Pair of Tims show aces on same hole

Tim Gilbert and Tim de Vries each scored a hole-in-one Tuesday on hole No. 4 at Council Fire Golf Club during a charity event for the McKamey Animal Center.

The odds of two golfers scoring an ace on the same hole, in the same event, are 1 in 3,914, according to U.S. Hole in One Insurance owner Greg Esterhai.

"It's the fact that you have so many people playing," Esterhai said. "If it's only a guy and his buddy, that's different than saying you, me and 99 of our friends have a chance to do it."

He calculated the odds based on the field size of about 100, the distance the hole played at 167 yards, and the fact that there are four par-3s at Council Fire. But he couldn't factor in the odds of both players having the same first name.

Gilbert, a co-owner of WindStone Golf Club with his brother, won a new Lexus RX 350 because his ace came first.

"My wife will have a new car to drive," Gilbert said. "I can't believe it. My eyes are so bad that I didn't even see it."

Even though de Vries also aced No. 4, he did not get a new car. But as a Council Fire member, he won the club hole-in-one pot, which amounts to about $500, including a plaque. Lexus of Chattanooga also presented de Vries with a gold-plated putter and other golf gear.

"Before I even took the shot I knew I couldn't win the car," de Vries said. "My wife was pretty excited. I'm excited because it's my first hole-in-one. And I won't dwell on the fact I didn't win a car. But maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket."

Michael Roe, Preston Brown and Evan Gibson witnessed Gilbert's 7-iron ace. Wife Heidi de Vries, along with Barry and Sally Vogelmeier, witnessed de Vries' shot with a 7-wood.