Fun Center in Hickory, NC, as the venue played host to an exhilarating two-round, 36-hole tournament on January 14, 2024, as the location saw its first ever score of a 19 in a tournament setting through the best ball format. This remarkable achievement took place on course one which is known for hosting prestigious PPA and APA tournaments.
Bryan Deal of Valdese, NC, and teammate Kaiden Whaling of Hickory, NC, who happens to be Deal’s 11-year-old great nephew, put on a spectacular display of skill and teamwork as they aced an impressive 27 out of the first 28 holes in the event, falling just shy of a perfect 18 in the first round. Their score of a 19 was the lowest score ever recorded at the location in its fifty-plus-year history, breaking the all-time single-round tournament record that was previously set by Deal and Whaling’s grandfather, Richard Miller of Hudson, NC, in June 2023.
As the tournament commenced, the duo started strong by acing the first nine holes achieving a perfect score on the front nine. However, as they approached hole ten on the back nine, little did they know this would be the hole that would end up costing them a perfect score. Whaling would step up to the mat first, but his shot attempt would miss just left of the hole as he would settle for the deuce. Deal’s attempt, having a little too much speed, would lip out, circling the cup. Despite the setback after missing hole ten, the team would quickly regain their momentum and wouldn’t miss again until hole eleven in the final round by hitting a blistering 18 straight consecutive hole-in-ones and eventually finishing the two-round event with a total score of a 40 or -32 under par. Together, their performance and remarkable feat would give them the lowest consecutive rounds of the tournament among their competitors, securing them a first-place finish.
It is important to mention that over the years, best ball tournaments have primarily been played at this specific venue. Best ball refers to a format where any two individuals can form a team and compete together, with the lowest scores being recorded for each team as they vie against other teams. The putting tournaments are open to the public and welcome participation from all. You can find out more information and details about these tournaments by contacting the company on their website. https://puttputt.com/hickory-nc
